Chapter 7

SEVEN

Cassia

I can barely convince my feet to continue down the stairs to the ballroom as I adjust my mask. I was so sure about my decision when I left my house, but now my whole body is trembling. Someone is bound to recognize me before I even get to do this whole fake-queen thing, not that I'm important enough for that. It's just that these fae can probably smell a human instantly.

Taking a deep breath, I try to steady my mind. It's going to be fine. I can do this.

Continuing down the stairs, I think about my grandmother and father. They're why I'm here. If I was willing to consider becoming a whore to support them, I shouldn't be this scared to be a queen instead. Once I become Prince Sulien's mate, my family will have everything they could ever want and more.

If I just focus on them, I can do anything.

Curling my free hand into a fist, I continue down the stairs, keeping my head down. I hope to go unnoticed until I find the prince and keep the images of my family in my mind, so if the urge to hurl and run from this insane plot comes, I'll remember why I don't have that option.

At the bottom of the stairs, I make my way through the crowd with care. Most of the fae are men, but that's no surprise. There are more fae men than women by far. But even so, I feel like I'm surrounded by abnormally beautiful women, women who may be the true mate and bride of the prince, not a phony like me. Honestly, any one of these women are pretty enough to be queen, but as a maid I know their dark secrets. I know those of them who can't wipe their own asses and those who throw tantrums when their dresses and jewelry aren't perfect. I know the ones who have never opened a book in their lives and have heads as empty as their hearts.

Maybe I'm not a beautiful fae, but I can do this. I'm not lesser than them just because I'm not wealthy and gorgeous. Their glamorous and fancy homes don't change who they are deep inside.

I scan the room, my face itchy from the mask, looking for Prince Sulien. There's a sea of women around me wearing dazzling dresses and elaborate masks and fae men who seem to be eyeing the women, but no sign of the prince. No doubt he's in some circle of them, struggling for air, praying for me to come save him.

Okay, maybe not. Even though he's hatched this plan, I'm sure he's enjoying every ounce of the attention. Whatever his motivations for marrying me are, they certainly aren't that he's afraid of female attention, if half the rumors about him are true.

I feel a hand on the small of my back, and relief washes over me, thinking Prince Sulien has found me. He's the only person I know here. The only person who would randomly touch me. But when I turn around, the man touching me isn't Prince Sulien. He's tall, blond, and beautiful, wearing clothes that are so sinfully tight that I can make out every inch of his dick.

And, boy, it's no wonder he's cocky enough to be touching a random woman.

He leans closer to me, a smile dancing across his lips. "You're who I've been waiting for. A tall, gorgeous woman who looks as if she's been dipped in gold. Dance with me." He pulls me close. His hands are soft and warm, comfortable.

But unfortunately for him, I'm not interested.

I slip from his arms. "No thanks, I'm looking for someone."

He looks surprised for a second before his smile returns. "Aren't we all?" His fingers walk up my arm slowly, and he leans his face close to mine.

My eyes close on instinct, but I force them open and turn away from him again, heart hammering. This isn't what I want. I have a plan. Find Sulien, use the potion, fake a connection, marry, and give my family a happy life. Nowhere in the plan is some beautiful fae man randomly trying to seduce me because I look good in a dress.

A fae man who probably wouldn't give me a second look if I was scrubbing his floor.

He's in front of me again. Somehow. Probably teleported, the bastard. "Are you looking for someone in particular, then?"

"Not you," I tell him, darting around him as he stares after me, mouth hanging open.

The bastard is in front of me again, not giving me enough time to stop from crashing into him. Instantly, he wraps his strong arms around my waist, and our bodies are pressed together .

The surprising touch takes my breath away as he presses me against his hard body. Without realizing it, I'm suddenly dancing with him, swaying to a seductive tune that seems to beg me to fall in love with him.

But this isn't right. Didn't I tell him no?

He's beautiful with perfect honey-blond ringlets flowing down his back, and I don't hate this dance. In another life, I might revel in this moment, but I'm here on a mission. Something he doesn't seem to be getting through his thick head.

"I said I have to go." I try to get away, but he pulls me in closer.

"You don't want to dance with Prince Cobar Bloom?" He sounds shocked.

Fuck. I've gotten the attention of the Prince of the Spring Court? That's the last thing I want.

I smile sweetly enough that he smiles back. "Not even a little bit."

He pulls me even closer. "Every woman here wants to dance with me. Every woman hopes I'm their mate. But not you. Why?" He actually seems sincere.

My body aches a little as his head lowers closer to mine, but I tell my body to calm down. Pretty fae are a dime a dozen. Maybe not royal ones, but I don't have time for him either. "Has it ever occurred to you that you might just not be that interesting?"

His jaw drops. "S-since when does being interesting matter?"

I tilt my head. "Since always." I pull to try to escape him, but he holds on tight.

"I'm a royal fae."

I sigh. This is getting old. "And if I have to bet, you never clean up after yourself, never thank someone unless you see a reason to impress them, and have never worked hard enough to sweat. Tell me I'm wrong."

He stares at me like I've grown a second head. "Is this what women want now? Clean, polite men who sweat?"

"That's what I want," I tell him. "And you are not that."

Couples squeeze around us, making me feel a little suffocated, but they're just a blur as the beautiful man stares down at me in surprise. I'm waiting now for him to push me away, to get angry, to throw a fae tantrum. And, I realize belatedly, that in trying to avoid him, I might be instead creating a scene. He smiles again. "I could be clean and polite and sweat for a woman like you."

I speak without thinking. "You can't. You don't have it in you. Tomorrow you'll be drunk and barking orders at servants, looking forward to yet another person you can be around who will tell you how handsome and clever you are."

"Do you think I'm handsome?" he counters, turning us on the floor.

"That wasn't my point."

"The question is still valid."

I almost sigh, enjoying this bantering more than I should when I look at the time, and my heart starts to race. "I really have to be going."

"What is it with you and leaving me? Do you truly intend to steal my heart and then just walk away with it?"

I lick my lips, and his eyes follow the movement. "How many women have stolen your heart tonight?"

"Just you," he lies, but it's a sweet lie.

"Spin me," I say, and to my relief, he does. I use the opportunity to break free of the dance and take off, slipping between groups of women as they chatter about who they'd like to be mated with. I know that the instant I escape him, that prince will find another woman to bother.

Completely out of Prince Cobar's sight, I continue my search for Prince Sulien.

"You look like you belong in a museum," a velvety voice whispers in my ear. I shiver when the man attached to the voice lets his lips brush against my ear.

When I turn around, I'm staring into eyes a color I've never seen before. They're pale and almost completely colorless, but perhaps hold an edge of blue. They rest in the face of a man who is at such odds with Prince Cobar that my mind takes a moment to process it. While Prince Cobar had a sweetness, a softness that was comfortable, this man is all harsh lines. His long, straight, white hair flows down his shoulders, drawing attention to his face, with angles so sharp he could be carved from ice.

A winter fae.

I shiver. They're known for their coldness. No doubt this man isn't any different.

"I've never seen a dress quite like yours," he whispers, leaning in just a little closer to send that cold breath of his over my skin once more.

It takes me a minute to untangle the words from my throat. "Gold seems to be my color."

"I saw you dancing with Prince Cobar. Are you hoping to be chosen as his mate tonight?" His eyes almost close when his lips lift into an almost-smile, and the icy man slides closer to me.

Oh, so this man is just interested in learning if I have any connection to that prince? Of course. The females here want to marry the princes, and the men want to make connections with them .

I sigh, irritated that I'd lost even more time, distracted by a handsome fae. "Not really. The mighty Prince Cobar forced me to dance with him. That one's a pompous asshole, so best of luck to you, whatever you want from him." He's beautiful, but still an asshole.

This man's laughter surprises me. It's warm in a way nothing else about him is. "You may be the first woman I've met who thinks as much about our dear prince."

"That's hard to believe. I thought I was going to have to take the hose to that guy to get him to take a hint."

He smiles, and it softens the harshness of his features. "I would pay to see that."

"I'd do it for free," I offer, returning his smile.

"Who are you?" he asks, and although he sounds intrigued, the question makes my stomach turn.

"No one."

He extends his hand like I'd just said my name, and not knowing what else to do, I take it, feeling a chill when his skin touches mine. We make eye contact, and my breath hitches. When he leans down and kisses my hand, his lips aren't cold. They're warm and as soft as I imagined Cobar's to be.

Warmth spreads through my body. I gasp and pull away, though he doesn't seem to notice.

"Most women are here to meet the princes, not run away from them. Are you sure you're at the right ball?" he asks, studying me.

"I'm in the right place, but I'm not here to meet any of those asshole princes, especially if Prince Cobar is their representative. He just ruined it for all four of them."

I try to relax my face. I know it reveals my feelings, but who cares? I'm not here to impress anyone. I have one goal: to set my family up for a better life. These men that are flocking to me because it's fae mating season are not my concern.

Taking a step back, I try to say something to leave with a little more grace than I had the other man. "I should go."

"Understood. But maybe I could go with you?" he offers, surprising me.

Before I can respond, my spine straightens, and I turn. A man parts the dance floor like a stalking beast. And, unfortunately for me, I know he's approaching me because his bright green eyes are locked on me.

My pulse betrays me as he approaches. Even as I tell myself to get moving, I can't tear my eyes away from him. The man is striking, with long auburn hair and a scar through his eyes that adds to the strange air of dangerousness that surrounds him. He's big, burlier than any of the other men here, and radiates the kind of energy of someone who could pick up a deer and rip it in two with his bare hands.

Sweat gathering at my palms, I turn to go and smash into the icy man behind me. "S-sorry," I offer, then try to shift around him when I hear a voice behind me.

"Who is this ravishing lady in gold?" I turn to make up some excuse, but he takes my hand and twirls me around.

Fuck. Any other time in my life I might not mind a sea of hot men throwing themselves at me, but time is ticking away, and Prince Sulien is waiting. These men can offer me a few minutes of flirtation or a night of fucking, but none of them are offering my family a way out of poverty.

"No one," I sputter out, then try to think of an excuse to be rid of them .

But the winter fae speaks before I can. "This lady in gold just called us assholes and has no desire to meet any of us." The men exchange a look.

" Us ?" I ask, sensing I just humiliated myself in front of the guests of honor. I wouldn't be Cassia if I didn't make a fool of myself at least once a day.

Although I've actually done it multiple times today.

"Yes, us . I'm Zane Frost, Prince of the Winter Court. This bastard here is Forrest Wilder, Prince of the Fall Court." He slides his cold hand down my arm, raising goosebumps on my flesh. "No harm done. Something we assholes have in common is our admiration for a beautiful woman."

My face heats up, and I lower my eyes. I just called two of the most powerful fae in the land assholes to their faces. This isn't going the way I thought it would. No one is supposed to even notice I'm here, and now three of the four princes have approached me.

And none of the three are the one I want to see.

"Dance with me. Give me a chance to prove to you that I'm not what you think." Prince Forrest doesn't wait for my answer. Instead, he takes my hand and leads me to the middle of the dance floor.

I want to resist on principle, but my body, again, goes against my mind and leans into his. He's quiet and unassuming, and his hands stay where they're supposed to, which is already an attractive trait in a man. He smells like pine, and I want to lean in closer, but I'm suddenly ripped out of his arms.

"Whoa!" Prince Forrest yells, his brows furrowed, making his scar dance.

Prince Sulien glares at the other man, and I feel like I want to shrink into the floor.

"Is she yours then?" he asks, then chuckles, holding his hands in the air in innocence.

"She's done with your dance," Prince Sulien says, his voice controlled even though his eyes are filled with rage.

Prince Sulien's anger doesn't make sense to me, but at least it's directed at him and not me. Aren't these princes all here to find a mate? Don't they dance with all the women before the end of the night? I mean, I know they're acting like I'm something special, but isn't that just their thing? Their fun before finding their mate?

Prince Forrest's gaze slides back to me. "I can see why you'd want to keep her for yourself, but you know the magic will decide for us all."

"And the magic won't lead you to her," Prince Sulien says, his tone clipped.

He pulls me away from the Fall Fae and into his arms, like he wants to dance with me next. It's confusing, but I lift my hand and place it on his shoulder as his arms slip around my waist. My head spins a little from the contact, and from the abrupt change. Instead of searching, I've now found where I'm supposed to be.

The prince is who I've been looking for all evening. We're supposed to be touching, I think, to make the spell work, and yet this feels more intimate than when I was watching him undress.

"You came," he whispers in my ear, the anger fading from his voice.

His warm breath makes my skin tingle, and I suck in a breath. This feeling is wrong. We have an arrangement. An agreement for my family. I can't let the fact that he makes me weak in the knees forget that.

Hell, the man made it clear he has no intention of fucking me .

"Of course I came," I say, keeping my voice low.

We've never been this close before. I can feel his hesitation as he pulls me in closer. His fingertips press into me, heating my skin with his touch. But it's different than with the other princes. This desire feels like it only exists in my mind. Like he's playing a role, and I'm imagining there's more between us than there is.

It almost makes me miss the other princes. But not quite. I'm supposed to be in Prince Sulien's arms. How else is the potion supposed to work?

"You look better than I thought you would in that dress." His hands shift on my waist, and I shiver.

"You thought about how I'd look in it?" I'm genuinely surprised.

We're supposed to be conducting business. We have an arrangement. No strings attached. So who cares what his little human bride looks like?

"I thought about it. A little," he says, his voice deep and sexy. This feels flirty. Too flirty to be a deal we're making. Too flirty for a marriage just for show.

Unless this is a show too.

My back arches as his hand slides further down my back and a sigh escapes my lips. I don't know why I'm responding like this. Too many human women have fallen for the soft touches of the fae, only to be forgotten in the morning. I won't be one of those women, even if I'll be married to this fae.

Prince Sulien turns me on the dance floor, and I hear the women whispering. Something about how Prince Sulien never dances. My body tenses, but I try to relax. Time is ticking down. The magic hour will be upon us, and he'll use his potion. This is all part of the plan.

So why doesn't it feel like it ?

He draws me in a little closer, and I look over his shoulder. There, drinks in hand, are the other fae princes, and they're watching us. Their expressions are a mixture of annoyance, curiosity, and envy. Which I don't understand.

I glance behind me to see if there's anyone else they might be staring at, then back at them. Sure enough, they're looking at me. Which makes absolutely no sense.

My heartbeat picks up, and I hate that I feel like tonight I got some small taste of each of them. I'm a woman with needs, but I'm not someone who ever falls for a pretty face. So, this weird connection to them bothers me more than I like.

I'm marrying Prince Sulien. I won't be cheating on him, so that means a lifetime with no sex and lots of masturbation. When I accepted this deal, I accepted that. So why is it that a lifetime without sex suddenly feels painful when I stare at them?

And they stare back.

I shiver, feeling my nipples harden as their gazes lock onto mine. Those three are dangerous. And no matter what happens moving forward, I'll avoid them at all costs. I swear it.