119

119
Emma

“Wow,” Serena whispers, and I can hear the sparkle she must have in her eyes in her amazed whispers. 

I smile, caressing her hair, careful not to dishevel her cute updo. 

The dancers move to the live music playing, and it would be absolutely astonishing if my wolf weren’t going feral in the back of my mind. 

‘What is wrong?’ I ask her, but she only huffs, turning her back to me. 

I know that they are looking breathtaking, and the sole fact that they have all the right curves in the right places and are putting them on display can’t possibly make her that jealous. 

Is it jealousy? 

One of them captures my interest especially among them. She has beautiful long black hair. Her curls are collected partly with a transparent fabric elegantly wrapped around her head. It matches the dresses and clothes they are holding and twirling around. And while I would like to think that it is just her being that captured me, it is something else. 

She seems to be looking towards us a lot, and I keep stealing glances at Ace, finding him clenching the glass in his hand a bit awkwardly. 

That’s strange, I think to myself, causing my wolf to growl in my mind. 

Isn’t it?! 

Serena bounces on her heels, dancing to the music, while my heart grows heavy, and I cross my arms, my wolf growing increasingly agitated in my mind. 

In the hopes of easing my anxiety, I’m just about to open my mouth, wanting Ace to look back at me when someone creeps up behind us, making me jump as he practically shouts. 

“Good evening, my beautiful ladies.” 

Ace is as stoic as ever, so I’m not surprised that he remains unbothered, facing Zenis with an annoyed face, but I’m taken aback by Serena, who must have already become accustomed to his behavior because she turns around with a smile before she hides herself behind me. 

“Are you enjoying the party?” he asks with a beaming expression. 

I smile, loosening my grip to wrap my arms around me. “Very much, yes.” 

Serena presses at my side, and I let go of me to put my hand around her shoulders. “Are you here to party as well? Or are you still working?” 

My eyes roam his white uniform with the golden embellishments shortly, already able to guess that this must signal that he is kind of off duty. 

“I’m here to party as well,” he confirms with the broadest smile that I have ever seen before his gaze moves to Serena. “Would you like me to show you around? It must be boring to watch these spectacles with all the grown-ups anyway.” 

Serena looks up at me, insecure, and I put my hand onto her head. “You can choose whatever you feel up to, my love. Don’t be afraid.” 

“Okay,” she sighs, stepping out of my shadow. “I’d love to have a tour.” Zenis lights up even more at Serena’s confessing to wanting to go with him confidently, and for a second, I feel incredibly proud of her. 

“Have a lot of fun then,” I tell them, getting happy nods in return. 

Taking a deep and slow breath as I watch them walk away, I follow them with my eyes until they disappear from my sight. “Was it right to let her go with him? They seem to get along pretty well,” I ask Ace while turning back around, wanting a bit of confirmation to ease my anxiety. “Can we trust him a little bit?”

“I hope so,” he answers with a chuckle, making me squint my eyes at him. “He is the crown prince.” 

It takes a few seconds for the information to reach my brain, causing me to gasp with an embarrassing delay. “Oh, no. I need to get her. That’s not good.” 

I’m moving back and forth like a headless hen, not really knowing where I need to go, when Ace holds my upper arm, getting me to hold still. I look up into his dark eyes, gulping as the red speckles twirl in them. “Relax,” he whispers. “It will be okay. Don’t make a fuss.” 

‘Also, us letting her go with him will signal to the court that we trust them. That’s a good thing,’ he mindlinks me, making me roll my eyes. 

I guess he must be very special, huh? 

Looking around, I see how the performance is still going, and the party guests are still concentrated on the dancers. Wetting my lips with my tongue, I face him again. “If you can mindlink here, could you contact Ryder and ask him to send Junior to look after Serena? I guess that will make it less obvious.” 

“I don’t know if…” he starts, but I take a step closer to him. 

“Please.” 

He bites his bottom lip, his eyes locking with mine. “Okay, but…” I observe his eyes glaze over, hypnotized, only for him to scare the shit out of me as he grabs my wrist. “There is a condition.” 

“Wha—?” I breathe out while he drags me back to the palace and up the stairs. I bite my tongue as I fight to keep up with his long strides in my heels. 

“Ace,” I plead, feeling like blacking out from the pain shooting from my feet up my legs. “Can you please slow down?” 

“No,” he answers coldly, and I’m just about to cuss him out when he turns around. I squeal as he lifts me, throwing me over his shoulder. 

“Sorry,” he murmurs, positioning me carefully not to crush my belly. 

Dizziness creeps up my stomach, making my head spin while he conquers the labyrinth of hallways and staircases. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, and concentrate on his scent, lulling my heartbeat to slow down. 

He finally halts, pushing open a large door, setting me down behind it. 

I scan the room, lost, looking back at him just as he closes the door, locking us into the large hall. 

“These used to be my quarters,” he answers my silent question, making me blink up at him. “You are freaking out. And not having Kai at your side in this moment must be tough. So, maybe I can help out a bit.” 

My breath hitches in my throat as he steps into me, getting me to take a step back. “Just a bit,” he repeats, his eyes turning fully red. 

“Erm… Ace?”