Page 71 of Of Withering Dreams
I tilted my head, my eyebrows drawing together. Before I could ask him what was wrong, Gavrel bowed, rubbed his lips together, and then walked away to a group of guards sparring, readying his sword. I sighed, focusing on the group.
“Winnowing, here we come!” Breena pumped her fists in the air excitedly.
I began to roll my eyes but thought better of it, smiling instead and rubbing my tingling hands down my dress. Progress was a good thing, and it was time I recognized it within myself.
26
FATED PROMISES
My ballgown swished rhythmically against the floor as I walked to the balcony overlooking the foyer. I rested my hands upon the smooth banister. Its surface—along with the staircases on either side—glittered like the night sky as the obsidian reflected hundreds of lantern orbs floating about. Luminous moonbeams nudged at the quartz ceiling, peeking through the prisms. Bursting with radiance, the star-shaped crystals of the chandelier sprinkled splintered rainbows over every surface.
My lips parted, a sigh slipping past them as haunting, melodic chords drifted over me, flowing out of the Great Hall. Closing my eyes, I swayed with the glowing spheres for a moment, letting the harmonies consume me. When the music paused, my shoulders slumped, and I looked down.
Kaden was waiting for me in the center of the foyer, studying me from below. I grinned, sliding my fingers along the banister as I walked down the stairs to my right. His eyes tracked my unhurried descent, the tip of his tongue sweeping across his bottom lip as a look of admiration settled across his features.
The midnight velvet of my dress matched the stone below my feet, and for a moment, I wondered what it would be like to melt and become one with it. The dress was magnificent, but I wasn’t accustomed to dressing in such finery—and the intensity of my best friend’s attention was overwhelming.
Made of crushed, black velvet, the full A-line skirt swelled from my hips and plunged regally to the ground, a modest train caressing the stairs behind me. From my left hip, the fabric overlapped and parted seductively, a slit running from just below my hip to the floor. With each step of my satin slippers, the air brushed against the front of my entire exposed leg.
Velvet flowed up my waist in a corset, the plush-covered boning creating vertical banding up my middle. The fabric then gathered in a softly pleated line that swept across my chest. Above this ruching, silk, rhombus-shaped appliqués—covered in glittering, black beadwork—cupped my breasts, creating a V-shaped cutout between them. The velvet shirred to the side of my left breast and split into two sections, with one section swooping over my left shoulder and the other draping over my left biceps.
As I met him, my ribcage was full of trapped, fluttering butterflies. I nervously touched the sides of my hair, ensuring it was still secured. Derya had helped me wrangle the fiery tendrils, sweeping the sides back and securing them in place with a pair of dark, bejeweled hairpins. They were the only accessory I wore aside from my embered ring.
Kaden’s penetrating gaze swept over every inch of me and then met mine as we stood under starry luster. “Seryn, you are breathtaking,” he rasped, adjusting the pewter cravat tied neatly around his neck.
“Thank you,” I murmured, dipping my chin as warmth colored my cheeks. “You clean up well yourself.”
He chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows, “Ah, nothing like a steamy bubble bath to set things right.” He held his arm out, the muscles stretching the fabric of his forest-green, double-breasted tailcoat. Silver buttons along its lapels and that of the mossy-hued waistcoat glinted in the chandelier’s light.
A rosy blaze crept down my chest at the memory of our intimacy. I bit my bottom lip and threaded my arm through his.
Jovial, bouncing music spilled through the doorway of the Great Hall, which had morphed into a grand ballroom. People danced and twirled in the center of the room, the colors of their attire streaking in a jumble of vibrant hues across my vision.
Thousands of lantern orbs continued into and around the room, hovering at various levels throughout the space. The vaulted crystal ceiling sparkled, stuck between the flaming globes and the moonlight.
I allowed the reins upon my ember to slip—just a bit—so I could see a multitude of auras flickering and shimmering around the Druiks. I smiled, enjoying the mystical ambiance of it all as I scanned the ballroom.
To the right was a small stage, a quartet of fellow citizens positioned upon it with their various string instruments and pianoforte. My hips gently swung to the carefree tune bouncing through the room.
Kaden smiled at me and stepped forward, leading me into the revelry. We meandered through the crowd, a mixture of polite smiles, head nods, and wary glances meeting us as we made our way to the left, where various refreshments were laid out.
The Elders perched atop the platform, Melina’s tight black sheath dress wrapping around her like thick, silky strips of bandages. Her gaze raked over me as if she wished it were her claws doing so, her full lips twisting snidely.
I averted my eyes, willing myself to ignore her attention. To take no notice of Balor’s slimy gawk as he stood with the other Akridais in front of the stage.
Tonight was for celebrating.
Melina could watch me until her eyeballs fell out of her face.
A slow smile stretched across my mouth at the thought.
“What has you grinning like that? Or who do I need to punch?” Kaden whispered near my cheek, his hand warm as he pushed my loose curls over my shoulder.
A breathy giggle left me. “No one. Just enjoying myself. Dance with me?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He took my hand and led me onto the dance floor.
He held me, one hand at the small of my back and the other wrapped around mine as we bounced and skipped around the floor to several lively tunes.
