At six, I stood on the balcony, watching the guests arrive in a swirl of colors. The women were all veiled, but their dressesâoh, their dresses! One gown looked like an actual waterfall, sparkling as it cascaded down the woman's body, just barely modest. I couldn't help but gape, envy coiling through me like a snake.
"So not fair..." I muttered. I wanted to wear a pretty dress too. I'd been waiting for four years.
Then, I saw herâEmerlee. She moved like a vision in a gown made of iridescent scales that shimmered with every step. Her gaze flicked up to mine, and she smiledâcold and dangerous. I clenched the balcony rail, ready to charge after her, but Luke caught my wrist before I could move.
"Do not make a scene, My Lady," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "Your grandfather insisted she be allowed to come. I couldn't block her attendance, not without more evidence."
I glared at him, furious, then caught myself staring. Luke was dressed in a dark green tunic that made his copper hair glow. With the bronze-colored cape draped over his shoulder, he looked regal and... stunning. I blinked, my anger briefly forgotten, before I yanked my hand away.
"Can't you uninvite her?"
"No," he said quietly. "But she will not win, so hold your head high."
I straightened, swallowing my frustration as the others approached. The guys wore velvet tunics and leather breeches, their boots polished to a shine. Luis in all black, Adrian in white and teal, Dominic in blue, and Erick looking decidedly unhappy in yellow.
"Oh my gosh, guys!" I grinned, the tension momentarily lifting. "You all look like studs."
Dominic laughed, his gray eyes turning blue in the tunic's reflection. "Thanks, Matt. But... why are you wearing that?"
"Rules." I sulked, waving at my plain gray dress.
"Shame," he said softly. "I know how much you love color."
Before I could respond, Luke took my hand again, and we stepped into the ballroom. My banmuinen followed behind like shadows as we were announced. The applause was tepid, but I barely noticed. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Emerlee, but she had already disappeared.
The ballroom was a sight to behold. It dazzled with festoons of glittery ribbons decorating the walls, punctuated by sprays of gilded flowers. The ceiling was spangled with constellations made of tiny lights against a canopy of black velvet, while pillars of white supported the fabric that draped down elegantly. In the center of the room was a raised dais lifted by kneeling sculptures of broad-winged fairies, their heads thrown back and hair pooling around their feet. The steps leading to the dais were solid amethyst, and set upon it was an altar, holding a large, square stone of gray. A plain silver goblet and a jeweled dagger rested atop the stone.
Behind the altar stood three magnificent thrones. The first throne, clearly meant for Duir, was made of silvery-white metal shaped into spindly branches, adorned with golden oak leaves and acorns made of rubies. The other two thrones, smaller but no less grand, were crafted in a similar style but lacked the embellishments. The atmosphere was regal, opulent, and overwhelming all at once.
Then, a figure in midnight blue stepped forwardâValenia. Her auburn hair tumbled in waves, and a crown of silver thorns and oak leaves perched on her head. Luke dropped to one knee before her.
"Rise, devoted of Duir," Valenia said, her voice like wind over dry leaves.
She turned to me, her eyes bright. "The Brigid's daughter." I froze, unsure of what to do. Should I kneel? Bow? My mind blanked. I dropped to my knees before her, but she chuckled softly.
"No, child. You and I are equals. Rise."
I scrambled to my feet, face hot with embarrassment. Equal to a goddess? Right. I brushed the thought aside as Valenia led Luke away, despite his protests. As I watched them go, I felt a twinge of jealousyânot romantic, just a deep possessiveness. Luke was mine. My court, my protector. And yet, she commanded him without question.
I tried to shake off the possessiveness twisting inside me, not wanting to ask myself the hard question of why I felt that way, but it lingered in the back of my mind like a thorn.
My eyes scanned the room again, and I caught a glimpse of Ciaran's bright pink head, weaving through the crowd like he belonged there all along. My breath caught in my throat.
Then, as if he teleported, he appeared before me without a sound, dressed in silver and adorned with my crest. His eyes twinkled with a mischievous smile as he raised my hand in his. "Princess," he crooned, twirling me in a smooth arc before I even had the chance to protest.
"Ciaran!" I gasped, unsteady on my feet as the world seemed to tilt with his touch. "W-what are you doing here?"
"We made a deal, remember?" His voice was as smooth as velvet, each word a caress that sent a shiver down my spine. "You promised me a place in your court." He leaned in close, whispering in my ear, "But, my dear, you didn't say I'd be bound to you. I didn't even believe I could be. Not like this. Now, we're connected in ways I didn't anticipate."
A ghostly root stretched from his chest to mine, ethereal and glowing. The poor man had been gathered up with the rest of my victims.
Then I gasped as a sudden sensation hit meâa surge of energy, power, and belonging so intense that my knees almost buckled. My hand shot up to cup his cheek without thinking, my body responding on instinct, as if drawn to him by some invisible force. Something within me, something ancient, and hungry tugged back. My body molded to his as if we were two magnets.
The reaction from Ciaran was instantaneous. He stiffened, and all vestiges of teasing disappeared from his face, replaced by surprise, then raw need.
"Let go, Princess," Ciaran murmured, his voice roughened by the emotions he was fighting against. His eyes flashed with fiery colors, and his arm had snaked around my waist pulling me closer despite his instruction to let go.
"I... can't," I whispered, feeling the depth of his connection, the countless presence of tall trees, their many voices all woven together in an immense, indescribable network. A dizzying feeling of communion washed over meâlike I was a single leaf on one of those vast ancient trees.
Ciaran chuckled, his voice tinged with a darkening desire. "Oh, you clever, clever girl... But this connection is dangerous, Princess. And quite inappropriate in public. You need to let go, or you will be causing a most immense scandal."
"I don't want to..." My face heated at the admission, but I was willing to endure all the tongue-wagging. The warmth, the vastnessâit was intoxicating. I wanted to drown in it, to lose myself in the endless, interconnected roots.
But then, with a gentle push, Ciaran pulled away from me, and I staggered back into reality, feeling colder and smaller for the loss. He was still close, his hand on my back, steadying me, but the connection had retreated into the background. My breath came fast as I blinked, trying to ground myself again.
"I told you, Sweet. I never agreed to this kind of bond," he whispered, his lips brushing my neck before pulling back. "You're more than you realize. More than I even realized." His short laugh sounded breathless. "You are... something impossible.
My heart was pounding in my ears, and I couldn't stop staring at him. I wanted to pull him to me again both physically, and in that odd metaphysical way I'd done before, and the knowledge left me shaken. "What... what are you?"
Ciaran's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with a secret he wasn't ready to share. "Not Fae, that's for sure. But then, neither are you it seems. Not entirely." He winked, brushing a thumb across my cheek. "You'll find out soon enough, Princess."
Luis appeared out of nowhere, stepping in between us with barely restrained fury. "What the hell did you just do to her?" His hands were already balling into fists, and I could feel the possessive anger radiating off him like heat from a fire.
Ciaran merely raised an amused brow. "Relax, Puppy. I wasn't harming your precious toy. She and I simply... found we had... something more than just a bond." His eyes locked with mine. "We have much in common."
The look on his face made the words filled with all sorts of innuendo.
Luis growled, his jealousy flaring in our bond as he clutched my arm. "Stay away from her."
I sighed and tugged on Luis's sleeve. What he was asking was impossible, after all.
As I glanced around, I realized that others had noticed. The entire ballroom had gone silent, eyes fixed on us. A ripple of whispers passed through the crowd, and I caught Luke's gaze across the room, his expression one of deep concern.
The warning Ciaran gave me about wagging tongues was valid, but I tried to ignore the stares. I wasn't sure what just happened between me and Ciaran, but it had changed something.
Deeply.
"Luis, it's okay." I patted his arm, though I was still shaking a little. "We're fine."
Ciaran chuckled softly, his eyes glittering with amusement. "You're safe for now, Princess. But remember, you've tied us together. Our bond will grow beyond what these little mortals think is fair, whether you like it or not. It's because of what you are." He winked before turning away, drifting off toward Adrian and Dominic, who were by the food table, probably oblivious to the drama that just unfolded.
Luis's arms tightened around me. "What did he do to you, Matt?" His voice was softer now, but I could feel the tremor of emotion beneath it. "You don't know this, but you two were glowing. The entire party stopped because of it."
"Glowing?" I echoed, bewildered. I hadn't even noticed.
He nodded, looking down at me with worry etched across his face. "Yeah. It wasn't just a connection, Matt. It was like... like you became part of him. It was like you both turned into a single burst of light. I don't trust him."
I swallowed hard, my mind still swimming with the sensation I'd shared with Ciaran.
Even now, I wanted to go to him.
"I don't know what happened, Luis. But I... I need to figure it out."
"You don't need him," Luis whispered, his voice filled with quiet intensity. "You have me."
I looked into his eyes, feeling the depth of his emotions, and my heart ached with the weight of it all. But as I glanced back toward Ciaran, I knew that whatever had just happened was importantâvital, even.
"I don't trust anyone here, Luis," I admitted quietly. "Not even myself."
Luis didn't let go, even as I tried to pull away. His grip was firm, protective, as if he thought that if he let go, I'd slip through his fingers. The intensity of his feelings caught me off guard, flooding through our connection. He was afraid of losing me.
"I'm not going anywhere," I whispered, though it felt like I was trying to convince myself more than him. Luis's emotions were always so close to the surface, burning like a wildfire. But now, that possessive edge was sharper, as if Ciaran had unlocked something in him.
I took a deep breath and placed my hand over his. "I'll figure this out, okay?"
Luis's jaw tightened, but he nodded, finally loosening his hold.
I took a step forward, trying to compose myself, but the weight of the ballroom's attention pressed down on me. The whispers, the curious glancesâit was overwhelming. I could feel the gossip swirling, like a storm brewing at the edges of the room, and it made my skin crawl. Everyone had seen the connection between me and Ciaran. They had felt the power. That kind of attention could be deadly in the wrong hands.
As if sensing my discomfort, Dominic appeared at my side, a calming presence amidst the chaos. "You okay, Matty?" His voice was soft, concerned, and I felt the warmth of his affection seep through the bond we shared.
"I will be," I murmured. "Just a lot to process."
Dominic glanced over at Ciaran, his brow furrowed in thought. "That guy seems dangerous," he admitted. Then he brightened. "Let's get you some cake."
I nodded, grateful for him and the silly way he always tried to make my problems feel less daunting. "Thanks, Dom. Cake sounds great."
I wished that a slice of cake could really solve all my problems right now.