Chapter 2

The preparations for the ball had taken all month in arrangements. The night of the the ball had left me drained of any motivation to attend the stupid thing.

I sit in front of the vanity as my sister-in-law combed my hair. She always helped me get ready for these types of things since I really couldn't stand how all of the Ladies in Waiting would gossip or collect any information on me through the process.

"You shouldn't be so cold, Kida," Odette tells me like a true optimist. I glance up at her to see her looking intently at my hair. She tries very hard to make me look presentable but my hair could hardly be contained in curls for long. It fell as straight as a raindrop.

"I hardly think I should be so kind when they are manipulating me into believing they are all flocking to my castle because they truly love me," I counter, noticing her eyes harden.

"I came to a ball just like this to meet your brother," she says with soft seriousness.

I turn quickly to face her, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, Odette."

Her features soften and she gives me a smile. Her hazel eyes meet mine. I'm worried I've upset her but she's just too kind to admit it.

"It is alright, your majesty." She smiles brighter with a chuckle. "I was actually just like you. I didn't want to go to the ball. Then when I arrived, I found your brother was in the stables where I thought to hide. He and I talked all night."

"I kept my father and all those princesses from looking for him by presenting my brothers up as dance partners," I laugh, facing the mirror again as she again combs my hair. "I can still hear Andrew begging my father to not allow another song to be played. His feet hurt so much he barely walked after."

We both erupt into laughter at Andrew's drama until we hear a quick knock at the door. My personal guard, Samson, enters with my brother.

Odette greets her husband with a kiss to his cheek and a short embrace at his side. His arm loops around her waist and pulls her closer, keeping her at his side.

"Are you ready?" Logan asks me, his eyes bright for the nights affairs.

"I wish I could meet a man like you did." I confess to Odette, leaning my head against the back on my chair. She smiles, walking away from Logan to stand next to me. We both stare into the mirror.

"If a man found you hiding, he would capitalize on it. If he saw you glowing, he wouldn't know what to do. Find the man that knows what to do when you glow brighter than he does," Odette gives me an encouraging smile and returns to her husbands side. Taking one long look into the mirror, I promise myself to not fall for games.

I stand, following Logan and Odette out as Samson follows me.

"How many guests brought their own guard?" I ask him. He steps to my left and keeps in step as he answers.

"97, your majesty."

I look at him, shocked by the number of men that must be. He doesn't look as surprised. His hard pale features look dark under his black short hair. The sides of his head are shaved to show scars that run from his ears or the corner of his eyes to the back of his neck. All these scars were from protecting me when a firestorm raged in the castle when we were under siege. He had many burn scars on his arms but the ones on his head were from ice.

I feel guilty for them every time I look at him. The other guards tell me he wears them like this to represent the power his queen has. I tell him to grow his hair out almost every time I see him.

"Do we have enough accommodations for those numbers?" I ask him. "If need be, we can step out and take care of these men now before the night grows too cold," I stop in my tracks, already turning to head towards the North Wing of the castle.

Just as I'm about to set off, Samson's hand catches my wrist. He stops me with ease. Looking at his blue eyes, I notice his smirk.

"I've already made accommodations. You're trying to get out of the party and I will not face your fathers wrath alone," he tells me. I huff when he lets go of my wrist.

I continue towards the ballroom as he follows close behind me, clad in his uniform with freshly polished armor.

"Did you have the new recruits polish your armor or did you do it?" I ask him. He chuckles.

"Myself, of course. No one touches my things, your highness," he tells me with some arrogance in his tone. I smile, nodding.

"All that time polishing, you still miss a spot." I tell him. He looks at me blankly before glancing down at his armor. I smirk at his obvious insecurity.

"You look handsome, Samson. Don't worry," I tell him, turning a corner to the main hall of the castle's ballroom.

"Will we not enter by the throne, your majesty?" Samson asks me while scanning the now empty halls. Only guard remained, each bowing their head to me as I pass.

"No. We're already late. I might as well make an entrance out of everyone's inquiries," I answer him. He nods quickly before ordering the mains doors to be opened.

"Presenting Queen Kidagakash, The Azure Queen of Velaris," I hear a familiar guards voice announce to the roar of chatter coming from behind the doors. I glance at Samson for a final check.

"You are a Queen," he reminds me and I am forced to smile. He offers his arm and I shake my head.

"No escort this time, Sam. Thank you."

He nods, stepping beck from me. He nods to the guards and they open the large gold doors. They open what feels like the gates of hell for me to walk through.

What sounds like an ocean crushing against the shore explodes in the room. Hands clapping and cheers of joy come from around the large room. I walk to the edge of the balcony to look over the room quickly.

"This allows everyone to know what you look like, what you are wearing and what to find when looking for you," I could hear my father tell me in my mind. Strange how his words stick with me so long after so many years of not listening.

"Your majesty," I hear to my right. I turn my head to see Max has his hand out for me to take.

He escorts me down the stairs, the room is now echoing in silence as we descend.

"You're late," he whispers to me. I smile, quick to whisper back, "I tried to escape."

He smirks, almost chuckling when we get halfway down the steps.

The crowd moves aside to provide a path to the throne for me. In the place of a king sits my father with his solid gold band of a crown around his head. The solid band symbolizes his stepping down willingly in the stability in thought with me.

He stands, welcoming me to the party. He takes both of my hands and kisses my cheek. I take a step back as Logan stands and greets me again with a kiss to the forehead. I greet his wife with a bow as she does the same to me. Andrew stands beside Logan and Max beside him as our father stands before us to speak.

"Friends," he greets. "Thank you all for making your long journeys to join me tonight in celebration." Applause echos in the room before he continues. "Recently, it has been brought to my attention that many kingdoms to not see a woman fit to rule an entire kingdom." Chuckles and laughter is heard faintly.

"Yes, foolish of them." My father chuckled to himself. "Because we all know a woman is more powerful than any man in the room."

"When Kidagakash was crowned, I could not be prouder. I am proud of my children, for their bravery, courage and compassion. Each of their strengths, along with their weaknesses, has kept this kingdom together in a time when war is a common occurrence among men. I hope to welcome one of you into our family, to strengthen this kingdom and continue this time of peace and prosperity but more importantly, care for my daughter when I am gone," he raises his gold rimmed glass into the air. Every person raises their glass with him.

"May the best man persevere," he toasts before looking back at me. I bow my head to him in respect before joining him at his side.

"Thank you father," I whisper to him. He stops to look me in the eyes. He pushes my hair behind my shoulders.

"You are a fierce queen, my dear. Do not settle tonight," he whispers, kissing the back of my hand. He walks back to his throne to sit and talk to Odette when a man with long black haired man enters the ball room from the garden. No announcement follows his arrival. He slips into the room without anyone noticing and those who do notice seem to ignore his existence entirely.

"Andrew."

"Yes?"

"Who's that man? In the corner of the room by the garden."

Andrew scans the room quickly, taking note of whoever I mention. He stares for a long moment. I follow his gaze to see the man's red eyes staring back.

"Prince Azriel."