The sun rises, splaying its vibrant light over the palace grounds, yet the party in the ballroom doesn't end. I eat my breakfast in my room and the same maid from yesterday helps me dress up once more to return to the party.

After she leaves, I cover my skin with the lotion, secure my daggers, and hide them well under the skirt of my dress before heading out.

Making my way through the maze of hallways, I reach the staircase and descend the stairs. Just as I pass the hall leading to the ballroom, faint giggling coming from the closest hallway gives me a pause.

I frown and twist on my spot. Instead of entering the ballroom with careful strides, I near the corridor the giggling and the sound of sloppy kisses is coming from.

My body freezes in the middle of the entrance.

Valoukai is caging Torilia against the wall while locked in a heated make-out session. Their hands are all over each other. Torilia's dress is rumpled, and the neckline is askew, giving away what they were probably doing inside the room at the far end of the corridor.

Valoukai's dark hair is dishevelled and the side of his shirt is untucked while half of the buttons are still undone.

I clench my jaw and glare at them. I couldn't care less who he sleeps with but this is outright disrespecting me and my presence in this court.

I fist my hands, surveying the place. No one is around, so I take a step inside the hallway, all the while they remain oblivious to me.

I lean over and push off the closest vase of flower placed on a wooden stand. It crashes to the floor with a loud sound, finally snapping them out of their high.

"Oops," I mutter, fixing my glare on Valoukai.

He narrows his eyes at me as Torilia unabashedly leans her side to the wall, smiling smugly at me.

"What do you want?" he snaps.

I cross my arms in front of my chest and lift my shoulders. "I wonder what King Cyrus will think about his son sleeping with another court's ambassador while he's busy hosting a party for the said son's future mate. Would you like to find out?" I arch an eyebrow and smile at him.

His features darken, and he fixes the collar of his shirt as he prowls to me. "Listen-"

"No, you listen," I interject sharply, moving to him with long strides, stopping at an arm's length away from him.

"Wanna know something? I can't care less about who you screw and with how many other faes or humans you are. The only thing I do care about is you not disrespecting me. Eating your girlfriend's face right next to the room where everyone has gathered for celebrating my arrival is beyond impudent."

We glower at each other.

I jab my index finger at him. "If you make me a laughingstock in your court, I will make your life a living hell," I snarl.

"Will you now?" he chuckles as if I'm joking.

My scowl deepens.

"And I wonder what king Cyrus will think of you threatening his crown prince."

I huff a laugh. "He won't mind once he discovers the reason behind it." I wave my hand in Torilia's direction. "Get your girlfriend out of sight." I turn to walk away, but hot fingers furl around my upper arm, halting me and spinning me around.

My first instinct is to punch him hard and smash his head against the wall before kicking him bloody, but I restrain myself and fist my hands hard enough my nails painfully dig into my skin.

"Don't ever tell me what to do, and never make the mistake of threatening me again," he growls under his breath, leaning to me so close his breath fans over my face. Torilia's feminine scent clings to him, mixing with his musky woody scent invading my senses.

"Or what?"

"I'll show you a new definition for living hell."

We glare at each other, neither of us backing down. His amber and blue eyes glow with anger and I grind my teeth.

"Learn to respect my presence in this court, even if you don't agree with me staying here or being married to you," I firmly state and tear my hand out of his grasp with one swift move. "As long as you do that, I won't get in your way and cause any troubles. You'll be free to have as many lovers as you wish."

His brows furrow, and he cocks his head to one side. "You've come here to rule, haven't you? You want the crown, and nothing else," he mumbles, as if he's finally getting closer to discerning my motives.

I stare at him. "Do we have a deal?"

"And if I don't agree?"

"I'll ensure today will be your girlfriend's last day in this court." I smile at him and his features darken with annoyance and anger.

He squints at me; his mismatched blue and amber eyes bore into me for a long moment before he curtly nods. I suppress my annoyance by glimpsing at Torilia's fuming form, enjoying the satisfying sight. I have to bite my lip to stop my smirk from appearing and focus on the other bastard, the prince. He didn't even give me his words, asshole. He doesn't want me to use them against him in the future if it ever came to that.

I stop myself from rolling my eyes at him and turn, walking away and heading to the ballroom.

The hall is still alive, as if they haven't been awake since last night. Faes and their stamina for parties are truly astonishing.

I'm once more swarmed by them, exchanging pleasantries and keeping up with the ones daring to lace their comments with challenges. Through it all, I sense someone's eyes on me and with a quick scan I spot Princess Fyla with a new dress, a yellow ballgown, is focused on me, as well as Reesorus.

Snatching the first opportunity, I excuse myself from the other faes and approach Fyla. A pleased smile plays at the corners of her mouth.

I dip my chin in courtesy, and she nods with acknowledgement.

"I must say, Audriea, not many dare to stand up to Torilia of house Tamasorine. I can't figure it out though, if you're truly unaware of what you're getting yourself into, or if you're too brave for your own good."

I smile at her.

She tilts her head to the side, her bright blue eyes taking on a gleam of wonder and speculation. Her auburn hair is set in loose curls, reaching past her hips. "I'm certain father would approve of your action."

"So the King and Queen are aware of their affair?"

She draws her full eyebrows together, considering for a moment before replying, "To some extent." Fyla flicks her fingers and a servant hurries to her with a tray filled with goblets of drinks. She picks up two of the closest to her and hands one to me.

I bow my head once more in respect as I accept the drink from her while the servant scurries away.

"Val and Torilia have a long history. There's not a single person who doesn't know. Of course, since you've been far away, you don't, but they've been on and off together for far longer than it can be considered healthy." Her gaze sweeps across the hall as she slowly raises the cup to her lips and sips her wine. From the corner of her eye, she glances at me. "You're up against a tough competition."

I frown with confusion, running the pad of my thumb up and down the swirls, designing the cup in my hand. I don't get the chance to ask about the meaning of her words.

"Tori wants Val and the crown." Fyla smirks at me before facing me entirely.

"If they've been together for so long, why didn't the king-"

"Father doesn't approve of her; he doesn't want our pure fiery blood to mix with some second-ranked Air court's lord's daughter."

I bite my lip and nod. I was wrong. Torilia's presence will not make things easier. She's going to come after me to kick me out. Damn it.

"I'd suggest you befriend a few of us around here, the powerful ones, to help and protect you until you enforce that mating bond of yours. That is if you want to become Val's partner." She raises an eyebrow.

"I appreciate your advice," I mumble.

A haughty smile stretches her lips. "Be careful of your every move, you're always being watched."

Her comment sends an uneasy chill down my spine. Paying no heed to my discomfort, she takes a step towards me and leans closer, bringing her lips next to my ear.

"And, be wary of Reese. If I were you and planning on winning over Val, I'd never go to Reese. They have some awful bad blood brewing between them and you don't want to be amid two powerful yet jealous faes now, do you?" The mischievous glint in her blue eyes is contradictory to her advice. Her tone beckons me to say I do want to be in the middle.

I bite my bottom lip, but it's useless to stop the smirk from lifting a corner of my mouth.

Fyla's blue eyes sparkle and she smugly smiles back at me, brushing her palm over my shoulder as she walks past me.

Looks like Reese can be useful in more than one way.

It's no secret how territorial faes can be, especially if their ego is on the line...

As I mull over this newfound information, I can't help but entertain the idea of causing a conflict within these faes. It can certainly be useful. If they're occupied with fighting themselves, how can they attack Demaqual?

But, it's not planned and the Commanding Lords have only instructed me to gather information, as much and as swiftly as I can and leave. Maybe I should find some time and send Rageni a letter to ask her opinion on the matter.

"We meet again," the same familiar deep voice announces, snapping me out of my scheming.

I whirl around and I'm greeted with no other than Reese. How lovely. He's walking into the trap himself, making it too easy to follow through with provoking Valoukai.

I offer a coy smile. "And I have a feeling we'll meet each other quite often from now on."

A devilish smirk spreads across his face, as his amber eyes glint with intrigue. "You don't seem like a person who was raised in a far-off manor, lady Audriea."

"I was never alone." I peer at him through my lashes as I deliberately bring the cup to my lips. His eyes follow my every move as I sip my wine. The heavenly taste, the perfect mixture of fruity and bittersweet wine, explodes on my tongue before travelling down my throat.

"Tell me, how much do you know about me?"

I lift a shoulder and put the cup on the nearest table, adorned with vibrant wildflowers. "Nothing out of the ordinary, the same usual things everyone knows."

He nods slowly, as if pondering over my words. "And how have you been liking your stay here so far?"

"It could have been better."

The corner of his mouth twitches upwards and I'm relieved it doesn't turn into a full smile. Despite myself, the sight freaks the hell out of me.

"Allow me to offer you a tour around the palace and we can venture around the capital too."

I school my expression to a nonchalant one, stopping myself from squinting at him with suspicion. "And what would you like in return?"

"Your time." He smiles at me, but it doesn't hold an ounce of kindness, just a cold, ruthless twist of his mouth. "I just want to get to know you." He dares a step towards me and I hold my ground, craning my neck to hold his gaze. "Will you give me your time?"

"I will spend a morning with you to get familiarised with the palace grounds and the town."

He chuckles. "As the lady wishes." He dips his chin and leans to me, coming so close the mixture of his bitter, woody scent assaults my nostrils. "And I still believe you're dangerous. Let's see if you'll prove me wrong, lady Audriea."

I stare at him as he smirks at me.

Sensing someone's gaze on me, I shift in the direction, being greeted with Valoukai's stormy blue and amber eyes. Frozen at the entrance of the hall, he glares at me and Reese, fisting his hands at his sides.

I internally smack myself. Looks like I won't be getting the chance to weigh this plan because it's already set in motion. Now I just have to play my cards right.

Valoukai marches to us, and the closer he comes I note how hard his jaw is clenched and the glacial glare he has fixated on Reese is mingled with a suffocating flare of loathing.

"Reese," he mutters the moment he reaches us, planting himself unnecessarily close to me. The heat rolling off of his body causes goosebumps over my skin.

I dig my fingernails into my palm to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

"Prince Val." Reese bows his head, crossing one arm in front of himself.

"I want my betrothed to myself."

My head snaps to Valoukai and I gape at him. By no means I was expecting such a quick and drastic reaction.

The unsettling smile spreads across Reese's face before he lets out a half-hearted chuckle. "The prince always ought to get the best girl, am I right?"

"And a lord must never forget his limits," Valoukai fires back and grabs my hand. "I'll see you later," he growls under his breath at Reese, the chattering around us drown his voice. He sets in the direction he came from, dragging me along with himself.

I try to unclasp his iron grip from my palm but fail and I can't struggle much or else it'll cause a scene.

"Let go," I hiss as I match his long strides.

"We need to talk."

I roll my eyes. Now Reese has to become the rival that'll make Valoukai jealous and I sincerely hope they fight each other to death.

⚔︎ ⚔︎ ⚔︎

What do you think about this plan Audriea is getting herself into? And what are your thoughts on Val's reaction? =)

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