Chapter 3

When they finally reached the bottom of the staircase, Alexandra released Drake’s arm and took a breath. Everything after that was pure muscle memory. Cassandra had made them practice their waltz to nausea, and Alexandra was sure if she were a sleepwalker, she’d waltz through the halls without missing a step.

Drake guided Alexandra to the middle of the floor, and the transition between walking and waltzing was flawless as the band played. They glided across the ballroom floor effortlessly, and despite her previous worries about their dance, Alexandra didn’t think about it. She was focused on those lining the ballroom floor.

She recognized diplomats, bureaucrats, and aristocrats that she’d grown up seeing at her parents’ parties since she was little. Just like her mother warned, their eyes were glued to her, and they took note of every move she made. It took everything in her to keep from sticking her tongue out at them, but she restrained herself when she thought about the verbal beating she’d receive from her mother.

It took her a moment, but she found the High Council had clustered together as they always did at functions like this. They watched her more than anybody else, and from the looks on their faces, she knew they already had an excruciatingly long list of complaints they would share with her tomorrow. They’d probably share their complaints tonight, but Alexandra wouldn’t give them a chance.

Alexandra and Drake found themselves in the middle of the ballroom floor when the music faded. There was a polite round of applause, and Alexandra let out a sigh of relief.

“You did great,” he whispered as he stood beside her, and they began to bow and curtsey to every side of the room before finally facing the grand staircase.

Thank you.” She was relieved that that part was over, but it was just another thing crossed off the list of things she had to get through tonight. With that in mind, she started running down the list of names and faces she’d spent the last six weeks memorizing.

“And now, a word from His Eminence Ser James and Her Majesty Lady Cassandra,” Carmichael announced. There was an unusual strain in his voice, and when Alexandra glanced over to where he stood, she could see his usual stoic expression seemed filled with emotion.

She couldn’t help but smile at him.

Gathered at the bottom of the staircase, the Bliss Royal Family stood together. Some of her distant relatives regarded her with cold stares and harsh scowls, but some of her more immediate relatives seemed more focused on her necklace than her.

As James and Cassandra took their place at the center of the staircase’s base, he heaved a heavy sigh at the sight of her. Alexandra could see the look of nostalgia well up in his eyes like it’d done just moments earlier, and she was sure today would be the day where she saw him cry. But he cleared his throat, and her mother rubbed his back.

“Alexandra,” he spoke in his usual smooth tone that he usually reserved for family, “I’m sure I speak for both your mother and me when I say we are in awe of the woman you have blossomed into over the last twenty-one years. As your father, it has been an honor to stand by and watch you grow and become the intelligent, confident, driven, strong, and beautiful young woman standing before us this evening. You are everything we prayed you would be, and I am thankful that Lord Aleister decided to bless your mother and me with you. We cannot wait to see what you accomplish in this next chapter of your life, my love.”

He raised his glass, “May Lord Aleister continue to watch over you and bless you for the rest of your days.”

“May Lord Aleister continue to watch over you and bless you for the rest of your days,” the crowd echoed before downing their drinks together.

Alexandra smiled at her parents with a thankful expression. Her mother quietly mouthed the words, “We love you,” and Alexandra mouthed them in return. There was slight chatter amongst the crowd, but as Alexandra clapped her hands together, the room fell silent. She silently admitted that she could get used to that.

“If it’s all right, I’d like to say a few words,” Alexandra requested. “Father, Mother, I just wanted to let you know how thankful I am for the two of you and for everything you’ve taught me over the years,” Alexandra began. “I know there were times when we didn’t get along and where I seemed ungrateful, but I owe you absolutely everything to the two of you. I am who I am today because of you, and I couldn’t have been blessed with better parents. So, thank you for everything.

“And to our guests, I am truly and deeply grateful to each of you for joining us this evening and celebrating with us on this extraordinary occasion.” Alexandra used the sweetest tone she could muster and enjoyed the slightly irritated expressions on some of their faces.

“All right, all right, that’s enough of the formalities and whatnot. Let the people have some fun before one of them drops dead of boredom,” Michael Bliss, Alexandra’s grandfather, and James’ father grumbled from the cluster of their family.

James chuckled while Alexandra rolled her eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but Alexandra watched as Allison scurried over to their father and tugged on his pant leg. James knelt so he was low enough for her to whisper in his ear, and once she had finished making her request, James happily lifted Allison onto his shoulder.

“Go on then,” James encouraged.

In the loudest voice she could muster as a five-year-old, Allison shouted, “Have fun!”

With that, the band played, and the crowd dispersed. The dancefloor became crowded almost immediately, and people chattered, wandered off into other rooms, wandered outside, and refilled the drinks they’d been nursing since they arrived.

Drake and Alexandra were swarmed by dozens of Alexandra’s family members who showered her with praises and backhanded compliments. It all sounded like white noise, and while they bombarded her, several High Council members had started making a beeline for them.

“You’ll have to excuse us,” Alexandra announced as she linked her arm with Drake’s. “Drake and I promised to take pictures with my parents once we finished our dance.”

Alexandra didn’t give them a chance to protest. She squeezed her way out of their enclosed circle with Drake and weaved through the crowd to create distance between them and the High Council.

As they escaped, Drake swiped two glasses of red wine off a passing tray. Once they were outside on one of the patios, he handed a glass to Alexandra and watched as she took careful sips.

Drake chuckled as he sipped on his own wine, “Do you think you can avoid them all night?”

“I’m sure as hell am going to try,” Alexandra declared. “The last thing I need is to be lectured by the High Council on my birthday. They can yell at me tomorrow. Or the day after that. I haven’t quite decided yet.”

“Taking a breather before you start with the ass-kissing?” Erik asked as he approached the two of them with his date, Shaun Wade, on his arm.

“You could say that,” Alexandra grumbled.

“Shaun?” Drake chuckled, “I could’ve sworn you said you weren’t coming?”

Shaun simply shrugged in response. She was a beautiful woman with dark brown skin and a crown of fluffy dark brown hair covering her head. She had light brown eyes and a beauty mark on the right side of her mouth with freckles speckled across her shoulders and chest. She wore a dark green dress that cut low in the front and was presented as a lace bodice with a shimmer green skirt that fit against her.

“She said Ashanti was adamant about her being here tonight,” Erik explained.

Drake nodded, “Sounds accurate.”

“I’d much rather be anywhere else but here, but Ashanti threatened to make me start attending etiquette classes, and I’d rather choke on Fae dust,” Shaun groaned. Then she sighed, “Sorry, Alex. Happy Birthday.”

Alexandra laughed, “It’s okay. I’m not offended, I promise. This corset takes years off of my life, so I share your sentiments. I am glad that you’re here, though. It’d be nice to see you are more events like this.”

“One party at a time,” Shaun warned.

“Ah, fuck,” Erik groaned. “I made eye contact with Uncle Harold. Damn it. Now I have to pretend I’m interested in hearing his hunting stories for the next fifteen minutes.”

“Do I need to stay for that?” asked Shaun.

Erik pretended to be struck, “You’d abandon me?”

“Yes.” Shaun didn’t hesitate to answer while wearing the sweetest of smiles.

“Good luck.” Alexandra squeezed Shaun’s hand, “I’m off to perform my duties as tonight’s ‘Lady of the Evening.’ It feels more l ike torture, though, if I’m honest.”

“Want to trade?” Erik pleaded.

“Nah. Uncle Harold’s too handsy for me.” Alexandra playfully patted Erik’s cheek and then looked at Shaun, “Don’t let him hug you longer than five seconds.”

“If he grabs my butt, I’m breaking your uncle’s hand,” Shaun warned.

Before Erik could reel Alexandra into the pit he’d found himself in, she hurried off with Drake in tow. They’d taken all of five steps before a diplomat approached them from the Eleven Nations.

“Amarille Zinran,” Alexandra greeted her confidently. “I wasn’t sure if you’d make it to tonight’s festivities. I’d heard your husband had fallen ill recently?”

Amarille seemed impressed, “You heart about that? Well, yes, but he’s actually on the mend. He said I’d be angry with him for years if I had missed this party because of him. I won’t admit this to him, but he’s right.”

Alexandra and Amarille laughed, “Well, I’m glad you could make it tonight.”

Alexandra chatted with Amarille for a little while before moving on to the next person. It seemed like an unofficial line had formed, and Alexandra found herself talking more tonight than she had in the last year. She hadn’t been more grateful for her mother’s training than now because she knew all their names, faces, and quirks.

Alexandra remembered that King Baptiste Blake of the Fae thought he was the funniest person in the room and often took personal offense if someone didn’t laugh at his jokes. So, Alexandra made sure to laugh until the point of tears. Reid Harmon, a high-ranking noble in the Mage community, always liked to be complimented on his physique since he spent the better part of his day in a gym. Kellie Jameson of the Ghouls always felt she had the juiciest gossip, but she was never aware that she was three weeks behind on everything at all times. It was truly remarkable how she could never catch up. The list was endless.

This part of tonight was about making everyone feel good and seen; Alexandra had done just that. However, they didn’t have her full undivided attention. She’d been scanning the ballroom almost endlessly, trying to track down Sol. She’d caught glimpses of her every now and again before getting pulled into another conversation. She’d come close to approaching her once but was intercepted by another diplomat.

At some point, she’d caught a glimpse of Sol speaking with her parents. They seemed to be conversing casually, but she could tell her parents were forcing their smiles and the occasional laugh. Sol seemed better at it than them, though.

By the time her line had dissipated, Sol was nowhere to be found, and she was too tired to go looking for her.

“I am thoroughly impressed,” Drake complimented as he guided Alexandra to an empty table and pulled her seat out for her.

Alexandra heaved a sigh and took a seat, “And I am thoroughly exhausted. Ugh, my jaw hurts.”

“Take a breather,” Drake encouraged. “I’ll see if I can scrounge up a plate.”

“Please,” Alexandra pleaded. “My stomach is touching my spine, and that’s not because of the corset. Well, not entirely, but still.”

Drake laughed, “I’ll find you something.” He kissed her forehead before walking away.

Alexandra took a deep breath to recollect herself. She ran down the list of those left to talk to, and it felt like she hadn’t made a dent. She was ready for the night to be over and even more ready to get out of her heels and corset. Both were starting to feel impossible, but there were still several hours left before the party would end. She just prayed her party wouldn’t last for three days like her Aunt Alicia’s did. However, it was a party that the Eleven Nations still talked about to this day.

“You look exhausted.”

Alexandra looked to the opposite side of the table to see a middle-aged man with stark white hair smiling at her. He was paler than any Vampire she’d seen, and his bright blue eyes shone like the ocean on a clear and sunny day. He had a cane in his right hand, and it didn’t take long for her to recognize him as Adrian Ghastly, King of the Shadow Walkers and a member of the highest authoritative council in the land: the Celestial Council. In all of the Celestial’s Realm history, he was the only sitting monarch to serve not only as king but as a member of the Celestial Council at the same time, and no one was genuinely sure how long he’d had his seat on the Celestial Council, either.

“Councilman Ghastly.” Alexandra shot out of her seat, and he laughed.

“Please, call me Adrian,” he requested before gesturing to the seat beside her, “Do you mind if I join you for a bit?”