Flustered, I put more distance between us. Staying away from the prince was the only way I was going to survive my time at the castle given my innate attraction to him.
Behind him, Haxil, Nish, and Ryder waited. Given the dangers we’d experienced, I wasn’t surprised that all four of his personal guards were accompanying us back to Isalee. I had a feeling they’d be joining us for the foreseeable future.
We spent another day very similar to the first. I kept as much distance from Prince Norivun as I could while I healed another field before returning to the castle for another grueling session with Matron Olsander.
By the time evening rolled around, my eyes were dripping with exhaustion, but I couldn’t rest. It was the night of the first Trial dinner, followed by my first official date—with the prince nonetheless.
I sat on the couch in my living area, freshly bathed, my hair dry thanks to Daiseeum’s magic, as she held up a floor-length dress.
“I thought this one would be perfect.” Firelight caught on the gems woven through the midnight-blue material as Daiseeum twirled it about. The gown sparkled like a thousand moons. “It’s so beautiful. Exquisite really. What I wouldn’t give to have a figure like yours and don such a breathtaking item.” Daiseeum smiled, her expression wistful.
“Do you want to try it on?” I offered. “You can borrow it if you want.”
Daiseeum’s jaw dropped. “Borrow a lady’s gown? Have you lost your mind, Ilara?”
“I don’t think so, although that could be debatable. Cailis certainly thinks I have.”
The lady’s servant’s lips pursed as she shooed me to my feet. “Up, up. We don’t have much time since you trained so late. Come. We must prepare you.”
I followed her into the bathing chamber, where she proceeded to doll me up using her affinity magic. Daiseeum’s affinity was the ability to conjure beauty. It was considered a superficial one, a lesser affinity among our kind, but I once again marveled at the female’s capabilities.
When she finished, even I was stunned at my appearance. My ebony hair cascaded around my shoulders in a silken waterfall. Large curls made it weave and bob as a ringed circlet of jewels crowned my forehead in a dazzling display of wealth. The dress’s jeweled belt hugged my waist, and the gown’s V-cut design plunged so deeply that the slit dropped to my navel, revealing more flesh than I felt comfortable showing. My arms were also bare, but that only drew attention to the gown’s sparkling and twinkling gems woven into its material.
Daiseeum lifted my wrist and clasped a dozen small bracelets around it, either pure silver or plates filled with diamonds, sapphires, and amethysts. The finished display made me a vision of prestige, as though I were an actual princess.
“Where do all of these jewels come from?” I asked her as she finished with her final adjustments.
“The castle’s vaults. The queen gave permission for her jewelry to be used freely by any lady staying in the castle on the king’s behalf.”
My eyes widened. “This all belongs to the queen?”
“It does, m’lady.”
“That’s very generous of her.”
“Queen Lissandra is known for her kindness.” Daiseeum stepped back and gave a wistful sigh. “There. All done. You truly are a vision.”
I thanked her again, then gathered my skirts for the long walk to the dining hall. I hadn’t seen Cailis since returning from training, and I could only hope that she was devising a way to gain admittance to the Trial dinner so she could spy on everyone and report to me who was trustworthy.
Sandus’s eyebrows lifted when I joined him outside my chamber. He looked me up and down, then shook his head.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing. It’s just that the prince . . .” He scratched his jaw. “I’m not sure if the prince will like other males seeing—”
“Seeing what?” I asked, my ire rising when he spoke of the prince.
His expression smoothed. “Nothing.”
My nostrils flared as my slippers slid along the castle’s stone floor. It felt like there was some kind of secret taking place that I wasn’t in on.
We walked down the hall, and I debated asking the guard why the prince acted the way he did around me, then decided against it. The guards were loyal to their prince. I already knew he wouldn’t tell me anything that the crown prince might be against my knowing.
“Enjoy the evening,” Sandus said when we reached the dining hall. Inside, laughter and conversation flowed through the air. It sounded like everyone else had arrived. “I shall see you on the morrow.”
I nodded tightly as my heart thrummed. It’s just a dinner. No need to be nervous.
Surely, nothing terrible could happen at a dinner and single date with the prince.
Music filled the air in the dining hall as trays floated around the room, holding champagne flutes and little plates of bite-sized morsels. A long dining table spanned the room’s length, and vases of turquoise and blue ice flowers dotted its center as fine porcelain plates ringed in silver sat at each place setting.
Similar to the Betrothed Ball, ice flowers were also suspended from the ceiling. They let out puffs of snow that melted before they came into contact with anyone. Snowflakes drifted everywhere, and the entire room swam with magic.
I didn’t see the crown prince, but all three females from the Trial were present, a dozen other males as well, most of whom I’d never met before. Some turned to watch me as I entered the room. Others continued chatting in small groups, not looking twice in my direction. Anxiety twisted my stomach into knots while I searched for Cailis.
I finally caught sight of her on the balcony, hidden behind a draped curtain. My sister stood just outside of the room, on the terrace overlooking the large, snowy lawn. She was hidden enough that no one would easily see her.
I let out a sigh of relief. I had no idea how she managed to get onto the balcony without the guard the prince had assigned to keep her safe, but come tomorrow, I could pick her brain, and she would be able to tell me everything about the other participants.
“Ah, Ilara!” someone called.
I swirled around to see Nuwin waving from across the room, a smile lighting up his face before he glided toward me.
Nerves calming slightly, I snagged a flute of champagne off a passing tray and took a sip just as Nuwin reached my side. Like the crown prince, he was tall and broad, his face ruggedly handsome and his build thick. His black wings rose above his shoulders, not quite as high as the crown prince’s, but the two brothers would make any female look twice.
The younger prince took my hand in his, then kissed me on the cheek, his lips coming dangerously close to my mouth. “You’re a vision as always, Lady Seary.”
I squeezed him in return, about to reply, but the prince entered the hall, and a wave of his aura pulsed toward me in the same breath. In a blink, he was at my side, moving so quickly on his air affinity it was as though he’d mistphased.
Nuwin snickered. “I wondered when you’d show up.”
Prince Norivun’s attire was similar to the night of the Betrothed Ball. Power rippled from him, and my stomach flipped, especially when a predatory light filled his eyes as he appraised me. A low growl rumbled in his chest, making my throat go dry. “I’ve got her, Nuwin. She’s my date tonight.”