WHEN I ROSE from my curtesy, Prince Liam Xavier Fortis met my eyes, and I noticed all the speckles of green in his blue eyes. The sharp cut of his jawline was more striking up close, white teeth greeting me when he grinned.

"Am I that recognizable?" He asked, adjusting the expensive watch on his wrist.

"To me, yes, but to the rest of my guests, without your crown no one will be able to tell you apart from a Duke." I looked down at his plain suit, expensive but not bearing the Fortis colors or betraying his status. In this crowd of elite, he didn't look like an outlier. "I take it that you wish to remain incognito?"

"I wanted to be just another face, but it seems you've discovered me. I shouldn't be surprised; if anyone could see past my disguise it would be you."

This made me raise an eyebrow, "Your Highness, you don't know me."

He cocked his head to one side, "Call me Xavier, please. And I've heard of you. Who hasn't?"

"You may call me Cybele, and I know that you're trying to flatter me." I replied, "if I was able to recognize you, then you should also be able to guess by now that I'm not a fool."

"I didn't say that, and I don't have a hidden agenda, Cybele." His voice brought me in, something warm about it that made my name sound sweeter. "Your reputation proceeds you."

His words echoed Parisa's, and it made my feathers bristle. Slowly I closed them behind my back, pressing my lips together. "You've seen my wings, and I take it that you came for only that purpose. I've given you a show now, haven't I? I'm glad to have entertained you for the evening."

I turned away, feeling my stomach twist into a knot as I walked towards the ballroom door. He'd come just to see me, an oddity and undiscovered breed of creature. I was a spectacle to him, the myth of the dove-winged woman curious to him. 

The thought stung more than I'd expected it to. Most visitors wanted to get a look at me too if they weren't Sylphs, to point out how ugly my wings were or how unusual I appeared.

It came to a point where I wasn't allowed to be around the new guests any longer since they tried to pluck out my feathers for their private collections. Parisa protected me fiercely, keeping me out of dinners and galas that weren't Sylph exclusive. 

Tonight she'd thought I'd be safe especially considering our outside guests were upper class, but it appeared that she was wrong. It was always the same; they only wanted to observe me like a butterfly trapped in glass.

"Wait!" Xavier shouted, coming up behind me. "I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to see you!"

I shook my head, wrapping my wings across my body. Closing my eyes, I willed myself not to cry. I couldn't deny him what he wanted; he was the son of Fortis. But how could I allow him to observe me like a rare specimen?

Nearly at the door to the ballroom, I prayed that I could avoid him in the masses but his voice rang out. "I've heard that you're the most beautiful woman in the universe!"

This made me pause, and I looked over my shoulder, frozen. Looking at the expression on his face, I couldn't tell if he was truthful.

"Not only that," he added, stepping towards me as though approaching a wounded fawn. "I've heard that you're the wisest, most well educated Sylph in Viridis. You know more languages than you have fingers on both hands, and I wanted to see you for myself, to talk to you to see if the rumors were true."

"I'm not all those things." I replied, shaking my head. "I don't have to prove myself to you, Your Highness. You have seen me and you've spoken with me. Now you can return home and to your war."

"You believe that I'm trying to use you for an alliance." He observed, eyes reading me with the same ease that came to me when I translated Parisa's letters to other diplomats. I didn't like it that he understood me so easily, the thought making a shiver run up my spine. "What kind of man would I be to deceive you into signing a treaty?"

"A smart one." I said, licking my lips. "I don't know you, and I'm not in the place to believe that you're as innocent as you seem to appear."

Xavier smiled, "you want to believe me; you said it yourself. I'm not here about the war. I'm visiting to understand the Sylph people and to see Viridis. One day I'll take my father's throne, and good king has to know his subjects. I want to understand your culture, what life is like here. I want to know what your people need so that I know how to provide for them. You're their future queen, so undoubtedly I wanted to meet you."

I took a breath, "then you should know that your presence here only puts us all under greater stress. You aren't our king yet. Venus Athena's children are here as well to counter you and your brother, Felix has already made an appearance, and the Council is biting at my heels about picking our side in the worlds war. I have more work to do, more to prepare for than a tea party with you."

His expression softened, "I'm sorry that I'm a burden to you. I'd hoped to fade into the background, but it seems that I've failed."

I took a breath, hardening my face as sympathy filled me for him. "I won't betray you to my people, and I won't tell them that you've come. Return the favor by concealing your identity well. Now, I'm returning to the party."

"Can I have the next dance?" Xavier asked, walking towards me.

"You want to dance?" I replied, feeling heat rise to my cheeks as the weight of my situation sunk into my skin. "After everything I've said?" My stomach ached; I'd been rude to the Crown Prince. I wasn't sorry about it either, the shame he made me feel about my wings so acute that it burned.

"Because of everything you've said. You're proving it all to me: lovely and wise. I think that your wings make you look like an angel." He added with a smile. "I can promise you that I'm a good dancer. I won't step on your toes, and I won't even wince if you step on mine."

I felt the corner of my lip turn up into a small smile before I hid it away. "What makes you think that you're the better dancer of the two of us? Do you think dancing wasn't a part of my curriculum if you say I am so educated?"

"I think I need a demonstration as evidence." Xavier said, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous challenge in his eyes. He seemed to lean in towards me, waiting for my invitation to sway with him on the dance floor. The thought wasn't unpleasant, his strong chest and arms apparent even through his suit.

As we walked back into the ballroom, I looked over my shoulder. "I'll dance with you, Your Highness, but you'll have to earn it."

I took Georgio's arm, giving him a smile. He looked dapper in his tux, handsome and polished. The color complimented his bronze complexion, and I'd seen some of the women staring at him across the ballroom, appreciating him even though his back was adorned with lovely fairy wings.

"Why are you dancing with me tonight?" He asked with a chuckle. "The multitude of suitors are becoming too overwhelming?"

"Quite hilarious. I have not a single one." I said under my breath as we stepped onto the dance floor. "Actually the Crown Prince requested a dance..."

"And you're acting aloof?" He couldn't suppress a cheeky smile, looking down at the ground as he shook his head. "I see. I understand now."

I raised an eyebrow. "See what?"

"Never mind it." He held out his hand, guiding me now so that I'd face him. "Might I remind you that I'm a fairy, which to the audience is not an impressive partner."

His words made me laugh, and in that moment I didn't care what Parisa would think as I giggled. "You're a good dancer unlike most of these people. I want to dance with you so close your mouth and have fun with me."

Georgio rolled his eyes just as the orchestra began to stir to life, the rhythm of the flute, piano, bass, and guitar rising in the air with an intensity that made goosebumps rise on my skin. He took my hand in his, the two of us chest to chest as his other hand rested across my back and I laid mine on his shoulder.

With the melody, we stepped back, our feet moving in turn together slowly. Straightening my back, I followed Georgio's lead, our footwork picking up steadily as I rocked towards him just as we went into a corte.

The music moved us both, our bodies swaying together back and forth as though we were glued at the hips. I mirrored Georgio, each of his steps flowing with mine as we went into a promenade. He twirled me with ease, his weight against me as a constant guide. His thoughts were mine, his eyes leading me as I watched them.

We moved together, walking before we fanned as the music began to quicken. Georgio supported me as he moved around, twirling me as I kept my balance on one heel while my other foot swept across the floor. 

We spun around, dropping down as we floated across the floor in the heat of the music. Georgio and I were cheek to cheek as we soared to the right. My green dress fanned out with each swirl, the ruffles bubbling up all around me before the motion was halted. 

With my back now to his chest, we danced to the left, my footwork echoing his as we went to the right and then the left with a speed impressive even for us. After a long promenade, he took my hand to guide me back to face him again. I gave him a smile, sticking out my tongue. He scoffed at me under his breath.

The melody reached its height, and I dipped backwards, one of Georgio's arms supporting the small of my back as I kicked my foot up. He lifted me up, turning us both as we swung back and forth across the dance floor. When the song began to die, I stood up straight, twirling as our dance finished.

Our eyes met and the orchestra had slowed to silence. Georgio gave me a wink, taking a bow that made me smile as I curtseyed. When he stood upright again, he leaned in closer, "he was most definitely watching. I'm sure not a single man in this room could look away. You're welcome for making them all jealous."

"Yes, they all think you're handsome." I teased, resting a hand on his shoulder as we walked off the dance floor. Men and women nodded to us as we passed, begrudgingly admitting that the two of us could dance quite well.

I held back my smug grin, Georgio letting his face return to its usual indifference under their stares. "If they do then they'll be disappointed." He brushed back his dark hair, light eyes scanning the edges of the ballroom.

"I haven't seen her recently." I whispered, leaning in close to his ear. It was obvious to me who he was looking for. "You better find her before the dukes do."

His expression hardened, "don't remind me."

"You know she wouldn't even give them the time of day especially since she has you."

Georgio snorted, "I'm a fairy. You may have forgotten that, but I haven't. It's not something I or anyone else can ignore."

"She doesn't see you that way. Go sneak off with her somewhere." I said, stepping back. "Thank you for the dance, my dearest friend. I can always count on you."

"Yes, I am aware that I can sew, fight, and dance the hell out of the tango." He rolled his eyes but underneath his stormy exterior I knew he appreciated my words. Georgio took my hand, placing a kiss on the back of it before giving my fingers a squeeze. "Goodnight, Cybele. Be safe and have fun. If you need me, I'll come running."

With that he turned and walked through the crowd, his tall head visible even from the back of the room as he ducked out the door. I bit my lip to hold in my smile.

"Touche." Xavier said as he stepped beside me, and I looked up to him. Those blue eyes bore into mine as he leaned in. "I watched everything, and you were right. I'll be the one stepping on your toes, but will you bless me with a dance?"

I nearly indulged him when a different pair of blue eyes found mine across the ballroom, making me go rigid at their frost. Swallowing, I looked at my feet. "Not tonight, I'm afraid."