Hey, y'all ok so I have to say something before the chapter so bear with me.

, a lot of you have been commenting that you think there should be fewer curse words. I tend to curse a lot and this book is mature and I mentioned that in the Intro. If you are really not comfortable with curse words, I can try and limit them but this is a mature book.

, a lot of you have been asking about the spice level of the book and there are a few reasons I want to hold off on it for a bit. To get to a spicy scene there needs to be a build-up to it and I feel like it isn't at the right time with the story and also I feel like we need to get to know the characters a bit better

I will be going live ( this ) at on my TikTok (). Join if you can I will be talking about the book and its wonderful characters and other things as well

'Perfect' I thought to myself 'Not only will every man in the room be attracted to me but, I will also be able to make Caspian extremely jealous. That's what he gets for not apologizing.'

In the next hour, my hair was pulled and tugged in so many different ways I thought I would go bald. My maid was ready to paint my whole face, but I knew it wouldn't do. I asked her to line my eyes with a shape black 'wing' shape and paint my lip's a bold dark red. As for creams, I could keep count of how many were rubbed on my body and for perfume no matter how hard my maid asked, I only let them spray me with rose water.

As I looked in the mirror, I couldn't help but stand in awe. I looked like a beautiful, brave new girl, not some scared shitless 18-year-old about to risk her dad's life. My hair was curled in a half up half down hairdo with golden leaves in the pieces that were tied together. My face seemed sharper and more sophisticated.

Annie burst through the doors of my chamber at that moment and handed me the dress.

"It's done." she said gasping for breath, "I cinched the bust and the hip area and used the extra fabric to drape it on the side so if you are wearing a dagger, it wouldn't stick out."

"It is perfect Annie", I said, stepping towards her and giving her a hug, "Thank you, you will forever be known as the girl who saved the king".

A smile spread across her face as she ushered me behind a partition, "Go on and put it on!" she exclaimed "I want to see how it looks".

After a few minutes of me wrestling with the fabric, I managed to pull the dress over my body, and as I stepped out, I heard Annie gasp. I rushed over to the mirror and my eyes grew to twice their size. Wearing something of this style was unheard of in our days. No corset, no puffy sleeves, and no giant skirts. I knew as I looked at myself in the mirror, I wouldn't screw this mission up. There was no way I could.

I put on my heels and strapped my dagger to my right side. As I was about to walk out of my bedroom when I was met with a blonde female.

"Damn you look fine as hell", she said as she gasped.

I let out a giggle. No one has ever complimented me like that, especially a girl.

"You're Aloia right" she said as she put out her left hand to shake. I gladly took it.

"I'm Calandra and Lorenzo told me that I have to escort you to the ball." She explained, "I personally think Lorenzo is a pain in the ass."

I let out a snort "No one is a bigger pain in the ass than Caspian"

"I think I just found my new best friend", she said and looped her arms around mine. She was wearing a dark blue gown similar to mine but more modest.

As we walked to the ballroom, we were having a friendly conversation and I made a comment about Lorenzo's need to babysit people.

"I know right, he acts like my fucking mum", Calandra said with a laugh.

"Excuse me", said a man in front of us. We both looked up and met his stare. He looked disgusted and I rolled my eyes. "It is unlady-like to be dressed in such attire and have such a vulgar language." He said with his nose pointed up in the air acting all superior.

"Oh get fucked", Calandra and I said at the same time and started to laugh. His eyes grew and he let out a huff and walked away.

"You really are my new best friend, Calandra," I told Calandra.

"Oh, please call me Cal", she replied, as we continued walking.

When we finally got to the ballroom Cal stepped aside and told me I needed to go in by myself. I cringed and tied my mask on, but she whispered into my ear right before the doors opened "Don't forget who you are". I knew she meant I was the King of the South's daughter and at that moment I felt it.

As soon as my name was announced the doors opened and I felt everyone's eyes on me as I glided down the steps. I prayed to whatever G-d was listening that I didn't fuck up.

I looked down at the people staring at me. Silas' eyes ran up and down my whole body which could be seen even through his mask and his mouth lifted into a smirk as he moved to the center of the staircase to greet me.

I felt Caspian's gaze from where he stood in the middle of the ballroom. His eyes through his black mask connected with mine as a shudder flew through my body. And I could tell he was thinking of the different ways he could rip this dress off my body.

I scanned the room and saw multiple men staring at me as if I was a meal. The thought of a meal made my mouth water. I hadn't been able to eat all day with the preparations, so I needed to eat.

I saw my father, Weylin staring at me with a giant smile on his face. It was easy to locate him because Lorenzo had mentioned before he was to wear a yellow mask. He looked like a proud father.

I had finally reached the bottom steps and Silas held his hand out to me and I graciously took it. He pulled my hand towards his lips and gave it a kiss keeping eye contact with me.

"You look absolutely breathtaking dear", Silas whispered.

I suppressed a shudder but then quickly remembered this was all an act. He was trafficking women and men from the South. But one question confused me. Why was his father's name on all the documents and not his? He was too good of a liar for his own sake, or maybe he did not know-

"Excuse me", a voice said in front of me.

I quickly looked up and saw a tall, brunette boy standing in front of me with a smirk.

"Would you do the honor of dancing with me Lady Aloia?", he said with a bow and an extended arm.

He certainly had guts to ask the Prince's mate for a dance. Silas growled but I placed an arm on his chest to silence him.

"Of course, "I replied, taking his hand. I turned back to Silas and whispered, "I'll save the best for last".

But that was a lie. I knew Caspian was the best.

'No' I told myself. 'We aren't falling for him. Absolutely not'. I pushed my thoughts away as the young man led me to the dance.

"My name is Michael'', he said with a deep courtesy as he pulled me into his arms. "And you look rather ravishing tonight dear."

I knew he met to turn me on, but it made me cringe in disgust. Partly because he spit all over me in the process and partly because he was about to grope me.

His hand slowly slid from my back to my butt, but I moved his hand back up.

And he had the audacity to wink.

'What the fuck was she wearing?' I thought to myself as I saw her walk down the royal staircase. Her dress was made of silk and hugged her body in all the right places. Her eyes were sharp and hair cascading down her open spine. I imagined myself pulling it back and kissing my way down her neck.

She knew what she was doing, and she was pissed at me for not apologizing before. One look at her and I was ready to get on my knees and grove for an apology. I wish I could carry her up to my room and rip that dress off her.

And of course, she was greeted by the bloody prince. I glared from afar and saw another man approach her.

I gritted my teeth as I saw Aloia follow a young man out to the dance floor. I was supposed to dance with her tonight and be the only one to catch her eye.

Weylin practically raised me when my mother was taken by the North and my father was slaughtered for trying to stop the Northern soldiers from taking her. Before the soldier came into our house my mother forced me to hide in a closet. I heard my mother's and father's screams and remember it like it was yesterday. I wake up at night often in sweat because of it. Weylin came to inspect the ruins of the house and to check if there were any survivors, and that's when he found me. He took me in, clothed me, fed me, and treated me as one of his own.

I used to ask if he had any other children of his own and he told me about his daughter, Aloia. How he missed her, and how he wishes he could see her in person. He told me about the letters he got once a year from her mother, with stories about his daughter. He retold me all of the stories and I would dream about this girl who I never met. I knew from then on what or rather who my future belongs to.

I could feel that we were mates. But since Aloia refused to see me as a mate, or even as an admirer, the bond can't snap into place.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I saw the man, who she was dancing with, put a hand on her butt. I was about to walk over to her and punch the guy in the face when a hand was put on my chest and stopped me.

"Don't", a voice said.

I turned my face and was surprised to find it was Silas. Even through a mask he recognized his royal highness. I realized his hand was still on my chest and I pushed it off.

"Don't do what?" I growled at him. Who was he to tell me what to do and what not to do?

"You know I looked into your background when I realized you were involved with Aloia. And don't deny it, I am not stupid. I see the way you look at her. But as you know I am also interested in her." He stopped looking at Aloia and turned to me.

"I know you came from the South and that you are here to cause a threat, but hasn't the South done enough?"

"What?" I said quickly, turning to him. "The South? The North has been trafficking people from the South for the last 15 years."

Crap, I thought to myself, I probably just gave myself up.

"No", Silas said, stepping closer to me "The people from the South have been escaping to the North for the last 15 years because of the tyrant in the North."

A smirk rose to my face when I realized Silas had no idea about the true conflict between the North and South.

"Daddy dearest hasn't told you everything princeling. And when you do find out the truth then you will understand what I do and why I do it." I started to walk away but quickly turned around to add "If you dare tell anyone about this conversation, well you are forgetting Aloia is involved too. And we wouldn't want your dear mate to get in trouble"

I stormed off and grabbed Aloia by the hand pulling her out onto the balcony.