Chapter 38: Cinderella in the ball.

_Lilac_

_Lycania is dead._

The first sentence on the untitled book with the crest from the library. It looks like it is a novel and if the opening sentence is like this, then I wonder what the whole book is all about. I read on.

_Maybe in decades to this time, no one would remember the real reason Lycania was split into two. Maybe no one would know about the Wylanda clan.. Maybe no one would even know there was once a country that accommodated both shifters and Lycans in one peaceful pack or maybe not peaceful, because we only tolerated each other and kept to our side of the city. Maybe no one would even remember the real royal house of Lycania. Maybe no one will, because our dignity has been stolen and our rights and titles have been ripped from us. Misplaced trust caused this. Trust no one._

~ Entry #1

"Lilac!" I slam the book shut and shove it inside my clutch. "Lilac, are you in there!" It’s Issy, she probably noticed my absence in the hall. Since I felt so choked up, I had immediately sneaked away from the gradually filling ballroom which was located in the west wing of the palace and slipped into the toilet to read the book I had brought with me.

"Lilac!" Issy calls again. Bookblocker! You know? Like cockblocker?

"Did you miss me that much that you have to follow me into the toilet." I tease, stepping out and coming facing to face with her not before rinsing off my hands.

She snorts. "You wish. Kael is here and he is looking for you."

My heart does a little flip at the mention of Kael’s name. I mentally face palm myself because I need to get a grip.

"Why is he looking for me?" I ask Issy as we both step out and walk further until we enter into the ballroom. In the ten minutes I have been away, the room is now filled up. The ballroom is decorated in a beautiful color palette, with dark reds, oranges and yellows being used throughout the entire place, hanging glided chandeliers and a mable floor reflecting the candlelight that sits on all the tables. It’s also full of people from all over, some familiar while others were completely new.

We both walk in as they greet us and make space for us, but my attention isn’t on this. Rather, my gaze is fixed on the man that stands just a few feet away beside one of the tables. Prince Kael Aspen, my husband.

In an almost dreamlike state, I watch him walk up to me, his signature icy yet cocky look perched on his face, tendrils of stray hair fanning his face, and I am sure my brain does a spiral down the tunnel. I gulp just as I see his nostrils flare ever so slightly. "You look beautiful." He says when he is finally very close to me. "So fucking beautiful." He whispers, leaning closer and then breathing in sharply as if inhaling my scent. He snakes his arms around my waist and then pulls me flat against him. I gasp.

"Kael-" My voice sounds so throaty, I am not even sure it is mine. Why am I like this? Because of him.

"You left without me."

"I didn’t see you and the convoy came so I had to leave."

"You could have called."

"I couldn’t reach you." I mumble. His fingers come up to my face to tuck my hair nearly behind my ear. I am going to pass out.

"I hate it when you are away from me Princess-"

"Let's go up to our seats, the ceremony has already begun properly."

By our seats, Kael meant up there along with the royal family where the spotlight was centered on. Heavens, I hate attention. Kael and I climb the stairs up to the designated place that housed thebrpyal family and some other people I notice that as my eyes falls on General Caulder and his daughter, sitting just at the right side beside Talon and Lola.

I don't think Beryl has noticed me yet. There is another couple sitting at the left hand side of King Alvarez, the Queen and Issy. I don't recognize them but they are not young. The King and Queen seats at the head of the table looks like a makeshift throne and while King Alvarez sipped his wine, Queen Jada looks on with a bored expression.

"What don't you like?" Kael asks, noticing my obvious discomfort. I am about to answer Kael when King Alvarez speaks up.

"It is a good thing you are here son, come over here. We need to introduce you both to the whole of Lycania." He grins at us, gesturing for us to come sit in the empty space beside the older couple.

Nerves rack in my brain as we approach the table. The whole occupants of the table all turn to stare at us. I almost trip at the speculation but Kael's hands grab my waist to steady me. We take our seat just as Beryl turns her head to stare at me.

The hate in her eyes is so raw that if looks could kill I would be drop dead by now. Why the hell does she hate me though? I have not recovered from Beryl's deathly stare when I feel Talon's gaze on me. He gives me a knowing smirks as I look at him holding up a wine glass to me and mouths; "Cheers" I shiver, I am in the midst of fucking predators.

"So it is true, The prince got himself an human bride." What did I say about predators? They are every fucking where. The man who spoke is a noble, seeing that he is sitting on the same table with us. There are about five other men too, some with their wives, I'm assuming they are Elders. The man eyes gleams with curiosity as he inspects me.

"It is true Elder Basil, it is right that we joined hands with the humans, who knows what else they can offer us." King Alvarez replies, his own eyes appraising me in a manner that has me sinking lower in my chair. Why did I not notice that he had that same look like his son, Talon?

"Given our history with them, I don't think there is anything the humans can offer," Talon chimes in just as Kael's hands slips under the table to snake his palms over mine. He does not look at me as he does that but I heave in a sigh as he slowly starts to graze his fingers over mine causing a soothing feeling to overwhelm me. I relax—a little.

"The Crown Prince is right, what can weak magicless creatures offer us?"

This time, it is anger that is starting to override my senses. Why are they talking like I am not here. "Well, we are yet to find out but I am sure there are a lot of things that we can both gain from each other. Right, Lilac?" King Alvarez beams, looking directly at me.

I clamp down the saucy retort that bubbles up in me and I give them all a forced smile. "Of course, your Majesty." The Elders all burst into laughter at my reply. What the hell is funny?

Three hours. I just need to endure for the next three hours and I can leave this death hole.

"Do you want to dance?" Kael leans over and whispers to my ear, his breath is warm on my neck and I shiver in delight.

"I don't dance." I whisper back.

He chuckles, a low rumble that reverberates and seems to shake up all of my insides. "Cone on, I won't let you fall."

"Playing the gentleman, are you?" I tease but reluctantly I take his outstretched hands and follow him to the dance podium. that had been set up on the center of the platform. He holds my hand firmly, but gently.

Once we reach the front of the podium, we stop and stare at each other, his dark eyes roaming over my features taking in every aspect, making my skin burn beneath his piercing gaze. "Just keep your hands up near my chest." He says as I stand beside him, his long arm wrapped around my waist, holding me tight. I don't know how he knows exactly where my hands will end up since his hand rests on my hip, making my skin burn from his touch alone, there are a group of people who are preparing themselves to dance.

The first song ends and a new one begins, everyone gets started and begins moving to the music, while I keep my eyes lowered, trying to avoid staring at everyone and everything. It looks like they are all watching us. I guess it is because no one knew Kael had a wife.

We sway to the music, moving back and forth in rhythm. The whispers from the guests seems to fade into the background and it seems like we are the only one here. "You are not that bad of a dancer."

"I assure you, I'm a very bad dancer. Pure luck is what is keeping me standing."

Kael's smirk widens. "What would you rather do than dance?"

I shrug. "Read?"

Suddenly the lights go out and there is an instant chill breeze that seems to float into the room that blows off all the lighted candles and then the whole ballroom is plunged into total darkness.

Whispers.

"What is going on!"

"What the hell!"

Kael tightens his hand on my waist. "Don't move, they will resolve it soon."

I try to bring out my phone from my clutch but then there is a loud scream and the lights are back on. My chest is beating fast because somehow I can sense it. It is death, hanging in the air. Someone was just murdered—yet again.

"Kira!!!"

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