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Once on the stone stairwell, I round club had transformed into much more Candles of every size and shape lined every wall, burning softly and casting long shadows of the dancersabout the open floor The furniture had been removed except for one corner and just a dance floor was left in the expansive roo

I froze on the stairs, not even knowing hoould handle the night The ic fro and I had a hard ti in any proxiht?" Jericho asked gently "Use your ic"

I nodded and let hi my full skirt carefully, so not to trip on it I turned on the ic and my nerves disappeared

At the botto with his father and mother There was nized the Cartiers, Sebastian's family All of the men were dressed in expensive tuxedos with tails, and the woowns that both flattered and boasted of their wealth Kiran and Lucan had styled their hair back smoothly, away from their faces, and their more elaborate croorn in an identically crooked way I wondered if they earing their party crowns; Kiran's was solid gold with rubies and eold but his stones were all diahness," I curtsied, extendingRoxie who had been before me

"Eden," Kiran responded slyly When I lifted reeted with an unabashed so ofin Soed rew and his eyes took a sweeping view ofto mine obviously pleased "You'll save a dance for me?"

"Of course," I replied coyly, but really hoping he wouldn't ask If he foundlater would just ruin that "It is after all, your birthday"

"Eden, what a pleasure for you to join us," Lucanmy hand to him as well "You look beautiful as always"

"Thank you, Your Highness," I lifted my head and met his careful smile with my own

"I hope you will save o of my hand and moved me down the line before I could respond I stu to think of an excuse or exit strategy but I was caught I curtsied for Analisa and then left the line beforeforto keep ether

"Lucan wants to dance with

"Now?" Jericho asked, looking around for Lucan

"No, I mean, I don't think so, later some time," I smoothed outhere it was supposed to be

"Oh," Jericho said siated to dance with almost everyone"

"Oh," I echoed "But I don't kno to dance," I whined, afraid of the scene I would rabbedhand on my lower back and heldhed at Jericho's serious face and business-like ood you are at this," I laughed, co in his aret that?" He sood question!" I agreed and then screa

"Relax, I got you," he whispered, liftingreen part of his eyes flashing golden, before returning to a , as if set on fire by the candle light, and I forgot the room around me for a moment

"Um, should we, should we find Avalon?" I ruined the moment, but I couldn't let Kiran find me like that in Jericho's arms Their confrontation at the Winter Solstice Dance flashed through my memory and I didn't want to ruin Kiran's party

"Yes," Jericho narrowed his eyes at ood idea"

He took his hand froh the crowd of people with his other one I followed closely at his heels, using et used to this," Avalon grunted, e finally found the a plate of set these recipes"

"And do ith thenoredthe room with his well-trained surveillance eye

"I have to dance with Lucan later," I gru I wouldn't make a fool out of myself

"Hoful," Roxie empathized and I was thankful she understood how terrible it would be

"Thank you!" I exclai it, or can I just I savemy foot in my mouth!"

"You don't have to talk if you don't want to, Love You can just stand there and look pretty, I'm sure my father won't mind" Kiran answered from behind me, clearly amused

"Well, hello," I turned on my heel to face him "I didn't expect to see you so soon"

"Didn't you?" he s his elbow to ; look at you" His eyes shimmered in their deep ocean of a way, "Will you dance with me?"

I nodded respectfully and took his arm Kiran led me to the dance floor, twirledhim I was effortless in his arms, a characteristic I didn't even know that I possessed

Theainst et the rest of the rooh in the back of my mind I kneere never alone

"You're the envy of every lady in this rooht," Kiran whispered in my ear