Part Forty One

Ferris

I was woken up at the ungodly hour of five a.m just to get ready for greeting the guests that were to attend my birthday three weeks away. Maybe it was also due to the fact that my suitors were going to make an appearance. I felt nervous while I slipped on the long silky robe on. It had a dark green belt that hugged my waist and have the loose fabric figure while silts on the sides trimmed with the same green material gave way for my arms to fit through.

The fabric was sheer and slightly translucent so I was slightly exposed. Surely they won't be able to see my chest from where they'll be standing. We were supposed to sit on our thrones while the guests were introduced. I sighed to try and relieve the rapid beating of my heart but it must have gotten ten times faster when mother burst through the double doors to the fitting room which was where my outfit was getting double checked for any loose ends her stray threading.

"Ferris! You must wear this necklace I found it in that box you keep just lying around in your room!" She exclaimed, running over to me and holding up the necklace. I still felt uneasy around her though it was just a suspicion that she actually knew the secrets father didn't want to tell me.

She held it up to my face and I instantly felt a wave of melancholy. It was the heart necklace Zaelyn had gotten me. After the explosion it had a single crack running down the middle- ironically. I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of it, so I packed it up in a box. "I'm not wearing that." I mumbled while brushing my hands down my clothes. She tsk'd and looking closely at the peice of jewelry. "Is it because it has a crack? No one will notice." She argued. I pursed my lips into a fine line and stepped down from the stool I was on. The women fitting me seemed to have finished checking for any blemishes. "I said I don't want to wear it." I sighed then slipped on the simple slippers that mother had chosen. They weren't too flashy as the clothes were enough already. The room fell silent for a minute or two and the only sound came from outside where maids and guards were bustling about.

I turned to face my mother and instantly noticed the tears welling up in her eyes. I bit back a groan and braved myself for the tight hug that was sure to come. I was correct and felt the air in my lungs get knocked out of me as she crushed my sides. "You're all grown up now!" She wailed. I rolled my eyes but patted her back anyway.

The doors swung open and mother immediately ran to close them. Father walked over with a smile, as if we didn't just have a fight. "You look great, Ferris." He beamed. I nodded and muttered a thanks before grabbing the long robe and pulling it to to my waist. This thing was way too long. This all took three hours and now it was eight. This meant that I was supposed to be on my way to the throne room right now.

"I've come to tell you that you're supposed to be-"

"Oh my god! We're supposed to be on our way already!" Mother filled in. She grabbed my arm, dusted off my clothes and sprinted to the door. We paused and for a second I allowed myself to feel the anxiety building up. I clutched my stomach willed away the fear. This is what was supposed to happen. I've been expecting this my whole life.

I've been expecting my suitors since yesterday.

"Ready? Okay. Let's go," Mother breathed. Maids opened the door and I was walking down the buzzing hallway. Those around us bowed, then quickly made their way to the main centre of activity. I had to remember how to walk for a second, both normally then gracefully.

Pretend you're walking on air, pretend you're walking on air.

The first thing that hit me was the silence, then the music and the chatter. People were chatting, mostly not-so-quiet whispering and jokes were being passed around. That put me at ease a little. "This is all about you, Ferris." Father reminded me. "This will be the only time you interact with your suitors until the actual day of your birthday,"

Well. That made me feel a whole lot better. A signal was sent by a couple of guards and the announced cleared her throat. The entire crowd instantly stopped talking and snapped their heads to the announcer. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Humans and Supernatruals alike, welcome your prince and future king, Ferris Illian!" She called out.

There was an uproar of clapping, and a blaring symphony of instruments. I tried my best to walk over without tripping on this goddamn robe. All eyes were on me, the centre of attention.

I waved 'regally' with little to no movement of my wrist and sat down on the king's throne. The sudden rush of power that washed over me was hard to explain. This wad the first time I had been actually sitting on the throne, rather than my fancy bedazzled chair.

I wanted to thank everyone for coming but that wasn't what I was supposed to do. I was to sit here and have a smile. That was all. My presence was enough to greet the important guests. All noise was drowned out by the sound of my heartbeat. All these people, here to see me. And these were only the guests deemed 'important'. More were coming!

A few other royal families were introduced, some from faraway lands and others from just the next kingdom over. The four leaders of the dragon-shifter clans even appeared, though I forgot their names.

"Now we will introduce the pool of suitors for Prince Ferris," I heard. I clutched the arm rests of the seat and nervously glanced over at father who was sitting where I usually did. My cousins and Uncle had already arrived before me and were unfortunate enough to have to stand to the sides throughout this entire introduction.

One by one, fae men lined up, in the middle for everyone to oggle at. Each and everyone one of them was handsome, with exotic fae looks and well trained bodies. There were only ten all together, which was already quite a lot.

I found that all their eyes weren't on me but rather staring directly infront of them. They aren't allowed to look at me. Just as they were dismissed I caught one dare to look up and directly at me. From here I could see that he had sparkling violet eyes and smooth sun-kissed skin. His crimson hair was hanging loosely over his left  shoulder and for a second I saw his lips quirk into a quick smile.

I noticed my father give an approving nod. I was getting hot all of a sudden. Oh god, when did my temperature rise this high? I tried my best to ignore my racing heartbeat and focus on who was infront of me. Cosmo and his family were there and I desperately wanted to wave. They joined the crowd and I relaxed a little.

"For our last guest, please bow before the Royal Chamire and Louran families!"

My heart sank and I felt a complete change in temperature. Instead of a hot head I felt my brain go cold. I had completely forgotten about them. Zaelyn and Fraener were here and they brought a barrage of painful memories.

A/N

Sorry for the super long delay but I truly did not have the time nor motivation to continue this story. My goal is to have this story finished within this year as we're nearing 50 chapters (minus a few because of AU's and other special chapters). However, I have come to find that I am not liking how I am portraying the story so I am looking at editing this story. Not completely but mostly. I was young when I

wrote the first chapter and I've matured.

I'm going to be honest I had no story planned until chapter 20 onwards. I had a concept and went with it but now I have one ready and I'd actually like to implement it.

However I do not want to deprive you guys of the ending for this book, so I am asking if you guys would like to read the ending that isn't so planned out or allow me to edit the entire beginning parts and end it in a much more mature way. I'll eventually edit my stories but if you'd all want to see the ending for these guys I'd be more than happy to oblige.

Thank you guys so much for your patients!

P.S I've also decided I'll be continuing Zuda and Lucian's story later on in its own seperate book WHICH WILL CONTAIN SMALL STORIES FROM SIDE CHARACTERS FROM ALL MY BOOKS!! Meaning there will not be a whole book dedicated to our lovely orc and werewolf couple.

At least not for now :)