118

118
Emma

“Ready to g—” 

Ace turns around, his question getting stuck in his throat as he looks up at me. 

I giggle softly because he is a pro at keeping the perfect poker face, but this one slipped. “Sure, let’s go.” 

“How do I look?” Serena jumps right in front of her brother, and he answers, his eyes still glued on me. 

“Gorgeous.” 

Serena doesn’t give much attention to his answer, too caught up in spinning in her dress. I caress a strand of hair behind my ear, mouthing a ‘thank you’, causing him to clear his throat, snapping himself out of his trance. Pressing my lips together, I conceal my hidden amusement as me spreading my gloss. 

“Let’s go then,” he says, offering me his arm to take. I loop my arm around his, swallowing a squeal because this means that the five hours must have passed. 

He puts his hand on my arm while tightening the grip of his arm around mine, and I close my eyes shortly, enjoying the tingles traveling up to my shoulder. “You look handsome as well, by the way,” I compliment him, making him squeeze my arm. 

Even by keeping his gaze on the hallway in front of us, he can’t conceal the small smile growing on his lips. “I have to give it my all, so I don’t seem unworthy next to you.” 

“You are such a jerk,” I laugh, and he grins at me. 

‘We are not unworthy,’ Aamos chimes in, his pride clearly hurt by Ace’s flirting. ‘But he is right that we have to work hard to be at your side as you are the most beautiful creature in this world, mate.’

My heart leaps in my chest, my wolf howling in my head, making it difficult to think straight. 

Good thing I’m supported by his strong frame while I’m hanging on his arm. 

Suddenly realizing that I hear Aamon talking to me more and more, even when Ace is not right next to me, I feel my heart jump in my chest as this must mean that his demon is adjusting and he will be able to touch me without taking any medication soon. 

We reach the stairs that lead to the large garden, an arched bow decorated with roses of all colors opening onto a field of neatly-cut grass where a few guests are already walking through to reach the patio. 

Halting, Ace takes my hand, making me turn towards him. I hear Serena gasp, but I can’t bring myself to take my eyes off my mate’s face, who is bowing to press a kiss onto my knuckles. 

Sparks explode on the back of my hand, joining the ones spreading from my palm, only to jolt up my wrist, traveling further up. I inhale deeply, in the hopes of calming my racing heartbeat, but it suddenly feels like I forgot how to breathe. 

“Wow,” she states, elated, and I can’t agree more, only that she must be saying it about an entirely different thing. Her excited comments fade into the background, mixing with the sound of an ongoing party surrounding us. 

This mate bond is nuts. 

No wonder his demon lashed out after he didn’t mark me. 

“Ready?” he whispers, his baritone vibrating along my sizzling nerves. 

I nod, forcing what must be an awfully awkward smile. “Yes.” 

Straightening back up, he lifts my hand, which he is still holding firmly in his, and I grab the long skirt of my dress, not wanting to tumble down the stairs. 

“Be careful, Sese,” he says to his sister, but she is already running down the stairs. 

As we walk down the stairs carefully, I finally scan my surroundings, my emotions bubbling up in a mixture of amazement and reverence. 

But it is a palace after all. 

Serena runs over the grass, aiming for a fountain-like construction that pours punch over stacked glasses. She halts before it with big eyes, and a waitress approaches her to offer to fill a glass for her. As we reach her, she is accepting an elegant crystal glass filled with the orange liquid. 

“Thank you,” she says happily, taking a sip in the same moment that the waitress turns towards us. 

“Can I offer you a glass of punch as well?” She throws her hands up, folding them in front of her chest. “It is non-alcoholic.” 

The staff here is good. 

“In this case, I’d love one, too. Thank you.” 

After passing me one, she asks Ace the same question, and he nods even though he doesn’t seem very convinced about it. We thank her again and walk further towards the middle of the patio, and I study the platform in the center of it. It looks like a stage made of ice, its crystal design creating an optical illusion. 

Before I can lose myself further in it, getting sucked into a spiral while I ask myself what they will be using that for, I tear myself away. Sighing, I turn towards Ace, who is just distorting his face into a grimace after having taken a sip of the punch. “Where are Ryder and Junior, by the way?” 

“Some of the warriors took them to train or show them around,” he answers nonchalantly before he sees my face fall, changing his demeanor abruptly. “They are in good hands, I know the men, don’t worry. They just have to keep them distracted.” 

I nod over and over again, taking a deep breath in relief. “Good.” 

It seems strange believing him while he is wearing their uniform, but I can’t help feeling comforted. 

Flinching when he lays his hand on the small of my back, sliding it to my waist, I get him to chuckle as he leans his forehead against my temple. “I got you. Relax.” 

I open my mouth, ready to hiss at him about his audacity to tell me this in such a situation, when a murmuring captures my attention. 

A bunch of gorgeous dancers swarm onto the translucent glass, taking over the stage with waving fabrics wrapped around their limbs. The platform gets enlightened by small bulbs of lights, changing colors in sync with the music. 

I sigh, taking a step back as if I needed to create a larger space between me and the performance that, for some kind of reason, is making me uncomfortable. 

We are at a palace after all.