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“Good,” was my response as I grasped the skirt in my hands and pulled.
Ripping fabric filled the air, and Izidora’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. “What are you–”
“Hey, trust me I know what I’m doing. I wouldn’t ruin a fine dress for no reason,” I laughed, interrupting her.
“Fine, I’ll let the master work,” she joked, and I grinned as the last of the fabric fell away.
“Alright, let me show you,” I said, redirecting us toward the mirror. Shaking out the fabric, I ripped it again, leaving one long strand instead of a loop. Positioning her arms, I draped the fabric over them, then pulled on the ends to bring it forward. “See? You can wear this and it will cover the mark on your back while not diminishing the impact of your dress.”
“You are a genius, have I ever told you that?” Izidora chuckled with a small smile, her eyes filled with relief.
“I know,” I grinned, stepping away. “Ruslan will return soon and we should be ready when he does. Can’t have him any moreannoyed with me than he already is or I’ll never get to snuggle in bed with you two again.”
That earned a laugh from Izidora, and we returned to the mirror, gossiping and readying ourselves for the masquerade that I hoped would be less tumultuous than every other event over the last nine days.
37
Béke Day Nine
The grand ballroom at Ryza Citadel had been transformed into a gaudy, garish show for the Goddess, complete with the head of the stag bedecked with holly and red berries. Red was the only color that stood out among all the dark tones, and even then, it was the color of blood. Every one of the hundred or so tables was sprinkled with tiny gemstones, and the plates set out for the meal were hand-carved metal.
I hated every bit of it.
Especially because the intention of the masquerade ball was to be anonymous, and every Fae tried their best to be, some even going to great lengths to change their hair and eye color for the evening. As for me, I wanted everyone to see the new king of the Night Realm and show me the respect I deserved.
But there was only one person whose adoration I wanted, and at the moment, she was impossible to find. The ballroom was packed with people, thousands having turned out for one of the most anticipated nights of Béke, and more arrived by the minute. A tug to my left caught my attention, but my view wasblocked by heavy silk curtains draping from the ceiling. Cursing, I pushed through the crowd, my jaw tightening as my crown did not automatically part them. I’d at least donned a full-face mask that left my eyes and mouth free, pretending like I cared about the spirit of the event.
The garnet carpet led me to an alcove piled with soft pillows and furs and a large group of partygoers standing in a circle before them. Clustered around them were smaller sets of groups, like the planets orbiting the sun, and I stalked my way past, searching for a petite frame and aquamarine eyes I’d know anywhere.
The string that always led me to Izidora informed me she was nearby, but these damn outfits were making it impossible to tell people apart. If I didn’t know what my friends were wearing, I’d never have spotted Endre among the group, presumably with Liliana at his side.
And where Liliana was…
A flash of blue caught my attention, and I ripped my attention to the back of the group, where a pair of icy blues stared daggers into me. I allowed my lips to twitch up at the corners as I locked eyes with the Angel who had sought to keep me from my mate earlier that day. He hadn’t bothered to significantly alter his appearance either, his white hair on full display as it swept past his shoulders.
I sipped from my drink and moved out of his line of sight, circling the outer ring like a predator hunting its prey. With Liliana and Zuriel around, Izidora would not be far. Though, I hadn’t caught sight of Ruslan yet either. He was arrogant enough that I figured he’d come dressed as himself, maskless and parading himself about for attention.
Before I could slip further into the crowd, a hand caught my shoulder and spun me to face them. “There you are, King Kazimir,” High Lord Soma of the Day Realm said, High LordDomon accompanying him. “You didn’t try very hard to hide yourself.”
Slipping into my king role, I offered them both an easy grin. “And neither did you.”
Both males wore golden robes in the style of the Day Realm, with matching golden half-masks on their faces, accentuating their dark skin.
“Where are Queen Viktoria and King Consort Geza?” I inquired.
“Psh,” Domon waved a hand dismissively. “They are trying to blend in. I’ll leave it up to you to find them. Quite a challenge, I think.”
I seized the opportunity to scan the crowd in the center of the ballroom, not seeking out the Day Realm’s monarchs, but rather looking for Izidora and Ruslan. To my increasing aggravation, I found neither. “They must have put a lot of magic into their appearance,” I teased, “for I cannot find a sign of either of them.”
The High Lords chuckled beside me. “Will you join us for dinner? There are no place cards tonight.”
I sipped from my drink, letting the alcohol burn my throat before responding. “It would be my honor. We shall have to find a table with pretty females to keep us company too.”
“Here, there is no shortage,” High Lord Soma commented, making an appreciative perusal of the group to our right.
“Lead the way.” I swept my hand before me as a gong reverberated throughout the room, silencing conversations and sending bodies rushing to find a place at a table. As the Day Fae turned their backs to me in search of a spot, the grin slipped from my face, annoyance gnawing at my fingertips as I dug them into my palm. I hated that I was forced to sit in their company rather than spend my time seeking out the one person I wanted.
That tug came from my left again, and I whipped my head to the side. But I saw nothing through the throng of people. One byone, they claimed high-backed wooden seats along the massive tables slicing through the ballroom. Each was draped in iron-gray tablecloths adorned with that damn dragon symbol Ruslan seemed to favor. The thought of him withmymate and being unable to find either of them had me yanking back a chair with extra roughness as I settled at a table, surrounded by Fae in elaborate costumes.
