Page 92 of Fake Fae-Ancée

Yuri

"Ladies and gentlemen,I present to you the Lady McKenn!"

Mother and Marina broke into enthusiastic applause and my breath caught when Kai stepped past Bates and through the double doors into the blue salon.

Or rather: she appeared.

The last time I had seen her in the ballgown, she had glowered at me like an angry ferret that someone had forced into a tutu.

Now, her flared skirt rustled as she strode across the shiny parquet floor, swaying slightly as she came to a stop. She held her hands clasped in front of her midsection. The bodice made of green silk wrapped itself shimmeringly around her curves. I had no clue about make-up, but Baba's stylists had worked their magic on her, making her eyes sparkle more than usual. They had also woven a glittering tiara into her pitch-black hair, had the whole hairdo braided and pinning it up, mesmerizingly accentuated her neck and shoulders, so much that I had to stop myself from stepping up to her and running my knuckle over the soft skin there...

"You look handsome."

I blinked, realizing she was talking to me.

Kai tilted her head, calm and composed, with that gentle smile she had trained herself to wear. It was nice, but I liked the other smiles of hers better. That wide grin when she knew she was absolutely right. That unadorned glow when I'd fed her French toast. The triumphant snarl when she had smashed another zombie on my PlayStation. That uncertain, vulnerable smile from last night...

I shook my head, trying to get the lights back on in the right parts of my brain. A pleasant warmth rose from my chest up to my face.

"Thank you," I muttered. It was the first time in many years that I was wearing the parade uniform, the official outfit of the reigning crown prince that I was not. Cornflower blue frock coat, gold buttons, and those stupid epaulettes on my shoulders. I probably looked like a nutcracker in disguise. The only thing missing was the saber.

"You also look..." I began and faltered. For the life of me, I couldn't think of the right word for the wild and untamed beauty she radiated in that ballgown. She looked like a fucking fairytale princess. No, no princess, she was every inch the future queen — my queen — that the prophecy had proclaimed. And in that moment, I realized painfully that I couldn't let her go.

Not because of the prophecy.

But because of her.

"You two are just beautiful."

My mother appeared in my field of vision, also gleaming in her ballgown, fanning a massive feather fan at herself.

"Yes, you'll win everyone over." Nicolai stood next to her, also in full parade uniform — he and Kostya wore the traditional velvet green frock of the Kalinin family — arms crossed, head tilted.

Kai beside me tensed and cast down her eyes, and I had a sudden urge to drape a protective arm around her. I shot Nicolai a warning look before taking Kai's hand and bringing it to my lips for a breathy kiss.

"You are really beautiful tonight," I said. And it didn’t even come close.

Kai blushed and blinked and I could have drowned in the sight of her. Bear gave a fierce growl, demanding to come to the surface. It was probably better that my family were present as well, and also the entire house staff, including Bates, Baba's stylists and hairdressers. Otherwise, the whole dressing up would be in vain and we'd probably leave for the Ball of Falling Stars with a significant delay.

So I mustered what was left of my self-control, whistled back at Bear, and let go of Kai's hand.

"Thank you," she whispered, averting her eyes.

Frowning, I followed Bates leading us out of the salon, shooting Kai a sidelong glance.

She did not look back.

As we climbed into the limo waiting for us outside with the engine running, I told myself that she was probably just nervous as hell. And that the hesitation in her gaze had nothing to do with us.

Kai

Charly:"Have fun at the ball! We miss you!"

My two girlfriends beamed at me in my messenger from another goofy selfie. Charly grinned, holding up one fist, pinky and pointer finger outstretched. Lily blew me a kiss.

That achy part in my chest clenched again. It felt like I hadn’t seen them in a decade. My old life back home, with my roommates, my little family, seemed distant and weird now. They could just as well be living on Alpha Centauri. I had to blink back a sudden surge of tears.

"You alright?" Yuri growled next to me.

---