“Come with me?”
“This is supposed to be your grand entrance. I’m just going to slip back down through the servant’s entrance. When you go in, don’t go to Zayden. Go to your father and you’ll have him coming to you. Let me deal with Izin.”
I nodded, taking a breath. “Okay.”
Kathryn slipped away and I stood looking at the curtain. I took a step closer and peeked inside at all the people and looked around more until I spotted the two main tables. My father was sitting at one with Izin and Trever and Zayden was sitting at the other with my friends but it was all the way across the ballroom. I would have to walk through everyone to get there.
I closed it back up and the thought of having to do that made me take a deep breath. “Be a Princess. Be a Princess—and don’t fall.” I slowly reached forward with both hands and opened the curtains, stepping through. It only took a second before people started to turn their heads.
I didn’t move and neither did anyone else in the ballroom. I tried not focusing on any one person but I did see Zayden watching me. He was still by my presence.
Trever came up the stairs to me with a smile and spoke softly so his voice wouldn’t travel. “You in a dress? Something I didn’t see you putting up with.”
“It wasn’t my idea.” I took his arm and we slowly started down the stairs. “Kathryn made me.”
“Because of Zayden? Want to make him jealous?”
“That wasn’t my intent.”
“Oh, you know it was. How are you at acting? I haven’t really seen your work.”
“What kind of acting?”
“We are about to share a dance and you are going to look at me like we’re in love.”
I tried to hold back a laugh as we reached the bottom on the stairs and started to walk through the crowd. “In love? With you?”
“Thanks. You make it sound like no one ever could.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just never thought of us that way.”
“This is for pretend.” Trever said as we stopped in the middle of the floor. “You came here for a reason now prove it.” He pulled me into him as the music started to play and we were the only ones moving.
I made my acting very good and never took my eyes off Trever like I couldn’t as we moved. Other people started to join in the dance but left the entire middle of the floor for us.
“Our finale.” Trever whispered. “I want you to kiss me.”
“What?” I was a little in shock by his request, trying to keep my normal exterior. He was much more like a brother to me than a lover. We’ve never intimately been together before.
“End it in a kiss. He’ll go crazy to want you back. Trust me.”
Everyone posed for the final note and Trever and I leaned into each other. My head was tilted back and I put my lips up into his while everyone else clapped their hands for the dance. It was―surprisingly pleasant.
“You act better than I expected.”
“Well, it helped that you kiss better than I expected.”
Trever just kept his smile. “Let’s sit. You should eat.”
“I can’t!” I snatched my words, stopping him from going anywhere. “Let’s dance again.”
We started again with the new music.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Izin hates me. That’s why he’s pushing this.”
“Oh, don’t let him bother you. Zayden will come to you and he’ll fix it but on the off chance something happens, you might need to use this.”
He carefully slipped me two vials and I only glanced at them while tucking them away. “What is it?”
“Zayden’s blood and a little something extra.”
“Show him? Will it work?”
“Couldn’t hurt to try. Things will work out, Adele. You’ll see.”
I just sighed and quickly looked in Zayden’s direction. He was just staring right at me as I danced with Trever and so was everyone else at the table. It was only a moment later that they all started to get up and join us on the floor. Even Zayden did but he had Bianca on his arm.
Chapter 5
Zayden
My eyes beamed in Adele’s direction every time she came into view. I wanted to be with her but I wasn’t the only one who thought that.
“Here.” Bianca stopped us with a smile and tapped Adele’s shoulder. Adele turned around and was almost surprised to see us. “May we cut in?”
Trever smiled as he took Bianca’s hand and pulled her away from me. “Of course!”
They started dancing and left Adele and I here, looking at each other. It was a little awkward but I smiled and held out my hand. “Shall we then?”
Adele smiled and I pulled her close, putting my hand around her waist and she put her arm up on my shoulder. We slowly started to dance and I still couldn’t take my eyes off her even when she was in front of me.
“What? Just say it.” Adele said. “You should know that meant nothing. It was his idea. I just—”
“No. I don’t care. You look beautiful, if you don’t mind me saying to change the subject?”
Adele tried to hold back from smiling but failed. “Oh, no. This time I don’t. Your mother picked the dress. It’s beyond me.”
“No.” I disagreed entirely and looked down at her breasts almost exposed from the front of the dress. “It’s perfect.”
“Zayden, I’m up here.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just felt like days since I’ve seen them.”
“I fear it will be longer than days.”
“I will fix this. I promise. If it’s the last thing I do, I will have you.”
“That would be heroically pointless to fight for me so hard that it kills you, Zayden.”
“It was an expression, Love. I don’t want this. I want you.”
Adele’s smile faded. “I’m not the one you have to convince.”
I looked up towards the main table and saw my father’s glare in my direction. I had to look away and it was easy when Bianca and Trever moved between us. I knew I had to confront him at some point but I wasn’t ready yet. With Adele here now, I didn’t want to let her go.
Chapter 6
Bianca
“Why’d you do it, Bee?”
I looked at Adele and Zayden dancing then let out a light sigh when I looked up at Trever. “Why’d you kiss her?”
“That is not what this is about.”
“I can’t do this. Did you see the way he looked at her? They belong together. I don’t want to get in between them.”
“I thought we talked about it last time I was here. It’s the only way you’ll be free of your brother.”
“I know but maybe I don’t care about that anymore.”
“Of course you do! Bee, I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Oh, so you’ll let Adele get so angry at me that she kills me instead?”
Trever sighed and his tone calmed. “You know that’s the plan. You’ll come back.”
“But I don’t think I can do it.”
“But you know you will. She already holds resentment towards you. All you have to do is add more wood to the fire and that should be easy.”
“He’s not going to notice me with Adele here in that dress.”
“Then you get him to. You have ways of doing that.”
“Are you suggesting I spell him? I didn’t want it to come to that.”
“It’s why Madam Carla gave it to you. You slip the spell into his drink and you put the one that will bring you back in yours. It’ll give Adele twenty-four hours to build her hate and she’ll act. It will be tonight.”
I looked over at Zayden’s expression with Adele as the music stopped and everyone clapped their hands for the performance.
“Do it.” Trever whispered as he leaned into me then turned away, leaving the floor. He walked with Adele, leading her up to the main tables and sat on the other side of her father.
I looked towards Zayden and took a breath as I grippe
d the vials down in my hand. I walked over to the refreshments table and secretly opened them, pouring the clear liquid into a glass of wine and pouring a red liquid into another. My hands were shaking but I discarded the vials and brought the glasses back over to the table. “I brought you another glass.” I set the one that had the clear liquid in front of Zayden and sat next to him.
“Oh, thank you.” He reached for the glass and started bringing it to his mouth as I did the same with mine. I watched him down it all and set it back on the table. “That’s good stuff right there.”
He was very handsome and I let out a flattering laugh as I set my glass back down too. “Indeed it is.”
Zayden looked over and gazed in my eyes for the first time. I have seen him give Adele this look and knew the potion was taking an immediate effect with him taking it all at once like that.
“Whoa.”
I smiled while keeping my eyes on him. “What?”
“I’ve never noticed how attractive your eyes are before. They’re beautifully indecisive between blue and green.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you like some dessert? I saw a delicious array of parfaits while I was on the floor.”
“A parfait sounds fantastic. I’d love one.”
“Then I’ll get one and we can share it.”
I smiled to his incredible sweetness and watched him walk around the table. I had one of his friends next to me and Troy was staring at me like something was wrong but I planned cleverly passed it. “Awe. He’s so sweet, isn’t he?”
I took another drink and Troy was still looking a little confused as he turned away. “Ah, yeah. He is.”
I smiled and looked over at the other table at Trever. He raised an eyebrow as I smiled again and did the same. It was working and we both knew it.
Zayden came back just in time and set a wide mouth glass cup down between us that had a layer of cake on the bottom then a layer of fruit then a layer of sweet cream, another layer of cake, fruit and topped with another layer of sweet cream.
“Ooh. That does look delicious.”
“Then here.” Zayden picked up his fork and scooped it into the dish. “Ladies first.”
He held it out to me and I opened my mouth and he put it in. I groaned with pleasure while I chewed it then swallowed before saying anything. “That is so good. You have to try it.”
I picked up my dessert fork and took a scoop out of the dish and held it in front of Zayden. He kept his eyes on me while opening his mouth and I fed him. He reacted the same and didn’t speak until he had it fully swallowed. “Oh, you’re right. I don’t think I ever want to stop eating this.”
I let out another flattering laugh and scooped my fork back into the dish. “Then here.” I gave him another bite and we began playfully feeding each other.
It was a pleasant time for both of us. I put another large fork full in Zayden’s mouth, getting the sweet cream to stick at the right corner of his lips. We both laughed louder and Zayden tried not to choke on it.
I could fix it though. I leaned in closer and licked the sweet cream from his face. Zayden then turned his head and licked my tongue to take it back from me while laughing. I laughed in return and I saw movement at the other table. I casually looked to it while flirting with Zayden and Adele must have been watching. She was walking away, ready to leave the ballroom. I was a little fearful. Everything was happening fast but I knew it would. It would be over soon.
Chapter 7
Adele
What was happening? It was like he had forgotten about me and we just shared a dance. He had some kind of connection to Bianca without even knowing it and I could no longer sit here anymore. I got up from the table in a hurry and without a word. I grabbed my dress and quickly got out of there with my head hung down.
My eyes were flushed with coming tears as I made my way upstairs to my room and I tried to keep them in as best I could but the moment I was inside, they were shed at once. I was leaned up against the back of the door and my breaths were panicky under the harsh thought that I lost Zayden. I didn’t know what to do. I was lost and badly hurt.
“Shh. Don’t cry, Adele.”
I looked up and the transparent image of Ryon was kneeled down in front of me. I had to wipe my eyes to make sure it was real but my tears just kept coming. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to help.” He held his hand down to me and gained his full color. The transparent figure I remembered seeing was gone and it was as if he was really standing before me alive like at the start of this trip. I took a breath just to see it again and took his hand. He helped me to my feet and I just couldn’t look away. “Don’t cry for him. That’ll only bring you more pain.”
“But how could he? I thought he loved me.”
“Something’s aren’t always certain. A person can get caught up in the moment but when it’s over, things go back.”
“I was just a moment to him? No! I wasn’t! I know I wasn’t! I love him!”
“Do you? You have to ask yourself if you ever knew it was real.”
“But I can’t just let it go like that.” I turned away and walked towards the windows.
“Yes you can. You haven’t been with him that long. How would you know that it was supposed to last?”
“It was everything I wanted to believe. Does that make me stupid for believing in it?”
“No. You’re not stupid at all. You’re just hurt and I’ve come to help you.”
“How could you possibly help?”
“I could take you away from here.” It caught my attention and I looked back at him as he stepped in even closer. “I could take this pain away from you. I would never make you feel it again if you were with me.”
“Us? Together? But you’re dead. For that to even be possible, I’d have to—” I paused when I started to realize what it was he was offering.
“I can make that painless too.” He held his hand out to me and looked deep in my crying eyes as his image faded back to the transparent look. “Take my hand and forget your pain. You don’t need this life. There’s a better one waiting that we can share—forever.”
I was looking at him and all thoughts were running through my mind. Thoughts of Zayden and Ryon’s offer. I didn’t know what was right but the longer I stood there, the longer I couldn’t anymore. I just wanted to get away and my hand slowly reached for Ryon’s.
Chapter 8
Jaylyn
I felt that cold death I did when I discovered Ryon was really dead and it worried me. “Hurry! He’s with her!”
Ruby, Troy and Darius were behind me as we went up to the second floor and I opened Adele’s door.
Ryon was in there with her and Adele was reaching her hand towards him.
“Adele, what are you doing?”
Her hand came down when she saw us but her eyes were still watered. “I can’t stay here.”
“You know you can still fix this.”
Ryon laughed. “Fix what? Zayden’s award-winning betrayal? It’s not worth fixing.”
“What are you doing? This has nothing to do with you. You shouldn’t be here.”
“No.” Adele cut in. “I’m the one that shouldn’t be here. I knew I never belonged here and this explains why.”
“But you know better not to listen to anything Ryon says.” Ruby replied. “All he’s ever wanted to do is keep you from Zayden.”
“You mean protect me from him but I never listened and look where it’s gotten me. I’m going with him.”
Everyone reacted at the same time. “What?!”
“Adele, why?” I asked. “Do you know what that would mean? You’d have to be dead to go with him.”
“I know.”
“But you can’t do this! Zayden loves you!”
Ryon laughed again. “Great argument.”
“Stay out of this.” Troy said, stepping forward next to me. “Adele, she’s right. He does. He’s just not himself.”
“Not himself
! Did you not see what I was seeing? You were sitting right there!”
“Yes, we saw but we know there’s an explanation. You just need to—”
“I just need to leave!”
“No.” Ruby interrupted with a hateful tone. “You’re just running away like you don’t even care to try and fix this. That’s not you. I know you still love Zayden and the Adele I know wouldn’t run when things got hard. She’d fight for what rightfully belongs to her.”
“Ruby giving advice.” Ryon smiled. “How amusing.”
“Why are you doing this?” Ruby asked. “Thought you were getting out of the way?”
“And I thought Zayden was actually smart. I guess we were both wrong.”
“I think it’s best if you go.” Darius snatched.
“I’ll only go if she tells me to.” I turned my attention to Adele and she just stood there, looking at us.
“Fight for him.” I muttered.
“How many times are you willing to get hurt?” Ryon cut in.
“You know it’s not always like that. There’s more good than bad.”
“She’s lying. You could always tell.”
“He’s the one lying.” Troy said. “He just wants you to give in to him because he’s selfish. This won’t save you.”
“He couldn’t know without experiencing it. There’s a better place. Zayden-free.”
“We know you really don’t want that.” Darius said.
“Things can change.”
“If you’re going because of Zayden then I say that’s foolish.” I said. “Think of everyone else that loves you. Your father—us. We’re your family. You’re not ready to leave us. You know that.”
She did nothing. I didn’t think we were going to ever get through to her until Ruby said one thing that changed it all. “There’s still a plan. There’s still hope.”
Her eyes lit up like she remembered what she already had planned for Bianca. If Zayden was truly just not being himself then he would come back to her the moment she was taken out of the picture and things would be back to normal. It was hope and it was there that she made her decision. “I’m sorry. I can’t go with you.”
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