Page 150 of In Violent Waves

She must have noticed the unease on Lyra’s face. The tightness around her eyes and the grimace on her mouth.

“I’ll go first. And I’ll wait for you. I promise.”

She squeezed Lyra’s hand before letting go and walking through the open door and waiting on the stair landing. It was a long walk down the stairs, and Lyra clenched her teeth as the page called out Maelys’ name.

“Maelys Briarlace!”

Applause broke out, and Lyra watched as Maelys disappeared down the stairs. Her golden-brown hair gleamed in the crystalline light, and Lyra worked to calm her breathing.

She felt as if she were entering a battlefield. The first time she was surrounded by this many elves, they had hurled insults at her.

Taking a deep gulp of air and squaring her shoulders, Lyra walked through the doors.

The room fell silent. She could hear her dress hiss across the polished marble floors.

“Princess Lyra Auris of Atlantis!” the page announced.

Lyra traced her fingertips on the carved stair railing and looked out into the crowd to meet the glares of the gentry. Murmurs of her parentage were apparent in the sneers that she faced. She was an outsider here—an enemy.

But a shadow moved through the crowd, a blur of black striding with purpose. Those who didn’t move out of his way quickly enough were shoved by his wind.

He stood beside the page and murmured in his ear. The page’s tawny skin burned red before he announced to the room. “Escorted by Prince Wilder Moon Vale.”

Lyra froze and looked down at him. A smirk curved at the corner of his lips as he gazed up at her. His black jacket was embroidered with silver and sapphire—an identical match to her gown. But where hers were swirls of ocean waves, his were whirls of the wind.

He leveled his chin, daring her to refute his arm. And she did not.

Taking the steps one at a time, she reached his side and looked up into his sky-blue eyes that met hers without malice.

“Escort?” she murmured, her brow furrowing.

“Protection,” he replied, and stared past her and into the crowd that was still watching them.

Lyra nodded and took his arm, allowing him to lead her to the dais that King Oberon and Queen Aine sat on.

Wilder leaned towards her and whispered into her ear, “You look stunning.”

His voice was like a caress to her nerves.

“Thank you.”

Wilder walked her through the crowd, head held high, as they approached the king and queen.

Aine smiled down at her. “Lyra, darling, we’re so delighted you’re here to celebrate with us.”

Lyra grinned in return and dropped her chin low.

King Oberon’s face was unreadable. His antler crown gleamed when he nodded to her and then to Wilder. A cloak of crimson rested on his shoulders, and Lyra felt a thrill roll through her when she realized what it reminded her of—blood.

Queen Aine stood from her throne, and the murmurs that had bubbled were silenced. Her dress was like the night sky,navy and black, embroidered with diamonds that mimicked constellations.

“Let the festivities begin!” Queen Aine announced.

Strums of music began, and the crowd dispersed to the edges of the dance floor. Dancers took their positions in the center. Lyra stared on with a yearning she felt looking out at the sea. Swirls of color twined and flowed as the dancers twirled around the dance floor.

Wilder glanced down at a bouncing Lyra.

“Would you like to join them?”