“I will attend the event with another, but that should not stop your enjoyment of the evening.”
“You’ll be fancy dancing with him all night. Everyone will be watching you. I’ll be watching you,” I huffed, doing an abysmal job of not becoming upset.
“Fancy dancing?” she teased. I didn’t respond. “What if I promised you a dance?” she asked, undeterred by my attitude.
“You want to dance with me? At the ball? Where people will see?”
“I want to have at least one dance with my pet. I would like to enjoy some part of the night. Will you do me the honour of one dance?” she asked.
“Yes,” I answered her breathlessly. Why was she being so thoughtful, so caring, speaking words that I could only dream of in the quiet of the night?
“Would you like to go dress shopping?” she asked again.
“Yes,” I told her. The idea of going to a town with her was exciting. I hadn’t been to towns often, but I always looked forward to their size and bustle and all the shops to look in on.
She purred behind me, the vibrations from her chest soothing.
“Sleep now, pet,” she commanded softly.
10. Dates, Dresses, and Potions
Persephone Flores
The guard knocked on the door while I drank my coffee. The Princess stood, her hand on my shoulder, silently telling me to stay seated as she walked past me to answer the door.
“My Royal Highness, an invitation has arrived,” the guard spoke. I twisted in my seat to look at the door.
“For whom?” the Princess asked.
“Persephone Flores,” he replied. For me? Who would send me an invitation?
“From?” she continued; her voice stone cold.
“Lord Dylan of Viridis,” he answered.
“It is declined,” she told the guard, shutting the door firmly.
Her back was tense, and she did not immediately turn toward me.
I was the girl Dylan had sent an invitation to. I should have known, after the kiss.
The Princess turned to me slowly, her nostrils flaring.
“Would you be terribly upset, pet, if I killed him, truly?” she asked me.
I knew she was furious; her eyes were bright, and her fangs pressed against her bottom lip.
“Please don’t,” I whispered. “He doesn’t deserve to die. He hasn’t hurt anyone, hasn’t hurt me. He knows I’m not interested, and I know he organised the invitation before, you know.”
“Before he kissed you,” she sneered.
“Yeah, before that,” I told her.
She growled loudly and was before me faster than I could track with my eyes.
“Percy,” she growled out my name, “This, you and me, there is no equality. You are mine. No one else may have you.”
“I know,” I told her.