The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) (59 page)

I wasn’t sure I could breathe and was half scared to, lest I burst into tears. His words sung through me and my energy flared brighter and brighter as I tried to speak again, and felt my heart hammer with nerves.

'I.'

The tears started to slip down my cheeks in earnest as I choked the words out.

'I love you. I don’t want to lose you. You mean…'

I took a deep breath.

'You mean everything to me. I’m terrified at the idea of being betrothed and at the same time so, so excited.' I gulped and nodded hard, making my ringlets bounce.

'Yes. I’m saying yes.'

The sense of relief and the accompanying surge of delight made Alek feel lightheaded. He beamed at Cat, who glowed still, though a much softer shade of red now. They stared at each other shyly, and he reached for a cloth on the dressing table and gently dabbed at her tears. She squeezed his hand then moved toward him as he pulled her onto his knee. Their mouths met in a passionate kiss, her arms locked around his neck, and her hands buried in his hair.

'I love you,' he whispered in her ear when they parted, feeling a thrill of joy at being able to say those words to her. Her energy pulsed around them and they laughed. She stroked his face, gazing into his eyes with an expression of wonder.

'Love you too.'

Realizing he’d forgot something important, he lifted her onto the seat.

'Wait a moment there’s something I need to give you.'

I didn’t want to be on the seat. I wanted to be in his arms. I sat at the edge of the seat, watching as he fumbled through his pockets.

'Aha,' he found whatever it was and grinned at me, that sexy crooked grin I loved.

I beamed and reached my arms out to him.

'No, no, just a moment,' he shook his finger at me teasingly as I pouted.

'We’ve got to do this right.'

He knelt again and held out his hand. He looked amused when I stared at him in confusion.

'Give me your hand, Cat.'

She held out her left hand and he slipped it on the fourth finger, smiling at her. Her mouth dropped as she stared at the ring.

'I knew it was a match,' he was delighted he’d been right.

'What?'

'The tourmaline is the same color as your eyes.'

Cat stared at the ring and he sat beside her on the seat still holding her hand.

'Do you like it?'

Do I?

I just got used to the beautiful necklace and earrings and then he gives me this.

It was absolutely stunning and a perfect fit. A large oval tourmaline, the same deep green as my eyes, surrounded by colorless diamonds that continued over the band. It was beautiful.

And enormous.
I nodded, feeling more tears well and I snatched the cloth, dabbing at them before they ruined my make-up.

'I love it. It’s so beautiful,' I held my hand up to admire it again.

Her hand shook as she stared at the ring again, then gave him a breathtakingly beautiful smile. He wrapped his arms around her, cradling her head under his.

'Shh,' he soothed, understanding how she felt. 'We don’t have to rush there, they’ll wait for us. It’s my ball.'

She hiccuped and laughed.

'True.'

You could hear the hum of the guests as we approached the ballroom. An assistant waited with the guards at the door. As soon as he spotted us he rushed up.

'Your Highness. We’re ready, and the Archduchess would like to begin. Lady Catherine,' He nodded to me then turned to the guards.

'Lady Catherine?' I looked at Alek in surprise.

'I’ll explain later,' he hissed as the guards pulled the doors open. 'But yes, you and the other girls officially have the title Lady.'

Okay. Another thing to add to tonight’s insane list of FYI’s.
We both stood straight for our entrance. I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm, feeling self-conscious as the ring twinkled in the light.

I can’t believe I’m betrothed.

As soon as she sighted Alek, Elena gave the signal to the musicians, who drummed out the Thalian anthem. The stunned look of delight on his face told her the answer she’d been waiting for. That and the sparkle from Cat’s ring. Queen Ariadwen’s ring looked stunning on her, just as she knew it would.

Yakov touched her arm lightly and they exchanged a quick look of delight, then she stepped forward to announce them.

'Presenting, His Royal Highness, Prince Alekander Nikias Dianto Thalian, heir to the Elion throne, and his newly betrothed, Lady Catherine, Elemental of Fire.'

A loud gasp went through the room as everyone stared open mouthed at the couple. Elena smothered a laugh when she caught sight of the other girls’ faces. She was pleased to see Cat handling the situation with poise. Elena had meant to have a word with the girls prior to the ball, but had run out of time. Also, she wasn’t entirely sure what answer Cat would give. She’d let the men know about the title change and told them to stick close to the women. They wouldn’t let them make any faux pas, at least she hoped not.

It was Yakov’s turn to speak, and she turned her attention to him.

Yakov studied the couple for a moment before he spoke.

They are well matched, he thought, and had a sudden flashback of the late King and Queen, as Alek and Cat stood side by side.

'Welcome to all our guests, we thank you for coming to celebrate with us. I know many of you have traveled far and we are delighted to have you here.'

He smiled at all those in the crowded room then lifted a glass from a tray offered to him. 'And so let us raise our glasses in toast for Prince Alek’s birthday, and betrothal.'

Everyone raised their glasses and echoed the toast, shock on more than one face.

At a nod from Yakov, the musicians began a different tune, a march, and I watched as the Lieutenants of the Guards; Griffon, General, and the Cavalry, made their way to either side of Alek.

My left hand felt strange from the weight of the ring, it seemed even heavier, now that everyone stared at it. Kass, Sian, and Loi stared in astonishment, and I could feel a tinge of annoyance from them. It looked like I had some explaining to do.

Now that the Lieutenants were in place, the music changed again, to a calmer, soothing tune. The next hour or two was for greeting everyone in a receiving line that gathered before Alek. It was organized according to rank, and everyone seemed to know their place. The faces began to blur toward the end, but I couldn’t stop smiling. Everyone insisted on looking at the ring, and I couldn’t stop the happy glow of energy that flared out.

Loi couldn’t believe that Cat had kept that from them.

She can’t have known, he must have sprung it on her, I know Cat’s awful at keeping secrets.

'She can’t have known,' Kassie hissed.

Sian and Loi nodded in agreement.

There’s no way she knew, Loi thought. But she looks delighted and stunned. Sabyn gave her hand a light tug, and she straightened up to greet more people. Loi enjoyed meeting everyone, but was captivated by the Lieutenants of the Centaur Cavalry, who stood a place higher than the General Guard Lieutenants, but lower than those in the Griffon Guard. They looked formidable.

The Aswaran Lieutenants were HUGE. They looked to be half draught horse and half WWF fighter. Next to them were the Lieutenants of the Rodhite division, slender and elegant looking creatures, then the stockier, Medanga Lieutenants.

Iggy had the same expression for the Cavalry Lieutenants that he also reserved for them and it made Loi want to laugh. Especially when his nostrils flared as an Aswaran Lieutenant brushed him with his hindquarters.

Sian was grateful that Daron was just a member of the Griffon Guard and not royal. She ached to go and drag Cat out the back. It was so exciting.

I want to see her ring, she thought, as she bent forward a little to watch it sparkle under the lights. It appeared to suit Cat well, and anyone could see she was happy; her energy glowed about her softly.

I’m so happy for her, she thought, and leaned against Daron with sigh of content. She was grateful not to be the center of attention like those two were; it gave her the opportunity to study the guests and all the fantastic outfits they wore.

The centaurs had taken her breath away when she first saw them, huge, powerful, and majestic looking. She’d gotten over her initial awe when, after being introduced, they’d just chatted away like any human men would. It was somewhat disconcerting, to hear such a normal voice from someone who made Daron look small. She expected a booming voice. Though, as she’d listened to them, she could hear an underlying resonance which suggested they could be loud when they wanted to.

It was funny watching Iggy, it was quite obvious he had little man syndrome when it came to the centaurs. Kassie bit the insides of her cheeks to stop from smiling. Almost as funny as everyone greeting her as Lady Kassandra. It sounded ridiculous, but then Cat was introduced as Alek’s betrothed which was even funnier. She couldn’t wait to talk to her after the receiving line was done. She turned her attention back to the guests, admiring some of the beautiful outfits.

A water sprite couple were introduced to Alek, and they were curious looking creatures. A humanoid figure, but quite slender, with webbed hands and feet. Their skin reminded her of Mystique, from the X-men movie, just a paler version. More silvery blue than dark blue, with a pattern that suggested at scales. The female had longer ‘hair’, if you could call it that. It looked like long slender spines, plaited, and hanging over her shoulder. Pearls and other glistening stones were woven into the plait. Kassie strained to hear their voices, but the music was loud. Giving a wistful sigh she watched the dancers, she’d much rather be dancing.

Rumal glanced down at hearing that little sigh. Kassie stared out at the dancers.

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

'Not long, Kass, then we can dance'.

She looks stunning.
He felt a twinge of annoyance at how long this took. He’d much rather her in his arms, on the dance floor. She looked beautiful. The fabricer, Ada, had really out-done herself on the girls’ dresses. Shifting a little, to relax his back, Rumal fixed a pleasant smile on his face while he kept what he’d said to Kassie running through his mind.

Not long now.

It was easy to give smile genuinely to the last people in the receiving line, and the sense of relief when Yakov gave the nod that we could go dance was great. I beamed up at Alek as he led me to the floor, and we joined the others dancing.