Islinda felt like an imposter.
She might have dressed in the finest silk and was all dolled up, but her rounded ears would always set her apart, alongside her humanist trait. She did not have the graceful features and lithe forms that made them inhumanly perfect. No matter how hard she tried to blend, she did not belong in this world.
Right now, she was in a hall full of Fae drifting about on the dance floor and adorned in silks, satins, and velvets. There were just so many Fae, an ocean of colors and varieties. There were Fae with less human features and leaned towards their primal form as so possessed horns, tails, or the wood nymphs whose skins were basically bark.
Islinda tried not to be disgusted or frightened considering everyone was beautiful the way they were, but she was still new at this and wasn’t fully inured to their kind. Not to ntion, she was grateful to have been involved with a Fae who looked more human. If there was any Fae who deserved horns on the head, it should be Aldric. Not that it would diminish his beauty, if anything, he would look exotic.... The gods help her, what was she thinking again?
Speaking of Aldric, he lingered behind her like a dark cloud and the cacophony of voices echoing across the ballroom faded out as if death himself had made a presence. No, the warmth and joy was sucked straight out of the hall. The temperature dropped as everyone’s eyes were on them and as much as Islinda loved the spotlight, this was a bad one.
Faes were good at wearing masks and experts in disguising their true emotions because the Aldric in front of him was a far cry from the one who had earnestly pleaded for her forgiveness outside. Islinda had thought and thought hard about it, but she just couldn’t understand him.
Sure, he was an asshole but it was as if Aldric didn’t care about his reputation. He relished people thinking the worst of him. He could change, but he doesn’t want to change. As if it wasn’t worth it. He doesn’t want to change for anyone.
The Faeries of Astaria paved the way for Aldric like a wide ocean and the dark Fae prince did not care about their reaction as he located a seat and sat down, crossing his leg over the other. Islinda stopped short. At this point, she had no idea what to do and felt out of place. Should she remain at his side or find her own way? This was a party after all.
Aldric could kill and protect her at the sa ti. However, moving around could make her easy prey for any unhinged Fae. During their ti together, Eli told her that Fae were apex predators, and certain seasons and events made them return to their base form and they hunted humans as sports. Unfortunately, Islinda was at a party full of probably drunk Fae, so yes, even if she died, let it be for a greater purpose.
Hence Islinda had no choice but to pick a seat and reluctantly moved to Aldric’s side, although she put enough space between them. With her arms wrapped across her chest, she scanned the crowd. Now that Aldric had sat down — and was not terrorizing them — the party had resud in full wind with the gossip and the band blasting unfamiliar songs that were quite pleasing in Islinda’s ears. Although the Fae still gave them wary looks.
However, no matter how thrilling and soothing the song was, Islinda got bored of sitting in a place. Everyone seed to be having a good ti, only she and Aldric sat miserably. Well, not only, Aldric must have ordered a wine because he was sipping one and looked like he was enjoying himself. In one word, she was the only miserable one here.
Islinda let out an exasperated sigh and turned to him, aggrieved, "Why did the queen even bring here?" To bore her to death?
"To kill you of course," Aldric said cooly, even winking at her before taking a swing of his wine.
The gods help her because Islinda is utterly stunned. How could he be so casual about death? Her death. He knew how dangerous it was bringing her here and yet he did. Aldric did not care about her one bit. Her hands clenched at her side and angry tears stung her eyes, but Islinda refused to cry. It’s not like she had great expectations in the first place.
"I’m bored." She finally voiced her situation.
Aldric looked surprised at her admission but his expression went back to being neutral.
"There’s as well, sweetness," He grinned, with all of his teeth showing, "But don’t worry, the fun will start soon."
Islinda shivered at his definition of "fun". She knew he had sothing planned for tonight, but what was it? She had no idea.
But then, she couldn’t take it anymore. Islinda shot up to her feet and snatched the wine from Aldric.
"What the..... "
He was still saying when she downed the whole thing till not a drop was left in the glass.
"Wow," Aldric breathed in astonishnt, watching as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
The wine was so good, tasted shockingly good, and went down her throat like silk, but it rushed to her head and now she felt a bit light-headed. She caught Aldric’s smiling face and he said to her, "Do you know little humans, you’re quite sexy when you’re violent."
Islinda glared at him, turning her face the other way when a flush crept up her face.
However, Aldric took that opportunity to snatch the glass from her, saying, "But as much as that was sexy, rember what happened the last ti you consud a lot of Fae wine, you nearly died. So no, I cannot let that happen again."
He handed the empty glass to a passing servant, rejecting a refill.
"Let’s dance," Islinda said.
"What?" Aldric’s brows rose.
She gestured to the dance floor, "Let’s dance. I’m bored. Let’s do sothing before your fun begins." Islinda air quoted, surprised at her own bravery.
"Are you sure you want to dance with ?" Aldric said with a low husky voice, leaning towards her to the point that Islinda had to incline back.
"What are you doing?" Islinda whispered.
Aldric tilted his head, scrutinizing her. His lips curled up, amusent twinkling in his eyes, "I just want to be sure that you know what you are asking for."
"I—it’s just a dance." Islinda stamred, suddenly feeling conscious of her foolish request. She had been bored and almost everyone in the ballroom was dancing. But Aldric had to make it seem like it was a big deal.
"Mmhmm, just a dance." He smirked.
Her heart began to race. Perhaps, this was a bad decision.
Islinda stepped back, "Perhaps, it was stupid —"
She could not finish because Aldric grabbed her hand and before she knew it, they were headed for the dance floor. The entire ti he pulled her along, Aldric did not look behind as he walked and she feared he would stumble into one of the dancers. However, the whole Fae were more conscious of their presence even more than she was and they moved out of their way precisely like a choreographed move.
Islinda was yet to catch her breath from the unexpected move before Aldric grabbed her waist and pressed her flush against his body and she blushed as she could feel every inch of him.
She swallowed, "Aldric, don’t you think this —"
Her world suddenly swirled as Aldric twirled her before pulling her back to his body.
The gods help her. Islinda finally realized how much of a trouble she had gotten herself into by requesting a dance.
"Stop thinking, start feeling." He whispered into her ears, feeling shivers run down her spine.
Islinda tried not to think about it but being like this with Aldric was a blazing temptation.
This ti when Aldric turned her, he pulled her back to him while her hands were crossed from behind, and he told her, "Switch off your thinking brain, Islinda or I’ll help you do so. Just dance. I’m already taking the lead so you don’t embarrass ."
That cocky bastard! Islinda gritted her teeth inwardly.
Perhaps it was Aldric’s taunts that did the work but Islinda was suddenly determined to prove him wrong. She does not have much education in dancing, but she danced with Valerie at the first ball. It all ca back to her. Not to ntion, Aldric was annoyingly a good teacher. Soon enough, she got the hang of it and was waltzing with him across the floor.
Of course, they beca a spectacle once more. After all, it wasn’t every day that the monster called Aldric danced with a female, especially a human. She could feel their accusing gazes and Islinda almost faltered in her step because of the distraction.
"Ignore them. Focus on us." He cleared his throat, "I an on the dance."
Islinda stared at him with a complicated look as if trying to comprehend him. However, his advice worked as she tuned the Fae out and concentrated on the dance. In no ti, Islinda found out that she was enjoying herself.
They danced and danced, their gazes eting occasionally. Islinda had to admit Aldric looked quite dashing. If only he weren’t so evil, perhaps then, she could consider the idea of the —
"All bow to the queen."
The mont was interrupted.
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