Page 4 of Song of the Heart Scale
“Absolutely not!” I laughed, wobbling slightly as I steadied myself against her shoulder. “But faking it convincingly is another essential life skill.”
Maeve shook her head, smiling warmly but gripping my arm to keep me steady. “I'm not sure what we're going to do with you, my lady.”
“Keep me entertained, obviously.” I playfully nudged her. “Speaking of entertainment, it's your turn again!”
Before Maeve could protest, another mug was pushed into her hands and the staff began chanting her name. She gave me one last pleading glance, which I met with an encouraging nod.
“For tonight, Maeve, just embrace the chaos,” I said, my words slurring. “Tomorrow we'll return to propriety. But tonight—tonight is ours.”
Maeve took a deep breath and determination settled over her features. She quickly drank the contents of the mug, slammed it down onto the table, and let out a surprisingly impressive roar that drew cheers and applause from everyone around us.
“That's my Maeve!” I yelled, laughing and swaying precariously as the garden slowly spun around me.
She turned to me, her eyes shining with delight and disbelief at her own audacity. “My lady, I can't believe I did that!”
“Believe it.” I grinned and flung an arm around her shoulders. “Because this is just the beginning.”
With laughter ringing around us, music filling the air, and a night sky that twinkled with countless stars, I knew this would be a night none of us would ever forget. Because if recent events were any indication, my future was mystifyingly uncertain.
The warmth of the wine quickly spread, loosening my limbs and clouding my thoughts just enough to make everything seem funnier than usual. Maeve watched me with a mix of amusement and concern as I slightly swayed.
Another guard approached, his bare chest glistening in the lantern light. “Care for another dance, my lady?” he asked, his voice pleasantly rough.
“Oh, I definitely care,” I slurred, offering a cheeky grin. Maeve shook her head, but I caught her by the wrist and dragged her along. “Maeve’s coming, too. She’s my moral compass. Or something.”
“More like your human crutch,” Maeve muttered, trying to steady me.
We danced clumsily, laughing at every misstep. The guard, whose name I learned was Conner, was a surprisingly good dancer and managed to keep us both upright despite my increasing inability to coordinate my limbs.
“You have excellent rhythm,” I complimented, slightly breathless.
“Thank you, my lady,” Conner responded warmly. “You're… unique yourself.”
“That's one way to put it,” Maeve chuckled.
I leaned closer. “Conner, Maeve here thinks you're quite handsome, did you know that?”
Maeve gasped and turned scarlet. “My lady!”
Conner chuckled, clearly enjoying her discomfort. “I'm honored, Maeve. Perhaps you'll grant me the next dance?”
Maeve stammered, but before she could refuse, I gently pushed her towards him. “Yes, she absolutely will. She’s too shy to say it, but she’s dying to.”
As Conner whisked Maeve away and her protests melted into hesitant laughter, I stumbled and giggled to myself. Just then, the world tilted and I felt like I was aboard a ship caught in a storm. I steadied myself against a nearby tree and sighed in relief as the rough bark grounded me.
“Having a good time, princess?” a deep voice murmured from the shadows.
A chill raced down my spine.
Before I could respond—or even figure out who’d spoken—strong hands gripped my waist and swiftly pulled me into the darkness behind the trees. My heart thundered wildly in my chest and adrenaline sliced through the wine-induced haze.
Enveloped by shadows, I spun around and pressed my hands against a firm chest. As my eyes slowly adjusted, my heart hammered even faster as familiar obsidian eyes stared down at me, intense and unreadable.
The Shadow Prince.
“Damien?” I whispered breathlessly, my voice catching as the scent of him—smoky and wild—washed over me. “Nice entrance. Dramatic, as always.”
He looked down at me, his jaw tight, muscles tense beneath my fingertips. “You're certainly enjoying yourself tonight. Plenty of shirtless men to entertain you.”
