Page 23 of The Rose in the Shadows

Her fingers were gentle as they brushed over the white petals braided loosely into my hair.

“Come!” Iris demanded. “There are some people I want you to meet.”

She grabbed my hand fiercely, dragging me through the ballroom, stopping only to grasp onto two glasses of champagne. She clinked her glass against mine before downing it in its entirety. Clayton sighed dramatically from behind us, and Lorelai only giggled.

“One glass down, and we’re only an hour in,” Lorelai noted.

Iris winked mischievously. “How many did you bet?”

Lorelai shrugged. “It’s cheating to tell.”

“Six!” A baritone voice rang out.

Before I knew it, a colossal man had gathered Iris into his arms and lifted her off the ground, spinning swiftly. He was taller than any of us, with arms the size of my head. Iris screeched in joywhen she recognized who had grabbed her. A few court people glanced at us suspiciously, but the pair hardly seemed to mind.

“Rankor, what are you doing here?” She screamed in excitement.

He put her down and turned his attention to Lorelai, whom he also swept into a bear hug. She smiled softly at him.

“Not that we’re complaining,” Lorelai said to him, placing a hand affectionately on his arm. “It’s good to see you back in one piece!”

The man shrugged. “What can I say? I needed to go find myself.”

“And did you?” Clayton asked, exchanging a manly hug with the new guest.

“Perhaps not.” Rankor grinned wolfishly at his prince. “But I found Elena, Lenori, and many other lovely new friends along the way.”

Iris smacked his arm. “You’re disgusting.”

He winked at her suggestively. “Hey, anytime you want to find out how disgusting I truly am, love, you can let me know.”

She stuck out her tongue at him, but his attention had already turned to me. I tried not to flinch as he gave me a careful once-over. Like me, Rankor hadn’t exactly dressed up for the party. His pants were of the same tough fabric I had worn in the morning and tucked into worn leather boots, still slick with mud, as if he had come right from the mountains into the palace. He wore his shirt unbuttoned low, exposing the tops of sculpted pectoral muscles. His brown hair was longer than most kept theirs at court, falling in curls around his ears and neck, flecked with golden highlights.

“I’m Theadora,” I offered, extending my hand.

He grinned, bringing my hand to his lips. “Oh my dear, I’ve been in the wilderness for damn near a year, and even I heard of who you were.”

I couldn’t hide my shiver. Not from his attention, but from the reminder of my notoriety. The fame that the Dragon had forced upon me. The status that all at once felt unnecessary and undeserved.

“Rankor is a Brawn from House Arto,” Iris explained. “You couldn’t tell by talking to him, but he’s one of the most respected generals in the Athenian army and was on leave for the past year.”

“Brawn?” I questioned.

Rankor winked. “I’m really strong.”

“When did you get back?” Iris asked.

“This morning. I had planned to be back for the Peace Celebration, but I got a bit distracted foraging new… lands and such.”

“Do give it a rest, Rankor,” sounded an oddly familiar voice.

Two new guests joined us. Like most of the Descendants I had met, the man was beautiful, with dark skin and eyes. He bowed slightly to me and gave Clayton a formal bow as he approached. Clayton clapped him on the back fondly.

Trailing behind him was the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen. She had thick, long, dark hair tied back in a sleek ponytail behind her. Her eyes, already arguably perfect, were lined in kohl, and her full lips were painted a shade of red that stood out sharply against her tawny skin. Her black lace gown hung low over her chest and hugged her hips before flaring onto the floor around her.

“So,” she drawled, looking me over with raised eyebrows and pursed lips. “You’re the one we’re all supposed to be excited about.”

“Camilla,” Clayton chastised, his voice low in warning.

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