68: Ada's POV

The dress was amazing.

The time spent getting the dress wasn’t so bad either. Lilith and the modiste spent the entire time we were there blubbering over me, full of excited squeals and bright ideas. When we’d arrived, Phoenix was handed a cup of coffee and grabbed a book after a quick kiss to the modiste’s cheek. He spent his time sitting in a chair by the window, sipping coffee and reading a book with a small smile on his face. I’d never seen him so relaxed.

We managed to keep him from seeing the final design, not that he was paying attention. Conversation was kept to a minimum with Phoenix being there. He surprised us all at the end by inviting Lilith to the ball— and to stay for a few days at the castle with me.

Which is how I found myself, standing in the crimson and black ball gown we’d designed, laughing with Lilith as she dressed herself for the ball. My eyes scoured down my body in the full-length mirror. The dress had a crimson and beaded bodice and was sleeveless with a sweetheart neckline. The skirt was made of puffed-out tulle, fading from crimson into a deep midnight black. It glittered in the light, sending little silver shimmers through the room around me. I’d paired it with a black onyx necklace and matching earrings. Lilith had helped me with striking makeup.

My lips were lined with black liner that faded into the crimson in the middle of my lip. I had on thick winged eyeliner, coupled with a dark smoky eye. She’d put some contour on my cheeks and collarbones, making them pop. On the top of my head, she’d fitted a headpiece typical of the high fae— it sat low on my forehead, and was swirling ropes of metal with crimson rubies dripping down through my hair. It was as similar to a crown as I could get without being accused of being disrespectful.

I almost looked royal in the mirror.

With a quick roll of my shoulders, I stood up straighter. Lilith stepped up beside me, grinning. Her dress was a soft lilac and draped across the floor. I’d seen her in similar dresses at Midnight Pack functions before I was sent to the farm— loose, flowing, and held up by various gold bands. She wore a similar headpiece to mine, but it was silver with silver chains dangling.

The painting on the wall swung open. Lilith narrowed her eyes and tensed at the brick mirage, but as Phoenix and Nik stepped through, she relaxed. She squeezed my hand, “I’ll leave you to your escorts. See you down there, Ada.”

She disappeared into the hallway silently. Phoenix and Nik were both in all-black tuxedos with crimson handkerchiefs and ties. Onyx and peppermint eyes scoured my body. I stepped toward them, my black stiletto heels thudding on the ground loudly. The two of them offered their arms, and I looped my own through them. We walked side by side down the halls of the castle, not exchanging pleasantries or conversation of any kind.

Our footsteps echoed around us. As we grew closer to the ballroom, the sound morphed from our shoes clinking against the ground to a loud cacophony of voices and music. Violins were playing, their sweet trills of music cascading into the hallway. The Alpha Princes led me straight to the Master of Ceremonies to announce our arrival. It seemed we were the very last people to arrive.

“Lady Ada Lennox and her escorts for the evening,” the deep voice rang out over the music, grasping the attention of every person in attendance, “The Midnight Prince, Nikolai Ashford, and the Prince of the Divine Earth, Phoenix Ashford.”

The three of us descended the stairs, receiving mixed reactions from the crowd. Some looked at us in awe, others in fear. Lady Elizabeth Jane — seeing as she had yet to be coronated as Princess— was seething with rage as she took us in. I felt a trickle down the bond that was shared between me and all the Princes and opened it up. Darius’s voice flooded into my mind. *I may have forgotten to mention to my wife that I arranged for you to attend.*

When I glanced to either side of me, I could see that his brothers were both smirking smugly. Phoenix’s smirk was short-lived, so I followed his gaze. His father was sitting at the head of the royal table, overlooking the party. His eyes were molten, shooting daggers directly at me. To his left, where Nik and Phoenix would usually sit, were my father and Francine.

And directly to *their* left was Georgina. Her eyes were locked right on Phoenix as her hand gripped her fork and knife tightly. I could see her white knuckles from across the room. Her gaze never wavered from Phoenix as we approached the table. The two Princes released my arms, and I curtsied to the King. He simply waved me off in acknowledgment.

Two arms looped through mine once more and dragged me toward a small table right beside the head one. I was sitting between Nik and Phoenix, overlooking the ballroom. My eyes searched the room and quickly found Lilith, with her shimmering wings and dress, which was vastly different from the deep tones of the wolves around her. She flittered about the room, making small talk and laughing with her full body at every opportunity. When her eyes found me from across the room, she gave a curt nod, not breaking from her conversation. I continued my search of the room until I found him.

Finn was standing near a corner, nearly blending in with the shadows despite his pale appearance. He pretended to tip his hat to me when he caught me staring, then returned his attention elsewhere. Sahara was on alert in my mind. Neither of us knew the exact plan here, but once someone realized what Finn was, we could have problems. He was good at masking, but no one was *that* good in a room full of their natural-born enemies.

It took me a moment to realize that’s not the only reason Sahara was on high alert. Georgina’s eyes were still locked onto Phoenix from across the room. She was still frozen in place, as if his mere presence put her into a trance. My escort and mate, to his credit, didn’t pay her any attention. I wasn’t sure if that was better or worse. Only one way to find out.

I leaned into Phoenix, making sure she could see me, nearly pressing my face into his neck, and stroked his arm tenderly. My voice was a whisper I knew he could hear over the music, “I think you should ask my dear stepsister to dance, Phoenix.”

The immediate protest was in his eyes and on the tip of his tongue. I saw the realization go off like a lightbulb in his head as he gave a curt nod and stood. For me to go to Finn, for Nik to be able to accomplish anything, Georgina’s gaze needed to be elsewhere. Phoenix climbed to his feet and practically stomped over to the head table.

Georgina gave a sly grin as she took his extended hand.