I wrung my hands nervously as I made my way to the ballroom. I could hear music, human music. Looks like food and newspapers weren’t the only things that had been introduced here.
The ornate doors to the ballroom were closed when I reached them, and two armed guards stood sentry outside in full armor and weaponry. It was a bit much, I thought, but the humans would love it.
I shook my head dislodging that thought. The humans shouldn’t be here. I walked toward the guards, and they immediately pivoted and pushed open the doors simultaneously. I walked through as they announced me to the already crowded ballroom.
“Please welcome Her Royal Highness, Princess Emmaline.” I raised my head high, lifting my chin and walked as confidently as I could into the ballroom. I had nothing to go from other than what I used to do growing up. I didn’t have any advisors and only one maid, who I hadn’t seen, which was suspicious. My father had displaced many of the staff while I was gone. That or they had left.
The music immediately softened, and all eyes turned their attention to me as I walked down the three marble stairs into the grand ballroom. I managed a small smile and a nod, greeting the people, but I was far too nervous to do much more. I scanned the room for any signs of Darcy but didn’t see him. I hoped he returned soon. I couldn’t do this without him.
I walked through the center of the ballroom toward the refreshments table. I needed wine, ASAP! I took a flute of champagne off the richly decorated table, hoping the bubbles would lift my spirits and make me feel a bit more optimistic about this ball. Why did I decide to throw it again? I immediately downed the first champagne quickly and grabbed a second before walking to the side of the room where I hoped I could hide and be invisible for a while.
But I wasn’t alone for long.
“Nice party,” said a seductively yet slightly snarky female voice to my left. I turned and almost dropped my drink when I saw who was standing beside me.
“Queen Amber? Your Majesty, I… forgive me, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t invite you.”
I had read about Amber, the Fae Queen, and her part in the Trans-Realm Treaty. I had read about her beauty and her love of fall and how she always dressed like she was wearing autumn leaves. But I had never met her. I had heard about her Faerie magic and tricks and her love affair with her personal bodyguard.
She laughed. Her voice was musical, like wind chimes moving in the fall breeze.
“That’s because your handsome vampire invited me. Didn’t he tell you he extended the invitation across the realms? He invited all the leaders,” she explained, waving her hand about flippantly talking about Darcy’s invitation as if she were telling me about what she had for lunch. I clenched my jaw and gave a fake smile, taking another sip from my champagne flute.
“Did he now? This party has turned out to be much bigger than I had planned.” I looked out across the ballroom and spotted two other familiar faces. I almost choked on my drink. Queen Amber must have followed my gaze because she laughed again.
“Oh, excellent. Ash and Eva are here!”
“Excuse me.” I made a beeline across the floor toward Ash and Eva, and Ash smiled when he spotted me coming. He nudged his wife, and she smiled too.
“Ash, Eva. I wasn’t aware Darcy had invited you too. I thought he had gone to call you or meet with you?”
“He did, and it was my suggestion that we invite the rest of the leaders of the supernatural world to the ball,” explained Eva.
“Great.” I sighed. “I guess he explained our predicament then?”
“Yes,” she replied. “That’s why we’re here.”
“We want to help,” adds Ash. “If that’s okay?” he could obviously sense my stress. I nodded.
“Yes. Thank you. I honestly don’t know what to do about it. We can’t have humans coming here on a field trip to hunt our people.”
Eva nodded. “I understand. We need to draft another treaty. One for the humans, stating that it is forbidden to harm our kind, the same way it is forbidden for us to show our true form or harm them.”
“I agree,” I said. “It needs to go both ways.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” Ash’s eyes glowed like fire, and Eva reached for her katana strapped at her hip. I heard a low growl come from behind me. I turned and saw a pair of wolf shifters. And everyone was staring at the petite blonde beside me with seaweed in her hair and seawater eyes.
“Emily,” Ash growled.
“Emily, what are you doing here?” says Eva. She flipped her long tangled and dripping wet locks over her shoulder.
“You invited me to this little shindig. I can’t refuse a party, especially when I knew so many of my old friends would be here.” She walked toward Ash and dragged her long barnacled nail down his chest.
“Hello, Ash. Long time no see,” she purred. Eva stepped between the Siren and her husband. Emily, the Siren Queen, just laughed and turned around to look at everyone in our little circle.
“Henry, it’s nice to see you too. I’d heard you found a mate. She’s gorgeous. Well done.”
Henry nods, and his mate scowls. “Emily.”
“I never thought I’d see you again, Siren,” said a musical voice surrounded by bells. Queen Amber sauntered over to join our little party, standing beside Eva with her hands on her hips. Emily sneered at the Fae Queen and then turned her attention to me. I stood tall and tried not to appear weak.
“I’m not sure we’ve met, Princess. I’m Queen Emily of the Aquatic Realm, Queen of the Sirens. Seductress of Men. Where’s your handsome Vampire King? I haven’t seen him yet.”
Before I could open my mouth to answer, someone interrupted me. My heart recognized his voice immediately like it was my own, and flip-flopped. I smiled smugly.
“I’m here,” said Darcy. “What are you doing here, Emily? I don’t remember inviting you. Besides, even if I did, you never participate in any meetings. You don’t want anything to do with anyone but your own kind. So why now?”
Emily flipped her long wet hair again and shrugged. “I heard about the humans wandering through the veil to your Dragon Princess’s party and thought I might come check it out for myself.”
Darcy’s eyes turned red like blood, and he narrowed them at her. “Hmm. As long as you don’t touch a hair on their heads. They are off limits. I extended the invitation to all the leaders simply because Emma and I thought there might be a potential incident tonight. We need all the help we can get to prevent any bloodshed.” I watched Darcy speak to the other leaders of the supernatural world and felt proud of him. He was such a natural born leader.
“Explain what you heard at the inn, Em,” he said. He placed a hand on my lower back, reassuring me.
Crap. Why did he have to turn the spotlight on me? I swallowed and stood taller.
“Earlier today, Darcy and I were on our way back to the castle when we came across a group of humans in the middle of town. They were joking about being bitten by vampires.”
“Tell them about the other thing,” reminded Darcy.
“Not long before that, though, we witnessed a young human couple talking about killing werewolves. That’s why we’ve called you here tonight. We’re concerned some of the humans want to harm our kind, and that some of the creatures here might be happy to oblige, by showing their true forms or by biting them.”
“We need your help to prevent any harm coming to either party,” added Darcy.
Eva and Ash nodded. “No worries. You have our support, Darcy and Emma.”
“You have the support of the shifters,” said Henry.
“Count me in,” said Amber. “I do not wish harm to our people, or humankind.”
I grinned, and then everyone in our group went silent as they turned their attention to Emily. She sighed and flicked her hair over her shoulder, spraying everyone with seawater. Amber gave her a disgusted look.
“Seriously, guys? Fine. I’ll help, even though I don’t agree with this little alliance.”
Darcy smiled. “Thanks, Emily.”
“Don’t sweat it. Just tell me what I need to do.”
Just as Darcy was about to explain our plan, there was a scream from somewhere in the ballroom. I whipped out my athame, Darcy bared his fangs, and Ash and Eva, Henry and his mate, Emily and even Amber, readied themselves for a fight.
“Spread out,” said Darcy. And we all spread out to search for the source of the scream.
As we did so, the whispers began.