A Curse to Break; Chapter 4

I take one last look at my reflection in the mirror, slowly turning my head to each side. I don't think I did too bad of a job. Hopefully, Mother would agree. She was likely still mad at me, and I didn't want to give her any more reason to be mad. She would likely think any slip-up was another attempt to get out of going to the ball. I knew better than to push my luck like that, but Mother wouldn't care.

If only I had fallen ill. Then I'd have a legitimate excuse not to go. I didn't want to go, but not for the reason Mother thought. The merchant's son, Kyler, had actually been rather nice. He seemed kind enough. I wouldn't mind if Lord Levine managed to arrange a marriage with him. I suppose that's why tonight was so important. I was to go to the ball with Kyler. We were supposed to spend the evening together before Lord Levine met with his father again. It wasn't him I was worried about seeing though.

Hearing that King Axel and King Randolph had gone on a hunting trip had come as a huge relief. I had hoped that they would have been gone for the entirety of the day, but I suppose I should have known better. Princess Claudia would have been furious if her father had been the reason she had lost out on her last chance to make King Axel fall in love with her. So, of course, they had been with plenty of time to ensure they'd be at the ball.

Mother looks up as I exit my room. Her lips form a thin line as her eyes scan over me.

I had done something wrong, hadn't I? Had she wanted me to wear a different dress? Or maybe she didn't like how I had done my hair? There wasn't much I could do about the jewelry. I didn't own much to choose from. She wouldn't get mad at me about that, would she?

My worry continues to rise as Mother continues to study me. Finally, she nods.

"I'm glad you've come to your senses," she says thinly.

I bow my head. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Mother humphs and I can hear her stand. "Let's go. I don't want to be late."

Silently, I follow Mother along. I'm not sure why she's worried about being late. We're running much too ahead of time for that. I don't say anything though, I just follow her.

I stand silently by her side after we find Lord Levine and the twins, and she sets to making sure they look their best. I continue to stand silently as the ball begins and Princess Claudia is announced. Once that's done, I follow Mother and Lord Levine as we head to meet up with the merchant and his son.

Kyler smiles at me as we stop before them. As our parents chat, he steps forward, offering me a hand. "Miss Levine, would you do me the honor of being my companion for the night?"

I smile back at him as I place my hand in his. "Of course."

"Would you like to dance?" He asks as he leads me away.

"That would be wonderful."

When we reach the dance floor, a song is already underway, but Kyler is undeterred, seamlessly leading us into the steps. "You look lovely, by the way."

I blink in surprise as his words sink in. A second later my cheeks are flushing, and I can't hold his gaze. "Thank you," I manage to say. "You look quite nice yourself," I add quickly.

When Kyler spins me, that's when I notice him. I only see him for a second through the crowd, but I couldn't be surer: King Axel was watching me.

My mind is so caught up on that thought, I miss the next step, stumbling over Kyler's foot.

"I'm so sorry!" I quickly exclaim. "Are you alright?"

Kyler gives me a pleasant smile. "It's alright. My mother insisted I help her teach my sisters to dance. That was much worse."

I remember him mentioning his mother and sisters at the dinner. I can't help but wonder if he's close to them, but I also can't bring myself to ask. I also feel like I'm still being watched. It's making it hard to focus.

"Have you done much traveling?" Kyler asks.

"Oh, um, I've never been beyond the capital."

"Really?"

"I've never had much of a chance." A bit of a simplification of the truth, but I've no doubt he's already heard some rumor about me. The truth would only confirm them and probably ruin any chance I had with him. Then Lord Levine and Mother would be furious.

"Do you want to?"

"Want to what?"

"Travel."

"Oh. . . Well, I suppose I wouldn't mind."

"Have you ever even thought of traveling? Where you'd go if you had the chance?"

I can't help but stare at him. I honestly never really thought much about traveling. The times had thought about leaving, it hadn't been with the intent of ever returning. "I. . . Don't know. I've never really thought about it."

"Oh."

He falls silent. Seemingly unsure of what to say. I suppose I wasn't really helping.

"Is there. . . Somewhere you really like?" I ask, hoping to keep the conversation going.

His eyes light up at the question. "I love being on the open sea, nothing but blue as far as the eyes can see, early morning with no sound but that of the wind rushing by. . . There's just this sort of. . . Peace there."

"I think I understand." Oddly enough, I mean it. How many times had I found peace, staring at the sky, listening to the wind?

Kyler's eyes seem to refocus on me, studying me. "I think I've had my fill of this stuffy air for a bit. Would you mind if we went outside for a little while?"

Being outside, away from the feeling of being watched sounded absolutely wonderful. I smile at him. "I wouldn't mind at all."

Kyler easily slips us from the dance floor, leading the way toward the outside doors. The closer we get to them, the more distant the eyes on my back feel. When we exit, we find the terrace blissfully empty, yet Kyler leads us a little further on, out of the line of sight of the party. We can still hear the music, but we can't see anyone.

My hand slips from Kyler's as I walk to the railing, looking out across the garden. In lieu of the ball, they've lit the garden up, in case someone decided to go for a walk. The garden in the lamplight looks so much more beautiful.

"They don't usually light the garden up like this," I find myself saying.

"I suppose they count a ball as a good reason to do so," Kyler comments, stopping beside me. "Do you like gardens?"

I nod. "I suppose this garden is my sea. A haven I retreat to when I need time alone." I'm not sure why I'm being so honest with him.

Silence hangs in the air between us for a minute before Kyler speaks again. "Would you like something to drink?"

I look over to find him watching me. "Sure."

Kyler flashes a smile at me. "Wait here. I'll go get us something to drink."

He's turned away before I can say another word. I watch him disappear through the door before turning back to the garden.

Was this going well? Was Kyler being genuinely nice or was it just a show his father expected him to put on? Would tonight's outcome be good? Would I finally be getting away from my family?

I'm so wrapped up in my thoughts, I don't even hear Kyler return. One moment I'm standing alone, the next an arm is around my waist and another hand is claiming my left hand, holding it aloft as if in preparation for a dance. I suppose this was a good sign, though a bit surprising.

"Kyler, what-"

"Kyler is a bit preoccupied at the moment," a cool voice purrs in my ear. "And probably will be for a while."

My heart stutters as my mind realizes it's King Axel's voice. That means King Axel is behind me. King Axel is holding me. I was once again alone with him and if he was to be believed, no one was coming. That couldn't be right though. Kyler had just gone to get us drinks. He would be right back, wouldn't he?

"Poor little Lena. It would seem there's not a soul here that wants you."

Get away. I needed to get away from him.

My free hand flies to his arm around my waist. His arm moves just as quickly. Seconds later, my right hand is being tucked against my side as his arm wraps back around my waist, pulling me tighter against him.

"Now, now," he gently chides, "No need to be so rash." He tilts his head down, pressing his lips to my neck, right above my racing pulse. He chuckles, breath warm on my neck. "No need to be so scared either. It's just us out here."

"What do you want?" I can't keep the tremor from my voice.

King Axel is silent for a second. "Come with me," he whispers into my neck. "When I leave tomorrow, come with me."

Leave? Leave like I had imagined doing countless times? Leave my family and the only life I had ever known? For what? I had nothing and nowhere to go. Unless I took King Axel's offer. At what price though? Did I really want to take my chances? The only life I had ever known for a life I wouldn't know what to expect in? My family for a man I hardly knew and everything in me screamed I couldn't trust?

"No."

I can feel King Axel stiffen behind me, head pulling back ever so slightly. "No?"

"No," I repeat, wishing I sounded more sure than I did.

"You'd rather stay here, with a family that doesn't want you and not a single true friend?"

I flinch at his words, forcing myself to nod. If I had to cast my lot between him and the life I had, I'd rather stick with what I'd always known, what I could predict.

And just like that, his arm is gone from my waist, both my hands free again. By the time I work up the nerve to turn, King Axel is gone, my thundering heart the only sign that he had been here.

I stare at the door, trying to calm myself. His offer comes back to mind. Was his departure his sign of acceptance? Was whatever this was over? Would he really leave tomorrow? If he did, would I be staying here? I doubt Lord Levine would hesitate to hand me off to him.

I shake my head, turning back to the garden, willing myself to stop thinking like that. I couldn't let him ruin this night for me.

"Sorry for taking so long," Kyler's voice sounds behind me, "Someone wanted to speak with me." I turn as he comes to a stop beside me, taking the glass he offers me with a nod of thanks. "I was wondering if I could convince you to give me a tour of the garden?"

I give Kyler a smile. "I would be honored to show you around the garden."

I do my best to leave any thoughts of King Axel behind and succeed for the most part. Between the peace of the garden and Kyler's easy manner, it's easy to keep my mind in the present. When we finally begin to make our way back, the thoughts do start coming back. As we make our way through the hall, I catch a glimpse of King Axel dancing with Princess Claudia. Perhaps tomorrow, it would really be over.