I reach a hand up to his helmet, fingers gliding against the cool metal. It’s like the whole rest of the world has disappeared into a haze around me. “Brown…”
Suddenly, doorswhooshopen and an icy gust of wind blusters over the entire ballroom. The crowd gasps and the music careens to a stop.
“Well done, Keldarion,” a rich voice booms from the doorway. “You’ve always known how to throw a party.”
And standing at the top of the staircase, leaning nonchalantly on the railing, is Caspian, the Prince of Thorns.
48
Rosalina
ThePrinceofThornsis here. In the Winter Realm. At the ballIorganized.
The room is so silent, every one of Caspian’s steps down the stairs echoes like a grave toll. Ezryn grabs my shoulders and pulls me flush against him, positioning his body in front of mine. I twist around to catch sight of the other princes. Dayton and Farron sprint across the ballroom. But not to Caspian.
To Keldarion.
They each grab one of Kel’s arms, keeping him tethered to the throne. And the look on Kel’s face…
My heart feels like it’s splintering.
Pure rage and anguish ripple across his features.
Caspian, on the other hand, offers the crowd a smile, so beautiful for one so evil. “I’ve come to pay my respects to the organizer of this fine ball,” he says, voice reverberating throughout the room. “It seems my invitation got lost in the mail.” His black eyes land on me.
Caspian… has come to see me? What game is he playing?
Caspian stops when he gets to the bottom of the stairs. He’s finely dressed, in a black jacket with silver lining along the cuffs and a cape of dark purple. His long black hair descends in waves over his shoulders. And those dark eyes… He’s so beautiful, I feel myself holding my breath just to take him in.
“Not a very warm welcome,” he says. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I simply want to dance like all you lovely fae.”
“Get out of my realm,” Keldarion snarls from his throne.
Caspian chuckles and starts walking again. The fae part before him. “I truly am not here to see you, my dear Kel. I’m here for…”
I see his lips say ‘her’. But in my head, I hear,You.
Breath seizes in my throat. I hold on to the back of Ezryn’s armor like it’s the only thing that will keep me tethered to the earth.
“His Majesty, Prince of the Winter Realm and Sworn Protector of the Vale, has told you to leave,” Ezryn says, voice all dominance.
Caspian raises a brow and stops right before Ezryn. He’s so close. If I were to poke my head around from behind Ez’s giant metal back, I could touch him.
“Ah, Ez, darling. It’s been a long time. I see you’re still Keldarion’s metal dog.”
“And you’re as unwelcome here as ever,” Ezryn growls back. “Don’t do this, Caspian. You want to fight? Fine. But leave her out of this.”
Caspian holds his hand aloft and examines his fingernails. “Unlike you, Ez, I don’t follow Keldarion’s every whim. I know you’d cut off your own hand if it guaranteed a belly rub from His Frostiness, but I have other business to attend to. And today, I’d like to dance with the prestigious guest of Castletree.”
Ezryn emits what can only be described as a feral growl, made all the more terrifying by the reverberation of his mask.
The tension in the room is palpable. I swear if I breathe too loudly, it could pop the whole thing, and the ballroom would implode.
“Hey, Caspian, you weren’t wanted at parties twenty-five years ago. You’re not wanted now,” Dayton booms from the dais. He’s still got a firm hand on Keldarion’s shoulder. “Why don’t you be a good boy and see yourself out?”
Caspian gives a dark chuckle. “Sure is easy to be the tough man when you’re standing beside Kel, isn’t it, Dayton? Remind me again, who is ruling the Summer Realm right now?”
Dayton stiffens, his handsome face scrunched up.