Daughter of the Red Dawn (The Lost Kingdom of Fallada) (16 page)

Selena turned her back and pretended to inspect a mural of a forest taking up an entire wall in their shared room.

“Why would I care about that?”

“Hmmm.”

Zoe didn’t elaborate but Selena could hear the doubt in her tone. It wasn’t exactly unwarranted; along with a desire to help Titus rescue his family was an even deeper want. She was grateful when an opening door and the sound of Rose’s enthralled gasp interrupted them. She turned to
find her grandmother wrapped in a more modest, long-sleeved and high-necked gown in yellow satin. Her dark, silver-streaked hair was left to tumble down her back.

“Oh, you girls look so beautiful. Selena, you look like
…
”

“A princess?”
Zoe offered shamelessly, a mischievous smile curling her lips.

Rose chuckled and grasped Selena’s hands. “That’s exactly what you look like.” Her blue eyes were soulful and filled with tears as she gazed up at her granddaughter. “I always knew that you were special, sweet pea. Now I hope that you know it
,
too.”

Selena’s answer was a smile and a hug.
She grasped the hands of her grandmother and best friend before turning to lead them out of the opulently decorated room.

“Come on,” she said. “Let’s go party,
Faerie
style!”

Glad to have distracted everyone from
all the
princess talk—at least for now—Selena followed Adrah’s servants, who led the way to the ballroom where the celebration was taking place.
More of the same music the
Fae
ries had been playing in the royal hall came flitting through the doorways and greeted them, only this tune was
livelier
. Selena felt excitement pulsing through her as the bright lights of
the ballroom enveloped them when they stood framed in the doorway. It would be hard to forget that these people were celebrating because they believed she had returned to Fallada to take her rightful place as Damu’s eldest princess. For now, though, she would try to enjoy herself as much as she could. Adrah had promised that they would talk later and Selena fully intended to take her up on that once she was full.

The scent of fresh flowers was the first thing that Selena noticed. The colorful buds were everywhere, blooming from long chains of ivy that looked as if it had naturally overtaken the entire ballroom. The greenery and flowers climbed up the room’s massive white pillars and some sections of wall, creating a colorful and awe-inspiring display. Lanterns made from the thin branches of trees hung from the ceiling
,
and as they moved further into the room, Selena could see that they were lit by swi
r
ling fireflies.

More lights danced about the room on their own accord and Selena gasped to find that those particular creatures were not fireflies, but small winged creatures. Two of them twirled right in front of her, glowing from within and surrounded by a shimmering, golden haze. They were male and female, clutched together in a hypnotic waltz, the skirt of the tiny woman’s gown floating around them like a silken banner. Selena watched as they twirled back up toward where the other little lights had gathered close to the ceiling. They converged as one glowing mass before dispersing, bursting out across the room in a display of light and color that left everyone in the room breathless.

“They are pixies,” said Queen Adrah as she appeared beside them from out of nowhere. She was dressed in another pristine white gown, but this one was embroidered with blossoms matching those adorning the ballroom. Real blooming petals decorated her upswept hair and she carried the same entrancing glow as when Selena had met her earlier. “They are distant relatives of the
Fae
; mischievous
,
but beautiful and important to our way of life as the keepers of nature.
Our other cousins
have joined us as well. The
Elves
have come all the way from Inador Forest to attend.”

Adrah gestured toward a group of beings very similar in appearance to the
Fae
. Their coloring varied from pale to ebony
,
but each and every one possessed eyes as blue as the ocean. The
ir
ears were a bit larger
,
but just as pointed as their
Fae
counterparts. Their garments were as flowing and beautiful as the
Fae
’s, but trimmed in brown leather and feathers. Many wore bows across their bodies and sheaths of arrows on their backs. Their figures were thicker and more robust than those of the
Fae
, as if they were born from Amazon warriors.

“And
,
of course, there are also many
Werewolves
present,” Adrah continued as she led them toward the corner of the room boasting tab
les full of food. “Those who have
not
fallen
prey to Eranna have sought refuge in
Goldun.”

Adrah’s smirk widened into a smile as she placed a full goblet in Selena’s hands.
“Perhaps you will find a familiar face among them.”

Selena lifted the goblet to her lips as she turned to locate the group Adrah had spoken of. They gathered in clusters among the
Fae
, easily recognized by their muscular builds and un-pointed ears. Like the
Elves
, their looks ranged from blond haired to dark with eyes from shades of crystalline blue to black onyx. A pair of electric blue ones pierced her as her eyes came to rest on a lone figure dressed in shades of white and chocolate brown.

Zoe was at her side in an instant. “I never thought I’d be saying this, but that is one yummy
Werewolf
.”

Selena had to agree as she eyed Titus’ lean and muscular build from across the room. His attire was much like that of the
Fae
males; long-sleeved tunic with leather vest and matching pants. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top and Selena felt her face growing hot at the sight of exposed chest muscle and the shining silver necklace resting against smooth, pale skin. His dark
hair
fell across his eyes in
a
haphazard way that lent him an air of mystery. Selena took a long gulp from her goblet, trying to concentrate on the sweet and fragrant drink instead of Titus
,
but
fail
ed
miserably.

“Those were your exact words when
Breaking Dawn
came out, remember?”

“I mean
t
I never thought I’d be saying that about a
real
Werewolf
. Jacob doesn’t count, he’s not real. That, on the other hand
…
”

Zoe trailed off and lifted her eyebrows, jerking her head in Titus’ direction. “That is real. I suggest you take
advantage of it while you can, s
ince we’ll be leaving soon and all.”

The last sentence was said with a shrug and knowing smirk before Zoe was disappearing into the crowd with Rose on her arm. The last thing Selena heard was something about going to the buffet table before she lost sight of them both.

“Damn you
,
Zo,” Selena muttered as she drained what was left in her goblet before setting it down. Conveniently, Queen Adrah seemed to have disappeared from sight as well, leaving Selena completely alone. Titus was watching her from across the room, his hands in his pockets and his gaze intense. As if drawn magnetically, Selena felt her feet moving her in his direction until they were standing face to face
.
J
ust
inches away from where
Fae
,
Elves
, and
Werewolves
frolicked on the dance floor.

“Hey,” Titus said in that gravelly tone of his, reminding her of the day they met in the grassy field.

“Hey,” she responded, for lack of anything better to say. Titus’ eyes swept over her, from her pinned-up hair and down over the gown draping across her body. Her heart leap
t
up and lodged in her throat as his eyes lingered a fraction of a second longer on the cleavage of her gown than anywhere else.

“You look
…
”
he trailed off and inhaled deeply, his Adam’s apple bobbing forcefully as he swallowed. “
Stunning.”

Selena lowered her eyes from his probing stare. Guys never looked at her the way he did and the effect was unnerving; she just didn’t know how to handle it.

“Thank you,” she mumbled.

And then his hand was in hers, the warmth of his palm brushing up against hers. His gentle squeeze on her fingers forced her to look back up at him. He smiled.

“You want to dance?”

Selena eyed the twisting and turning bodies crowding the dance floor and felt fear gripping her chest. No one was doing the shuffle or the running man, so she was sure to stand out. Add that to the fact that she had absolutely no rhythm and two left feet
,
and Selena was terrified at the prospect.

“I don’t know how,” she admitted.

Titus smiled, flashing his pearly whites and pointed canines. “
There aren’t really any rules.
Fae
music is very unpredictable, like nature. It’s what rules this realm. So, the dance moves are just as unpredictable. I can show you.”

Selena didn’t have time to protest before he was pulling her toward the crowd and right to the center of the dance floor. Nerves prevented her from really enjoying it at first, but Titus’ genuine smile put her at ease and relaxed her. He showed her the steps, which reminded her
of something out of a movie set in medieval times. Arms linked, they spun in circles before
participating
in  a
series of claps and turns before joining again with hands touching. Titus’s eyes never left hers, crinkling at the corners and twinkling with humor as he watched her catch on to the steps. By the time the song ended, Selena’s forehead had broken out in sweat and her heart was pounding in her chest.

“Had enough?” Titus asked as he wrapped an arm around her waist to protect her from the jostling crowd.

“Yes!” Selena shouted to be heard above the boisterous
Fae
ries,
Elves
,
and
Werewolves
.

Titus grinned and grasped her hand, pulling her swiftly through the crowd. “Come on,” he said once they’d reached one of the open archways leading out from the castle. “I have something I want to show you.”

Selena’s eyebrows furrowed as she glanced over her shoulder to find Adrah watching them. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

Adrah’s nearly imperceptible nod was timed with Titus’ exclamation. “Of course!” he said with a gentle tug.
“Unless you’re worried that I might hurt you.”

Selena
looked into his eyes and saw guilt there, along with worry. Impulsively, she stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tightly. The feel of him against her felt natural, like something falling into place
,
and Selena closed her eyes against the feeling of oneness. Feeling right with Titus meant accepting her place in Damu
, in Fallada,
and she just wasn’t ready to do that. Still, she held on tight as she
reassured him.

“I know that you would never do that.”

~*~

Chapter
Nine

“You should know that I am free from Eranna’s possession.”

Selena turned to look at Titus as she walked alongside him, away from the towering castle of the
Fae
queen. She smiled.

“That’s great! So that means
…
”

“When I shift into my animal form, I am in complete control.”

“So no more freaky red eyes
?
”

Titus laughed.
“Absolutely not.”

Soft grass swayed beneath their feet, shimmering green in the light of the
crescent
moon. It invited her to take her sandals off and dig her feet into the soft blades, an impulse that she gave into without hesitation. She sighed and wiggled her toes in the grass, the blades like silk between
them
.

“You know,” he said as he grasped her hand again to pull her along, “I thought you were beautiful when I met you, but seeing you here
…
it’s as if you coming home has enhanced your beauty. You’re glowing, Selena.”

She knew that it was true. I
n the moonlight, her skin had taken on a luminescent glow and she was filled with energy that she’d never possessed. With her bare feet in the grass, all she wanted to do was run. But she didn’t want to
admit it, so she decided not to respond.