Chapter 9: Thank You

Prince Acheron

Before asking Ara to dance, the idea seemed like the only logical and easy way to talk to her -he wanted to thank her for not revealing his identity to Count Thorn. But Prince Acheron hadn’t taken into account that their dance would catch everyone’s attention, and he now found himself in the middle of the ballroom, surrounded by his soldiers and the dozens of guests Count Thorn and his sister had invited. All eyes on him and the Fae girl he had fought with the other night.

He couldn’t talk to her now, so he danced. The music had steps to it, and for a second, he feared he put her on display unjustly. If she couldn’t dance, the Count’s sister or himself would make sure to embarrass her. Thankfully, he was wrong.

She knew all the hand movements and steps, spun in all the right places, and even added some flair to a dance that was usually more demure and, quite frankly, boring. She danced with grace and precision but also a smoothness indicating she was quite experienced. For the final part of the song, a bridge with loud staccatos meant to sound like rain, he went all the way and lifted her, spinning her around and then set her down, bowing low like the dance required him to.

They were surrounded by applause as more couples went back to the dance floor for the next song. Ara bowed and spun, intending to leave, but Prince Acheron grabbed her hand.

“Arabella, I asked you to dance because I wanted to speak with you,” he said, pulling her back towards him. He placed his hand on her back and joined the dancing without waiting for her to reply.

Ara

“I want to apologize for the… encounter we had the other night,” Prince Acheron said. His face was dangerously close to her ear.

Ara had to admit the dance had been divine. He knew all the steps, and for a second, she was able to lose herself in the music, enjoying the moment. No collar, no killing, no pain. She was just a girl dancing with a handsome man, even if he was a Hova. The son of the man who was responsible for her parents’ deaths, to be more precise.

Half of her wanted to run, to hide, and the other half wanted to keep dancing. She didn’t know what to say to him.

“I accept your apology for using Morpheus dust. That was fighting dirty. Other than that, we met fairly in the roles we were playing. You must have figured out by now that I wasn’t there out of my own will,” Ara said and quickly added, “your Grace.”

“Yes, that much is clear. I also take it you didn’t learn your abilities because you chose to.”

“Correct.”

“What is your story, Arabella?”

“My story?”

“Who are you, really? They’ve called you Princess Lila’s companion several times, but it isn’t clear to me why you have that… position. Are you her lover?”

“My mother was murdered during the siege of Starfall while defending Queen Helenya from your father’s forces. She was the queen's right hand. Princess Lila and I were being raised together, so we were taken into captivity and brought here.”

Ara went cold, realizing she had just called the Hova Emperor a murderer. To his son’s face.

“Aramina,” Prince Acheron said with no hint of anger or resentment in his voice. “That was your mother’s name, wasn’t it?”

“You knew my mother?” Ara said, wide-eyed.

“Of course not. I was also very young when… that happened. But I know the story. I grew up in your former home, after all.”

Ara didn’t know what to make of that. His family was the cause of everything that had happened. He had grown up in Starfall, safe and sheltered, surrounded by people who cared for him.

“Is it beautiful?” Ara said, tears beginning to form in her eyes. She didn’t understand how she could miss something she barely remembered, but the mention of Starfall and the life she never had, expanded the void she sometimes felt in her heart. Most of the time, it was easy to ignore. Rena, however, had made sure she and Princess Lila held on to the past, and it was hard to shake it now that it was ingrained in her.

“It’s a gorgeous city. And this place is a shack compared to the royal palace, though I don’t know if it has changed since you and Princess Lila were there.”

Ara couldn’t wipe her eyes without removing her mask or letting go of Prince Acheron, so she just let them fall and quickly tried to compose herself, hoping no one would notice. She caught glimpses of faces, Hova and Fae, looking in their direction, whispering. She feared getting in even more trouble with Count Thorn once he learned she didn’t have the map.

They danced in silence for a while until Prince Acheron spoke again.

“I also wanted to thank you for keeping my… secret from Count Thorn.”

“I didn’t really have a choice,” Ara blurted out and regretted it. It was hard to navigate the level of formality she should be addressing him with. He was probably able to order her execution with a mere flick of his finger, and at the same time, here he was, apologizing and thanking her.

“What do you mean?” Prince Acheron, looking at her quizzically.

“Count Thorn wouldn’t have believed me until he commanded me to tell the truth, and by then, there’d be a disaster between you and him. I was protecting him more than I was protecting you,” Ara said.

Prince Acheron raised an eyebrow.

“And I find that hard to believe.”

“Why?”

“I’ve seen the way you look at him. There’s nothing but rage there. Do you expect me to believe you’re protecting a man you wish to see dead?”

“You see things that aren’t there,” Ara said curtly. “Your Grace.”

Prince Acheron gave her a half-smile and shrugged. Then he made her spin, drawing her close to him again.

“I know a killer’s look when I see it,” he said, leaning close to Ara’s ear.

His whisper sent shivers down her spine.

The song came to an end, and Count Thorn appeared behind Prince Acheron, just as he pulled away from Ara.

“Your Grace, would it be alright if I danced with my niece?”

“Of course. I will go see how my soldiers are doing,” Prince Acheron said, nodding and leaving the dance floor as the crowd parted to let him through.

Count Thorn’s icy eyes fixed on Ara.

“Don’t be so careless next time,” he said, taking Ara’s hand and positioning her for the next dance.

“I didn’t know Prince Acheron would ask me to dance. You ordered me to,” she said, stiffening. She hated being so close to him.

“With the map, stupid girl. You left it on my desk in plain sight.”

Ara’s eyes widened, and she let out a sigh of relief.

“Yes, uncle. I’m sorry. I will be more careful next time,” she said as her eyes searched the crowd for Prince Acheron.

It was now her turn to thank him.