Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
She grins, twirling in her sky-blue ballgown. Most of her hair is pinned up with curly, dark wisps dangling around her face. I swear she reminds me of a brown Cinderella right now. All she needs are glass slippers.
“You like?” Her smile is bold as she curtsies. “Oh, Willow, you are absolutely gorgeous tonight, my love.” She steps toward me, clasping my face in her hands and kissing both my cheeks. “And you, Caspian. Oh, look at you.” She presses a hand to her heart. “Rosy cheeks? Dressed to impress? Willow is really doing a number on you, isn’t she? You’re so in love. Look at you!”
Caz can’t help nodding, though his face does redden. I fight a laugh. He’s so easily embarrassed.
“You look incredible, Alora,” he says. “And the night is beautiful. Your team did a wonderful job putting this together on such short notice.”
“Oh, thank you, but believe me, it was a disaster at first. Several of the chandeliers broke during installation, and they really struggled with the exterior garnishes. But all is well now, and we’re here to have fun.” She leans in, saying, “The rooms for monarchs and their ladies are in the right wing if you feel the urge to use them.”
I bust out laughing while Caz’s face burns a brighter red. “Thank you for the reminder, Alora.”
“Well, I’m just saying—because you’ve never used them, is all. I didn’t know if you’d forgotten or—”
“I haven’t,” Caz says before sipping his whiskey.
She shrugs with a smile. “Right. Well, good. Willow deserves to be treated on this special night.”
Love of Vakeeli.
I laugh.
Glass shatters across the room, and a wave of gasps fills the air.
Alora sucks her teeth. “Should’ve known something would happen. Better check that out. Have fun, you two. I’ll catch you again when things slow down.”
Alora strolls away with Proll trailing her, and when she’s gone, Caz turns to me and says, “You really get a kick out of her embarrassing me, don’t you?”
I laugh again as he brings a hand to my waist. “I can’t help it. She’s hilarious and knows exactly how to get under your skin.”
“She’s a bit of a mental menace, that one,” he rumbles with his mouth next to my ear. He places a kiss on my cheek.
When I look over his shoulder, I can’t help noticing people are staring at us. They whisper amongst themselves, drinks in hand, cutting their eyes in our direction.
Don’t worry about them.
Caz leans back, tipping my chin and forcing me to look at him.
Let them look so they know you’re mine.
He moves to my side again, taking my hand just as Rowan comes our way carrying a gold goblet. I immediately notice the heavy scowl on his face as he nears us.
“Rowan? What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Juniper’s run off with some of her friends. They’re heading to the lake. I swear, she can never be simple.”
“Juniper? Simple?” Caz scoffs. “Never.”
“Well, I’m telling ya right now, Caz, I’m not fucking babysitting tonight, do you hear me?” Rowan stabs a finger into his own chest. “I’m here to have fun too.”
The music changes, violins and string instruments growing faster, and the chandeliers dim. Rainbow lights bounce off the walls, and pulsing glitter coils around the columns.
Everyone cheers, and a rush of excitement bursts through the ballroom as many people scurry to the dance floor.
“Mmm!” Rowan slams his drink down on a nearby cocktail table. “I’m on! They’re about to start the Truce Dance.”
“The Truce Dance?” I ask, but Rowan has already taken off and soon disappears within the crowd.
“It was once an elegant affair where people could dance with whomever they wanted, no matter the territory,” Caz informs me as he watches the crowd. “Now, it’s become more of a dance where all the singles go to the floor and rub their groins all over each other, then run off to available rooms together if they’re turned on enough. Trust me, that’s not our dance.”
“Oh. Wow.” Alora wasn’t lying when she said there was a lot of sex.
“There’s a couples dance later. We’ll get our chance,” he rasps in my ear. “Until then, join me on the balcony.”
SEVEN
WILLOW
On the moonlit balcony, chairs are lined up neatly to face the waterfall and sea in the distance. Fairy lights dangle from the ceiling and are wrapped around the marble railing.
Caz approaches the guardrail and immediately digs into his pocket for his pack of blooms. He sparks one, takes a pull, then exhales while I take a seat and undo the ankle strap of my heels.
“Here. Let me.” He lowers to one knee, the bloom pinched between his lips, as he helps me take off my heels. When they’re removed, I sigh with relief and give my toes a stretch.
“That’s soooo much better,” I breathe.
He chuckles as I stand again. I grip the guardrail to watch the waterfall. It roars much louder than the music inside, and whispers of mist blow with the wind to caress my skin.