Page 75 of The Heir's Bargain

Chapter 18

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Dani hadn't shown.

Her parents, brothers, and sister-in-laws stood in the crowd, but Dani was nowhere to be seen.

Dani's absence, however, did not prevent Lord Cunningway from stretching out a hand and saying, "Prince Fynneares, if you will lead us into the night."

I glanced at the doors, now closed. It didn't matter how many times I looked at them. It wasn't going to force her to walk through them. My gaze flicked to my mother standing beside Lord Cunningway, sadness filling her countenance.

I rolled my shoulders back before tipping my head at Lord Cunningway. "It would be my pleasure."

I strolled toward the center of the dance floor, and everyone's heads turned, watching my every step with bated breath. I didn't let my eyes wander the room, nor did I show an ounce of hesitancy or worry. I shoved it all down—the disappointment and the regret—and forced a steady smile to my lips.

As my gaze rounded the inner circle of the guests standing on the edge of the ballroom floor, Rosalina gave me a knowing look. When I slipped into her mind with little effort, her thoughts were a torrent of egotistical and power-hungry sentiments.

Did he truly think he could do better than me? The queen's crown was always meant to sit on my head.

I gritted my teeth, my jaw popping.

I might not have loved these events. I might have often spent my time drinking too much wine or dancing with too many women. More often than not, these balls were a frivolous display of wealth and prosperity. However, they were also a visual representation of our kingdom's unity, culture, and strength.

And today, I had a responsibility to my kingdom.

But what about the responsibility I have to myself?

I tried to push the thought aside, but it was persistent.

My gaze flicked to Terin, and a sad smile appeared on my brother's lips.

This was not what I wanted.

My fingers shook as I held them tightly behind my back. My tie suddenly became too tight.

I peered at my mother again, but her attention was no longer on me.

The doors creaked open, ripping through the silence.

My heart plummeted as the doors opened, sending a shiver spiraling down my spine. I turned, and there she was.

Dani stepped inside the ballroom, drawing the attention of the entire ballroom. Golden sunlight streamed inside through the tall windows covering the walls, and Dani froze beneath it. Her eyes widened as she took in the room and the thousand faces staring up at her. Then, our gazes met, and a wide smile split across my face.

Perhaps I should have been furious that she was late. Or, at the least, disappointed and frustrated.

But I wasn't.

Because she was here.

Hundreds of people stood in the room, but their faces blurred into the background when I locked eyes with Dani. The guests' thoughts were only a dull buzz in the back of my mind, yet I was nearly sober. Because when I was with Dani, no one else mattered. Her thoughts were the only ones I cared about, even if she kept them locked away.

And atop the stairs, Danisinia Ferrios was radiant.

The seamstress' assistant, Lorallye, had been right. The purple dress had been made for Dani. When she first tried it on, I was rendered speechless. The woman before me had no longer been the girl I grew up with. She was so much more.

When I requested the dress from the boutique, I had the seamstress alter the dress slightly. At the bottom of the dress, tiny crystals were now embroidered into the material. With each step Dani took down the steps, the dress sparkled, a trail of shimmering diamonds trailing behind her.

Her curls hung loose down her back. Her collarbone, shown off by the low-cut dress that dipped between her breasts, sparkled in the gleam of the golden light. Above the crook of her elbow, thin gold bands wrapped around her arms. Dani was the sun itself, brilliant, beautiful, and absolutely blinding.

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