Page 169 of Her Dark Promise

They looked delectable.

I finally looked Bastian in the eye, who was smirking at me as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

I stood tall as they both made their way over to me and bowed.

Bastian grabbed my hand, and kissed the back of it. “Your grace, you are radiant. Of course, I expected nothing less.”

Then Soren stepped forward, scooting his brother out of the way to kiss the back of my hand as well. “Happy birthday, Rose.”

“Thank you.”

Soren clasped his brother’s shoulder and slapped his chest, “Do my ears deceive me, Brother, or did Her Majesty just thank us?”

Bastian laughed and mirrored Soren. “Is this Heaven, Brother?”

I rolled my eyes at their jest and walked back toward Callum with Emilia standing beside him, snickering.

“Come now; I am starving.”

The dinner went by quickly. Bastian, ever the conversationalist, started almost immediately. Everyone joined in as I sat back and listened to everyone. He would have made a great head of the house; he was a natural.

“Bast, this is the best food you have ever made,” Callum praised.

Bastian laughed. “Well, only the best for our queen.”

“Funny how you waited all these months to give her the best, Brother. You wouldn’t be lacking in certain areas, would you?”

I laughed as Bastian taunted, “I think the sounds she makes with me tells you everything you need to know.”

Before I could respond to their brotherly feud, Callum stood, offered his hand, and asked, “Would you do me the honor of giving me the first dance?”

I looked up at him in surprise. “I didn’t know you knew how to dance.”

“I didn’t.” Then he looked over at Bastian.

“You taught him?”

“Just a small gift for you.” Bastian smiled.

I stood and followed Callum to the middle of the room, and just as I was about to conjure some music for us to listen to, Soren began to sing.

I whipped my head over to look at him, and he smiled at me as he continued to sing one of the most beautiful songs I had everheard. The tempo was slow, and Callum twirled me around the dance floor with ease and grace.

It was more than I could handle, and I was almost brought to tears by the thoughtfulness of them all. As Soren ended the song, Callum dipped me slightly, and then I was swept into Bastian's arms.

“My turn, birthday girl.”

“My bold, brazen hunter.”

Soren started another song that was a little faster-paced. Bastian’s skills on the dance floor were astounding. I didn’t know the dance moves, but it was easy enough to follow him. He swept me off my feet, a natural-born leader. He surprised me even further by spinning me a few times out and then back into his arms. I had forgotten how fun it was to be whisked around a dance floor.

As the song ended, Bastian pulled me tightly into him. My arms were covered in goosebumps, and kissed me on the cheek before stepping back, bowing. He walked over to Emilia and held out his hand, asking for a dance, which she shyly accepted.

“May I have the next dance?”

I turned and found Soren waiting patiently behind me, his hand stretched out.

“If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you are just as charming as your brother.”

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