Evyn and Alleyni descended to the ball and made their way to where her father and Lyssa were seated. Ghael was smiling and looked surprisingly happy for once though his smile transformed to a grimace when he caught sight of his eldest daughter.

"Alleyni, welcome!"Ghael beckoned her forward as his guests wandered away.

Alleyni approached her father and curtsied. Best behavior, best behavior.

"See, you don't dress up too badly," he grumbled. "Now, listen. You can mingle if you wish, just make sure you to praise your sister. Understood? Your purpose is to make your country and your sister appear better. If I need you to meet someone, I'll call you."

"Yes, sir," Alleyni curtsied again.

"And by the stars, where is Luiz?"

At least I'm not the only one who is a disappointment.

"I'm sure he'll be here. Who wouldn't want to miss this?" She grinned sarcastically although her smile dimmed at her father's harsh scowl.

Lyssa caught site of Alleyni and waved, calling her over. Alleyni tried to pretend that she didn't notice, but Evyn firmly guided her to Lyssa. Lyssa's flock of men barely regarded Alleyni as they remained completely enamored with the belle of the ball.

"Gentlemen," Lyssa said, smiling sweetly, "This is my elder sister, Alleyni, and her escort, Evyn. I'm sure one of you would be so gracious as to take her on a spin about the courtyard."

Lyssa smiled at Alleyni as if she were doing her a favor. Alleyni felt a scowl growing over her face—only Lyssa could so easily mask an insult as a favor.

Before Alleyni could think of a sharp retort, an arm was wrapped around her waist and she was swept into the dance. With eyes dancing faster than her feet, Alleyni glared at her unfortunate dancing partner, but her scowl disappeared when she met eyes with Kyald and she found herself smiling from ear to ear. Kyald. She had managed to put him out of her mind ever since identifying him as one of Lyssa's suitors, but one glance from eyes that shade of blue sent every distraction out of focus.

"Hello, again." He winked. "You're looking much better this evening than the last time I saw you."

Alleyni tried not to become lost in his dark blue eyes as his arm held her waist.

"So, you're one of them," she blurted.

Your charm is bewitching.

"What?" he asked, eyes dancing with laughter.

"One of Lyssa's men. You're one of them?"

Alleyni hoped that this was all a misunderstanding, and that Kyald was here tonight for some other perfectly understandable reason.

"I...I'm only here because my father wants me here. I don't care about Lyssa. I'm here on a political mission only, unfortunately. But Alleyni," he said her name as if he was tasting the flavor of it, "you're the only person I've met here whose company I've actually enjoyed even if it was under rather unusual circumstances. I'm so glad that I've found you tonight."

His ocean eyes seemed to pour into her, full of utter sincerity. Alleyni felt herself believing him, even though every ounce of reason within her screamed in protest. He looked at her as if he was truly seeing her as a person—an interesting, compelling person—rather than a prop to be used and abused. He pulled her against him for a moment, his breath tickling the back of her neck. Suddenly, Kyald dipped her and spun her in a circle.

Alleyni felt like a princess for the first time in her life.

"Your majesty," he whispered as he twirled her again, the skirt of her dress circling around her like the petals of a flower.

Once he had pulled her close again, he explained, "You must believe me. I don't want your sister. She's manipulative and deceitful and all the things that I hate about royalty."
Alleyni looked up at him, leaning back into his arms. "Then why are you here?"

"My father forced me to come. I didn't wish to be here, but it's much better than I've expected. I have beautiful company." He smiled down at her and everything in the room faded but him.

Alleyni felt her face redden. "It was supposed to be me, you know."
"What?"

"I was supposed to be the princess auctioned off to the highest bidder. I'm the oldest, so tradition would have it that I would be the first one given in marriage."
"Well, I'm glad you weren't."
"What? Why?"
"Because now I have you all to myself."

Alleyni almost tripped over her own two feet at his words. No one had ever looked at her or spoken to her or held her the way he was. Though she knew she should doubt his intentions, the look in his eyes abolished those doubts to the back crevices of her mind.

"You know what, my lady? I may stay here in Savyl for longer than I first anticipated." Kyald grinned.

"I wouldn't complain," Alleyni whispered, leaning her head against his shoulder for a moment. "Your father won't be angry that you are not vying for the hand of the princess?"
"Oh, but I am."
Alleyni's heart raced at his words. She did not know who he was or where he was from or what he wanted, but she believed him. If he could see through Lyssa, he had more discernment than all of the fools here combined. For the first time in a very long time, he saw her. He saw Alleyni; not the princess, or the crown of Savyl, or the money her hand would provide. He sees me.

She could have danced with him all night, but suddenly a tight grip on her wrist ripped her harshly from his arms.

Alleyni spun around furiously. "Evyn? What are you doing?"

Evyn's face was drawn as he grabbed her by the shoulders. "The better question is, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind, Al?"

"What? What are you talking about, Ev? There are a hundred other men here whom Lyssa can beguile. Father told me that I should mingle."

"He did not tell you to flirt with the most eligible bachelor in the room. Why him, Al? Of all of the men in the world? Are you trying to get revenge or something?" Evyn sighed. "I just wish...wait, Al, you don't know who he is, do you?"

Alleyni stared at her best friend, her heart pounding in her chest. The most eligible bachelor? Just when I was trying to behave myself.

Evyn sighed. "What a mess. Lyssa's going to have your head on a platter."

With his hand on her back, Evyn ushered Alleyni to where Ghael and Lyssa were standing. Kyald trailed behind them until they were gathered in an uncomfortable circle. There was another man there as well, standing next to Ghael, a band of gold through graying dark hair.

Ghael's eyes caught Alleyni instantly, and she could almost hear the obscenities he was screaming at her telepathically. How do I always manage to ruin everything even when I try to keep myself in line?

Ghael's words were kind, but his tone was harsh. "Alleyni, darling, thank you for joining us. I understand you have already met Kyald, Prince of Sari?"

Alleyni's head started to swim and she felt as if the entire world had stopped. Everything in front of her grew black for a moment, and she wavered a little, grabbing Evyn's arm to steady herself. The gravitas of her actions hit her like a sword through the heart. Kyald—the man who had managed to enchant her so wholly—was perhaps the second-most powerful man in the world. The prince of Sari, the largest and most powerful country in all of Zeina. His father was the tyrannical and cunning King Vinrys, able to take over a country with the snap of his fingers and ruin a life with a blink of his eyes.

Alleyni suddenly realized that all of the festivities were for him. Ghael had placed Lyssa in Alleyni's place to enchant the young crown prince and create a marriage treaty between the two countries, winning Savyl nearly impenetrable political immunity and protection. Sari as an ally was priceless. Yet somehow, unknowingly, Alleyni had managed to dance with the man and allowed him to whisper sweet nothings in her ear like a common village maid.

Alleyni was not stupid. She knew that she had made a fatal error, and the hateful glares coming from Lyssa confirmed this.

Evyn pinched her arm and she spit out, "Of course, Prince Kyald."

Despite her attempt at recovery, it was obvious to all that his title was a revelation to her. At least they know I'm not a power-hungry harlot, just a stupid one.

"King Vinrys, may I introduce my oldest daughter, Princess Alleyni," Ghael said, beckoning to the older man with the crown.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sire," Alleyni whispered, curtsying again.
Alleyni turned to meet the gaze of the most powerful man in the world. He stared at her from eyes that were both light and dark, measuring her with his gaze. He carried a sword with a jewel inlaid hilt at his side and wore a bear pelt around his shoulders. One finger caressed the sword's hilt as he watched her, and a shiver ran down her back. The quirk of his mouth under unkempt scruff indicated his humor at her predicament.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Princess. I see my son has found you quite enchanting."

Vinrys laughed aloud at this, Kyald turned crimson, and Lyssa and Ghael looked as if smoke could rise from their ears. Alleyni looked at the ground; her every action could have significant implications for her country, and she would not allow her rash choices with Kyald import badly for Savyl.

By this point, Lyssa's hands were on Kyald's bicep, and she pulled him by the arm. "Prince Kyald, don't you want to dance? This music is just bewitching."

Before Alleyni could bat an eye, Lyssa and Kyald danced away. As they disappeared into the couples, Kyald looked back once, glancing between Alleyni and Vinrys in confusion and a shard of fear. If Kyald was the prince, Ghael had taken away her right to speak with him, much less dance or flirt. No wonder Lyssa had been so angry.

Evyn disappeared as well, abandoning Alleyni to Ghael and Vinrys. Vinrys turned to her, taking her hand and kissing it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess. We have heard so much of your sister, Princess Lyssa, and we were most enchanted upon meeting her. Your brother, Prince Luiz, has also been a delightful host." Oh, I'm sure. Alleyni held back a smirk—she had not even seen Luiz enter the ball due to his tardiness, but she was confident he had already caused a myriad of problems. "But we have heard very little of you as the eldest princess. You seem to keep a low profile, Princess Alleyni. What do you do besides accidentally dancing with the most powerful suitor at your sister's ball?"

Alleyni stuttered for a moment, "Well...uh...besides almost causing international debacles, I like to run."

Vinrys stared at her blankly. "Run?"
Ghael explained, "She runs every day outside the castle, miles and miles. I've never seen anything like it."

"I enjoy running, and being out of the castle," Alleyni justified, her face glowing with embarrassment.

Vinrys nodded, his lips quirked. Alleyni knew that her honesty was unprecedented, but lying was not her forte. If nothing else, the most powerful man in the world seemed to find her amusing.

"I have never heard such an answer before. Have you any hobbies? Any pursuits?"

"I am going to learn to fight." Alleyni blurted before realizing her blunder.

How many more mistakes can I make tonight? I should learn to be seen but not heard.

Ghael's face darkened as Vinrys smiled a little. "You are quite ambitious."

This time, Alleyni noticed the loaded question and answered cautiously, "I wish to be able to take care of myself. I do not believe that royals should be brought up helpless."

"I admire your spirit. If I had a daughter, she would be trained by only the best, able to defend herself with speed and skill. I am impressed that your children are not merely taught frivolity and overindulgence, King Ghael."

Ghael nodded silently with a smile though his eyes were burning cauldrons. As the conversation shifted to a topic of greater political clout but less interest to Alleyni, she managed to slip away to hide among the pages and squires at the edge of the ball. She could not help but watch Lyssa and Kyald dancing, swaying in time with the music, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She knew that she had made a grave error, but it was an innocent blunder, not premeditated. Besides, Lyssa would forgive her as soon as Kyald gave in to her wiles. However, Alleyni knew that she could never spend time with Kyald after this. For only knowing the man for two days, she felt a complete sense of loss. A loss for something that she had briefly tasted but had already been ripped away. A loss of something, a could-have-been that never would be.

There were greater ramifications to all of this beyond Kyald. The presence of Vinrys in their castle unnerved her. Why was he here? Why was he interested in little, insignificant Savyl? Their army was strong, but nothing to be compared with Vinrys's massive forces. And if his sole purpose was to make an alliance with Savyl, Vinrys could have just sent Kyald. Something more was happening here, and Alleyni was scared that she had done or said something to wreck the careful balance between Vinrys and Ghael, between Sari and Savyl. All of this angered Alleyni at the core of her soul. For a few minutes, she had found someone who saw her, who knew her. She had been happy for a few moments as cliché as it seemed. But just as soon as she began to dream that something good could come of it, he had been snatched away. The life of a royal. 

~~~~~

Pardon the long chapter, but it was totally worth it, right? Drama! Do you recognize the name Vinrys from the chapters about Kiva? He's one evil dude. What about Kyald--are his intentions are honorable?

Keep reading to learn more about what's going to happen to Alleyni and Savyl (and please vote and comment as well)!

~ Hannah