Page 25 of The Rose in the Shadows

I grinned, watching them compete in what had to be a contest to see who could discover the most embarrassing dance move possible. I couldn’t stop myself from giggling at the sight of it.

Clayton shook his head at me but gave a crooked smile. “Come on, if you’re actually laughing, I know you’ve had too much champagne. Let me take you home.”

I was hardly interested in a private stroll back to my rooms with Clayton, but I certainly had had too much to drink. My head felt too light, like it might slide off my body at any moment. A yawn escaped me suddenly, and I struggled to cover mymouth. The thought of sinking into that heavenly mattress was overwhelmingly tempting.

So, I let him fold my arm into his and followed his lead out of the ballroom. He caught Iris’ eye as we left, and she waved enthusiastically at us from the dance floor. I felt the Dragon's gaze on me while we moved through the ballroom, but I found myself focusing on the Queen. She was the last thing I saw before stepping into the hall.

She hadn’t moved from her throne all night. Not even once. Even though it was a celebration in her honor, she had sat apart, deigning only to look out the windows onto the garden as the sun had set.

“The Queen didn’t seem to enjoy her party."

Clayton stiffened. “You’ll find her highness is rather subdued in all manners of her life.”

“She’s not your mother,” I blurted. It was obvious, of course, but it still felt wrong to say aloud.

“No, she’s not,” he agreed shortly. He spoke with clipped words, making his meaning clear. He would not be discussing that topic any further.

Instead, Clayton spoke quietly about some details of the artwork on the palace walls and about the history of the Gods. Some of their images I recognized from my initial history lessons with Hansel. Hyrax was absent, though. I had yet to see the likeness of my ancestor.

“Do you know how to waltz?” He asked me suddenly as we reached my door.

“Why?”

He raised an eyebrow. “The Peace Ball is in a few weeks. It’s an annual celebration to mark the anniversary of peace after the Great War. Delegations from Promissa and other countries will be in attendance.”

“Ah.” I nodded, understanding. “And it is to be my grand debut to the world?”

His lips twitched slightly in what might have been a smile if he ever allowed himself to grin.

“I suppose,” he conceded. “Perhaps you might prefer to think of it as the world’s debut to you. It’s a chance for you to meet some of our allies. People who might become part of your life one day.”

People who might become part of my life one day. If that future looked anything like my present, I wasn't sure I wanted to embrace it. I had spent the past few days being shuffled from one mandatory engagement to the next, reading scripted words, and being constantly reminded to 'behave'.

“And what life is that?” I challenged him, alcohol taking over the better of my senses. “The one where I’m locked away in this room until you decide to display me to your next party guests?”

He stiffened, his face grimacing.

“I am your Crown Prince, Thea. You must mind your tone.”.

I rolled my eyes as my anger mixed with a wave of shame. “So you say. But you’re hardlymyPrince. And the thing is, I don’t even blame you. I destroyed that bridge. Youshouldlock me up in this room and throw away the key!”

I threw the door open, pushed into the foyer, and dramatically threw myself onto one of the plush couches. Maturity had apparently left me after the final glass of champagne.

“But that’s the thing,” I continued. “You’re not just locking me up, you’re using me. You’re treating me like a doll to dress up and parade around. And my reward for good behavior is that maybe one day I’ll be able to sit on a Council I don’t want to be on and live the rest of my life in a castle I don’t want to stay in.”

He hovered by the door, hands clasped behind his straight back. He was a picture of princely decorum, not daring to travel farther than appropriate into my rooms even though I wasshouting loud enough that Hyrax himself might have heard me. I almost laughed out loud.

“Oh, do come in your grace,” I teased.

His eyes flashed golden, but he stepped in, closing the door quickly behind him.

“You’ve had too much to drink. I will forgive your disrespect because of it, but we have customs, Thea. I am the Crown Prince of Athenia from House Zion, and you must show me respect.”

I sighed, throwing my head back against the couch, wincing as I hit the wooden backboard. I was still rubbing the back of my head when a hiccup escaped me suddenly. Clayton sighed dramatically, pinching the bridge of his nose. I couldn’t help but giggle once more. He wasn’t wrong; I had too much to drink. I wouldn’t be this bold otherwise, and I suspected I might come to regret some of this boldness in the morning.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he reminded me.

“What was that again?”

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