😘

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"Wait here. They'll announce you in a few minutes, at which time, you will make your appearance and descend the staircase. When you reach the bottom, people are going to want to meet you. I know it'll be a bit overwhelming, just do your best. Myself, Dristan, Warrick and Torryn will all be there if you need us. These people have been waiting a long time to see you. They have a great amount of love and admiration for you, so try to keep that in mind, okay?"

I nodded numbly at Andromeda as she adjusted the low shoulders of my tight, red dress. She gave me a beaming smile as she stepped back.

"You look perfect." She said.

"Thank you, Andromeda..." I whispered, butterflies swarming around inside of my gut.

"Please, call me Andi." She said. I smiled at her.

"See you down there." She winked at me and turned, disappearing around the corner of the hallway which led into the main entrance and grand staircase of the ballroom.

I heard a loud voice, echoing through the large room, as she made her way down the staircase.

"Announcing the arrival of Lady Andromeda Price, third in command and intended wife of Lord Dristan Draconian."

An eruption of applause sounded, drowning out the strange music filling the hallway. I'd never heard music like this before. It sounded futuristic, and sensual. The beat pounded through the floor and resonated through my heels, and up my legs. I felt the booming bass thundering inside of my chest, filling me with it's enticing rhythm. This was not a traditional ball, like the ones I'd heard stories of that were held in the human king's castle.

I grimaced at the sound of Andromeda's title, but pushed it away. I would not dwell on things I could not control. Not anymore... I was ready to embrace my future and the responsibilities I had to my crown. And I would do it with as much positivity as I could manage. That's what my parents would've wanted.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the moment we have all been awaiting! May I have the pleasure of introducing for the first time, High Lady Brenya Avery Alemaund, The last of the elemental bloodline, Princess, and heir to the Fae throne!"

Silence fell, aside from the music, and I took a deep breath as I walked toward the stairs. Time seemed to slow down and the music faded away from my senses as I stopped at the top of the staircase and gazed down at the scene below.

The ballroom was a massive, square shaped space, large enough to fit thousands of people, which it currently did. The floors were solid, white marble, with matching pillars lining the walls on either side of the room.

The ceiling of the room was curved upward into an inverted dome, and painted with countless, colorful, intricate dragons, flying among a brilliant night sky. The far back wall was lined with several windows, which stretched from floor to ceiling, and allowed for a breathtaking view of the snow capped mountain ranges and forest in the distance. The high ceiling seemed to be made of the dark rock of the volcano and numerous, silver colored, candle lit chandeliers hung from it, casting a dim glow among the room.

There was a stage in the center of the room, where a band was playing the music. Three Fae males played strange looking instruments that I'd never seen before, which was the source of the strange, futuristic music I'd been hearing. A Fae female sang and danced across the stage, but her eyes were on me like everyone else's.

After a moment of gazing around the impressive room, I looked down the stairs at the crowd of people staring at me with open mouths. Winged males and females off all different colors and sizes, along with countless Fae, with long, pointed ears and elongated canines stared up at me in awe. No one made a single sound as I swept my eyes across the expansive crowd of magical beings, my face a mask of calm indifference.

Then I remembered I was supposed to descend the stairs. I pulled back my shoulders and lifted my chin, trying not to let the crowd of magical beings intimidate me, as I began to slowly walk down the stairs. The long train of my red dress followed behind me, and the slit in the side of my dress allowed my right leg to peek out of the fabric with each step I took.

Every male face that my eyes fell upon had their jaws hanging open. They stared at me with wide eyes, which trailed up and down my figure as I moved. Females stared too, some scowling, some looking as if they'd gladly eat me up. I let a smile grace my lips as I felt a surge of confidence come over me. I knew I looked fantastic, and it helped a great deal with the nerves that were still roiling in my gut.

Halfway down the stairs, I scanned the silent crowd again, and briefly locked eyes with Dristan. He was standing to the far left of the room, near the front of the crowd. His back was facing me, but was looking at me over his shoulder and wide, black wings.

Warrick was standing in front of him, his eyes also glued to me. They'd obviously been engaged in conversation when I'd been announced. Torryn, who looked as stone faced as the last time I'd seen him, stood to Dristan's right, beside Andi, who was smiling hugely at me.

Dristan and I only glanced at each other for a breif moment before he hesitantly turned his head back toward Warrick. But in that small moment, I'd seen awe and pain on his face. His eyes had been wide, his nostrils slightly flared and his lips parted as he'd gazed at me.

A small sense of arrogance licked at my consciousness as I'd watched his response. I gave Andi a small smile before turning my head forward again. As I neared the bottom of the stairs, the music flooded into my ears once more, and I was immediately surrounded by adorning party goers.

"Princess, what an honor to meet you-"

"Please, may I show you around?"

"I cannot believe how beautiful you are, just like your mother."

"Amazing, that you're here after all this time!"

"Where did you get this amazing dress?"

"How are you liking the Aviary so far?"

I whipped my head around as everyone around me began blabbering at me, each of them striving to get my attentions. I gaped at them, feeling the paralyzing dread of nervousness that I thought I'd left at the top of the stairs, creep up my spine again.

"Back up, friends. Give the Princess some space." A smooth, male voice suddenly said from my right. I felt his hand gently touch the back of my arm, just below my elbow, and he began to turn me away from the murmuring crowd. "At least allow her the chance to get a drink so she can better tend to answering all of your incessant questions." He added. He began to steer me away, and though I was wary of a stranger touching me, I was grateful that he had.

I turned to look at him and my jaw nearly hit the floor. He was the most attractive Fae I'd seen so far, which was saying a lot because they were all so breathtakingly beautiful. He looked down at me and I felt my heart begin to race.

He was tall. He wore a black, perfectly fitted suit, with the collar loosely opened, and no tie. His towering build and muscular body filled the suit out nicely. He had light brown hair, which had been parted to the side and gracefully combed backward. His eyes were the brightest shade of blue I'd ever seen, much lighter than the deep blue of Dristan's. His full lips, when curled into a breathtaking smile, cause dimples to appear in both of his cheeks. He had kind eyes, which made me feel softened somehow when I looked into them.

We stopped near the far back wall of the room, near the large windows. Many long tables were lined against them, littered with desserts and drinks, and I nearly drooled on the floor as I swept my eyes over all of it.

"Here, try this one. It's quite good." The man said, picking up a martini glass with a translucent, purple liquid inside of it. It was garnished with a white flower on the rim and smelled like candy. I took it from him and gave him a shy smile.

"Thank you." I said, taking a small sip. I closed my eyes and let out a satisfied moan as the liquid hit my tongue. It tasted like sugar plums and candied grapes.

"Do you like it?" He asked, grinning down at me.

"Its delicious." I said, taking another sip.

"Just don't drink them too fast. Fae liquor is much stronger than human liquor." He said, picking up a glass of amber colored liquid from the table. He took a small sip.

"Good to know." I said taking a long drink. I fully intended on drinking too much tonight, so I ignored his warnings.

He grinned down at me and slightly furrowed his brows. "Are you a closet lush or something?" He asked, sipping his own drink.

I smirked. "No. Just nervous."

"Why is that, aside from the obvious?" He asked, gesturing toward the crowded room, full of people who were still staring at me.

The music grew louder and people began to dance. Some moved away, toward the outskirt of the ballroom, to give the dancers more space. The strange, booming music filled my senses and I found myself swaying a bit with the sound.

The Fae and Dragons, all dressed in varying gowns and suits, began to dance more erotically as the song grew in intensity and I felt my cheeks heating as I watched.

Females bent forward, wiggling their backsides in the air, while males grinded on them from behind. The males and females gyrated against each other relentlessly, some kissing passionately, as the music thundered on. They didn't seem to care that people were watching them.

Now I knew what Andromeda meant earlier when she said I'd fit right in with my provacative looking dress.

I giggled at his question as I watched the dancing intensify. "Well... aside from the obvious... I was told that there would be a High Lord here, who has apparently been wanting to meet me."

He lifted an eyebrow. "Why would that make you nervous?"

I sighed. "Because he is most likely under the assumption that I'll be interested in him." I took another sip of my drink.

"And you don't think you will be interested?" He asked, leaning against the table.

I scoffed. "I have more important things to worry about right now. I have no interest in the inflamed ego of men."

"Is that so?" He mused, his face breaking out in a perfect, white smile.

"What is this mysterious High Lord's name?" He asked.

"Ronan..." I said, scanning the crowd.

"Well, then." He said, setting down his drink and pushing away from the table. "If he see's you dancing with me, perhaps he won't approach you."

I smirked at him. The alcohol was beginning to feel warm in my belly and my limbs began to feel loose and relaxed.

"Who said I wanted to dance with you?" I asked raising a brow.

He smirked and extended a large hand toward me. "You owe me. I saved you from that crowd of vultures. And you are a dancer. I can tell."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I can tell by the way you move..." He said, his eyes sweeping over me from head to toe, and back up again. "And you are full of suppressed energy. You shouldn't keep that bottled up."

I cocked my head. "Supressed energy...?"

"Sexual energy, to be specific." He lowered his head, looking at me from beneath his brows. "The moment you locked eyes with me I could sense it."

My jaw fell open. "How dare you-"

He cut me off. "I'm only trying to help you un-cage that tiger that's pacing inside of you. But if you are too afraid then there's not much I can do for you." He shrugged.

I felt my cheeks turning red as I glared, open mouthed at him. His smile widened as he watched me struggle to close my mouth. I narrowed my eyes, drained my glass, and set it down before finally taking his outstretched hand.

"I am not afraid of anything." I hissed, stepping close to his chest.

His face lit up in a breathtaking, white toothed smile. I eyed his long, sharped canines as he did and I couldn't help the tendril of fear that slipped past my emotional barrier. He must've caught the scent because he pulled me closer, bringing me flush against his chest. He wrapped an arm around me, and placed his hand on the small of my back.

He leaned in and whispered in my ear. "Don't lie. It's not very princess like." His other hand held mine tightly, and then we were moving.

He swept us onto the dance floor, gliding us gracefully between the dancing couples who were lost in their sensual movements, their auras bright red with passion and lust.

My mind and body buzzed with the sweet sensation of growing intoxication, both from the liquor and the energy of the music and dancing.

And I let go.

I let go of my frustrations, my sadness, my anger. I just... was.

I looked up into the stranger's bright blue eyes and found him grinning down at me as he moved expertly in front of me. I felt my expression mirror his own, and I spun around, facing away from him. I looked at him over my shoulder as I pressed my back against him, swaying my hips from side to side in time with the beat.

I felt his hands brush the sides of my thighs. He slowly slid them up, running them over my swaying hips, up to my waist, and then back down again, as I moved on him.

I looked up and noticed Andromeda and Dristan dancing across the ballroom. I could only catch glimpses of them through breaks in the moving crowd, but I didn't miss the fact that Dristan's eyes were on me. He looked absolutely furious.

Andi was facing away from him, her hips swaying expertly against his front, completely oblivious to her intended's eyes upon mine. I glared at Dristan for a moment longer, annoyed at his disapproving expression. He was doing the exact same thing that I was. How dare he give me that judging look.

I tore my eyes away from him and kept dancing, turning up the intensity of my fluid movements.

I raised my arms above my head and spread my legs further apart as I rolled my hips and leaned forward. I felt the stranger's hips press into my ass as he ran his hand down my spine, and I wiggled against him playfully.

He suddenly pulled me back up and spun me around to face him, pulling me tightly against him again. He dipped me low, swinging me around in a slow circle, before lifting me back up to face him once more. I laughed as I wrapped my arms around his neck and he snaked his arms around my waist.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd laughed.

His face lit up as he gazed down at me. "I knew you were a dancer." He mused.

I smiled as I continued to swayed in his arms, bouncing slightly on my heels in time with the bass of the loud, intense music. And for the first time in weeks, perhaps the first time in my entire life, I felt....

Free.

"Lord Ronan..." A gruff, male voice said from behind me. I turn my head, locking eyes with the man, who did not look dressed for a party. He had a serious, no nonsense expression on his face as he glared at my dance partner. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but you are needed upstairs." He said, giving me a swift glance, before settling his eyes on my partner again.

I turned around, confusion swarming inside of my mind, as I stared at the stranger I'd been dancing with. He gave me a sheepish smile.

It took a moment for everything to sink in, as I was a bit foggy from the alcohol I'd consumed, but as the realization of who he was hit me like a ton of bricks, I instantly let go of him and stepped away.

"You are Ronan Regulus?!" I hissed.

He shrugged, and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his slacks. "You never asked me for my name. And you never specified the surname of this Ronan person that you were so worried about."

"You knew exactly who I was talking about." I growled.

He smirked. "Perhaps I had some idea..."

The fleeting joy and freedom I'd felt melted as I glared at him. He lied to me. Just like Dristan had lied to me. Just like my parents had lied to me. Was there anyone in this damned world who wasn't full of treachery?

I turned on my heel and started to storm away from him, but he caught me by the elbow and spun me back around to face him.

"Let go of me." I hissed.

"Don't be angry. You were having a nice time, Princess." He said, his face serious.

"I don't like liars." I said, narrowing my eyes.

"I didn't technically lie." He said, his head cocking to the side.

"Let go." I said, yanking my arm away.

He let go, and straightened himself. "I'll find you again, later. I'd like to talk with you."

"I think I'd rather be bound and gagged." I spat sarcastically.

"That can be arranged." He teased, lifting an eyebrow.

I scoffed at him, my jaw dropping, as my cheeks heated. Butterflies exploded in my lower gut as I glared at him. "You are disgusting."

"I told you... Princesses ought not lie." He said with a dangerous grin. "You are obviously attracted to me. I think disgust is far from what you were feeling just a few moments ago."