Page 241 of Cursed Evermore
He stepped forward and lifted his hands, signaling for us to rise.
Once I straightened, my gaze landed on a tall, impossibly beautiful Fae woman behind him. She had the same platinum-blonde hair as Arielle but jade-green eyes that were so vibrant they seemed to shimmer like precious stones.
An ice-blue dress hugged her slender frame, dancing around her long legs as she made her entrance. Even from across the ballroom, cool elegance radiated from her and she moved with the willowy grace of winter as if the season answered to her call. Her beauty was the kind of ethereal and flawless perfection that belonged in dreams.
“Oh Gods, not her,” Arielle muttered under her breath. “What isshedoing here?”
I was about to ask who she was when the herald said, “Announcing the Royal Princess Seraphina of Thalyrius.”
How silly of me to wonder. Of course, she was a princess. She had the regal elegance and poise of a highborn lady. Daughter of a king.
The guests gave her a respectful bow but not as lengthy as the king's.
Princess Seraphina followed her father over to Dreynthor and Wolfe.
Envy ripped through me when Wolfe took the princess' hand and kissed her knuckles. I caught her smile and saw the desire-filled way her eyes roamed over him. There was an unmistaken spark of attraction I couldn't ignore.
I couldn't blame her if she wanted him. But he was... mine.
Gods, it was official. I'd gone crazy. I must have lost my mind like the lunatics on a full moon if that's what I was thinking—that Wolfe Nightblade was mine. Especially when nothing had made him mine.
I leaned closer to Arielle when Princess Perfect started talking to Wolfe and he gave her a tight-lipped smile.
“I'm guessing you don't like her,” I whispered.
“I don't know anyone who does.” Arielle kept her voice low. “She's a frigid bitch who does the devil's bidding.”
“Really?” I definitely didn't expect that answer. The princess seemed more like the type of person who'd be annoyingly nice.
“Yes,” she hissed. “I've had the misfortune of getting on her bad side more than my fair share of times. I wish the guys had warned me she was coming.”
Dreynthor stepped forward, arms raised to regain everyone's attention.
“My loyal subjects,” he began. “I'm truly honored to have you all here tonight, celebrating my name day.”
He paused to look around, his gaze briefly settling on me before he straightened and motioned toward the king and the princess.
“I am especially honored to have my dear friend King Paeulyn and his beautiful daughter with us.”
Seraphina threw him a graceful smile. The sight twisted my insides with envy I couldn't control. She might be the frigid bitch Arielle described, but she was someone Dreynthor approved of. He'd never think of her as low class or something to fuck and toss to the side.
“Tonight holds great value to me,” Dreynthor continued in an upbeat tone. “It pleases me from the bottom of my heart to announce to you this night the upcoming marriage of my beloved nephew, Wolfe Nightblade and Princess Seraphina Ashvalen.”
My stomach hollowed out then plunged through the floor.
Blessed Mother, did he truly say what I think he said?
Confirmation came quickly when applause thundered around me from the crowd. My knees threatened to buckle as the sound filled my ears like a war horn. The room slanted around me, the golden lights blurring into streaks of faces and color.
Wolfe was getting married.
Wolfewas getting married.
My chest constricted, each breath becoming a struggle as the reality crashed over me.
I looked at him standing there on the balcony. His gaze was fixed on Dreynthor, cold and haunting, filled with fury and surprisingly what appeared to be the same shock I felt.
Then he looked at me, his eyes wide and stricken.
