Chapter Sixteen

Kendall's POV

To say she was beautiful was equivalent to that of an understatement.

What I expected was not like that of what I was met with. A brazen, wolf-like girl in a petite, fragile dress was what my mind had conjured up. But she had taken me by surprise yet again.

In the dress, I might compare her to a prickly rose standing proudly, dew drops glistening as she moved and swayed. Just as a rose, she enchanted me, and I had to restrain myself from leaning closely to catch a drop of her scent.

"Did the wolf catch your tongue?"

I blinked slowly, brought out of my momentary daze. She had noticed my lingering stare, but only the smirk on her face gave her away. With the exception of her smirk, the entirety of her body remained neutral.

"Shall we?" I asked calmly, ignoring her rhetorical question with much ease. She preferred teasing me over treating me as if I were her Master, which I was. Fortunately, her behavior was not yet deemed inappropriate or unsuitable, meaning she was allowed to stay as she was.

She took the arm I offered after a moment's hesitation, linking her slender, bare one through my own. The pressure of her arm felt relatively calming and gave me the appearance that I was less alone than my thoughts portrayed and envisioned me to be.

I nodded my head in a quick movement, receiving the bow of heads from guards nearby. Some walked ahead while other kept a distance behind, both giving us space.

"Did you enjoy my present?" I asked lightly in an attempt to engage in conversation. I might have started by telling her that her beauty compared to that of a rose, but it seemed much too forthcoming. I also suspected she was the type a compliment would not sit well with.

She merely shrugged, her arm brushing against my suit. I glanced at her from the corner of my eyes, reading her expression. "I didn't see the need for it all when you've already supplied me with a wardrobe of dresses," she answered, allowing me to see she was not impressed by me.

"Ah, but the one you currently wear was made exclusively for you. No one else will wear a similar dress," I tried, yet her eyes still did not spark with the light I expected. She showed no interest towards the dress.

"That's great," she said, the thinly veiled sarcasm revealing it was anything but. Unusual for her, maybe, but not great.

I cleared my throat, deciding it was for the best to change the course of the conversation. "During this event, you are to remain by my side as you would if you were a wolf," I instructed as we neared the room the ball would be held in for the evening.

"Yes, as you please, Prince Gordon," she remarked, openly voicing her distaste towards my instructions. I visibly tensed, her satisfaction towards the movement equally visible.

My mouth opened to produce a response but closed itself as quickly when none came forward. Calling her by Snowflake might encourage her belief that it was meant as a teasing name when in fact, it was not. When I used the name, I meant it as term of endearment, nothing more. It was to have her mind register the nickname with my own and come to the realization that she was mine, my very own Snowflake.

We arrived at the room, walking in unison towards the grand, elaborate doors. They did not hold the modern look most palaces were built with, but I had come to prefer them over time. They were integrated into the palace and slowly into my preferences.

"Are you prepared?" I asked my Protector, turning so my eyes directly met her own.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she muttered, but her eyes did not meet mine. They shifted, focusing on the doors behind me.

I lightly touched her cheek, finding her skin to be unusually rough for a female, yet pleasant at the same time. I turned her head towards my own, seeing the nervous emotions that rimmed her eyes. She would never admit to the feeling as she was too prideful. It was a trait we both shared.

"All will be fine. If you feel uncomfortable at any moment, I personally will escort you out," I said, the sentence holding the same tone as that of the one I used to make promises.

Surprise flickered through her eyes, leading to the softening of them. They then hardened themselves, locking me out. She only flashed me a wide grin, full of mischief.

"I'll be just fine. The quicker we go in there, the quicker I can leave," she said, holding out her arm expectantly. I gave a light smile, placing her hand on my upper arm before nodding to the guards.

They responded by walking towards the doors in uniform, opening them. The echoing yawn caused by the doors announced our arrival, yet there was still need for a verbal one.

"Prince Kendall Valentino Gordon and his newfound Protector have now arrived," A voice boomed, silencing the room in meager seconds.

I heard a small snicker from my side but made no movement to look at her. I knew she was taking much entertainment in hearing my full name. One day, I would receive the same entertainment as she announced her own to me.

I began walking, guiding us both into the extravagant room. They had outdone themselves tonight, but surprise did not enter my mind as they always did so.

She tensed beside me, hesitating for a fraction of a second. I could understand her confusion: everyone in the room, excluding her and I, was wearing the colors of black and white as instructed on the invitations. But she wore a dress of red while I wore a gray suit with a red collared shirt. We were the twinkling stars for tonight's event, bringing eyes to us constantly.

That was when the whispers revealed themselves, not bothering to make themselves discrete. All eyes fled from me but hooked themselves onto her, frightening her. I could feel her nails biting into my suit, sure to leave a mark.

"Relax, Snowflake. A female Protector is new territory. Show them you are worthy of awe, not judgment," I whispered softly into her ear, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Shall we start off with a dance?" I asked, smiling in an attempt to show her all was fine.

She merely nodded in response, her attention elsewhere. She stared at the crowd of people spectating the two of us, her stance defensive. She would not allow herself to relax unless she was presented with a distraction.

I led her further into the room just as the melodious sound of the nearby woodwind instruments vibrated sweetly throughout the room. Everyone stood attentively, some still whispering while others only watched.

I finally stopped, turning her just slightly so that she faced me, but also that the larger part of the crowd remained behind her.

She remained tense, but her eyes did not skitter away as before. They remained on my own, steady and unblinking. I responded by giving her a wide smile, one that swooned girls, but never seemed to affect her. However, her shoulders dropped a little at the sight.

I pulled her closer, gently placing a hand around her slight waist. She was now close enough that I could feel the wisps of her breath fan my face. Then we danced.

While she did not dance with the same grace lessons had provided me with, she was just as stunning. Even I forgot the crowd of people, losing myself in the dance. It was not until the music came to its end and brought about a rush of applauding that I remembered them.

She tensed once again, but instead of distancing herself, she pressed closely to my side. I responded by slipping my hand into hers, her flowing dress covering them, before squeezing lightly.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to start this evening by thanking you all for attending this special event," I began, my voice ringing out and reaching each individual person.

"I would also like to introduce my beautiful Protector: Snowflake," I added, another chorus of applause erupting through the room. She only responded by growling so lowly that I was the only one able to detect the sound.

"While this event is being held in honor of her, you will not have the chance to speak to her as I plan to keep her to myself for the evening," I said with a grin, receiving a round of laughter.

"Any questions directed towards her may be answered by me," I paused, making sure all had heard before finishing. "That concludes the introduction. I hope you each enjoy this lovely evening and all it has to offer."

Another round of cheering began but was quickly drowned out by the orchestra. Slowly, people began finding a partner before gliding onto the dance floor.

"I'm thirsty."

I turned to my side, but she was no longer there. I could see her red dress floating further from the crowd to the farthest corner where an assortment of beverages were.

I let out a sigh but made my way towards her direction. As I approached, her eyes darted to my face before looking back at the drink that had settled itself into her hand.

"You should tell your friends that staring still isn't considered polite," she said, lifting the drink to her lips.

They were still glancing at her, allowing their eyes to float over her, then pass in a discrete way.

I stared at her for a moment before replying, "They are as harmless as you," in a teasing tone.

Her eyes flickered before she huffed at me, flicking her tongue out. I let out a laugh with ease, amusement finding itself running throughout my body. She was different than most females, in a good way.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" I asked as I joined her at the table. She was deserving of a compliment for the night, even if she preferred none.

"You don't look half bad yourself," she murmured, looking at my attire. I grinned, pleased she had not struck out, revealing the nasty underside of a rose that was covered with sharp thorns.

I opened my mouth, wanting to have another dance with her, but my thoughts trailed off when a delicate hand settled itself on my shoulder.

I turned around, meeting a pair of unusually green eyes. For the evening, her hair, between that of brown and blonde, was straightened, hiding the natural waves.

"It has been much too long, Kendall," she greeted, pulling me to her. She was exceedingly tall for a female, almost as tall as I.

"It has, Raelynn. You are quite right," I replied, gently pulling away. She was one of my oldest acquaintances as we had grown up with one another.

"Where is that lucky Protector of yours?" Raelynn asked, a smile playing on her lips.

I opened my mouth only to close it once again as I turned around. That "lucky Protector of mine" was gone.