Lysara was practically bouncing on the soles of her feet as her mistress, the Queen, walked back and forth in view of the full length mirror, eyeing herself carefully. Although Giselle's dress had been ready for days now, the newly appointed lady-in-waiting took it upon herself to request some… adjustments on behalf of her mistress as soon as she asked for it.
The dress arrived early this morning, just after Lysara had moved into a room closer down the Hall as the Queen's lady.
It was a delicate thing, a shimmering ombre sequined material with a heart-shaped neckline, long, elegant sleeves and a large skirt that accentuated the waist. The bodice was a deep red that faded into an ombre orange at the bottom, a shade that Lysara wasn't sure would work with Giselle's similar fiery red hair but it did after all. The pièce de résistance, however, was how completely bare it was of material at the back, with the cut so low, it stopped just shy of Giselle's tiny waist.
"You are certain it isn't so raunchy?" Giselle glanced in the mirror.
"It's perfect, Gigi. Low enough to raise brows yet elegant enough to start a new fashion trend. Who in their right mind would call you out for fear of their own heads?"
Giselle thought of one who might, two actually.
"Then I suppose it's not too bad. Though the arms are a bit itchy."
"Ah, well you must endure it, my Queen. After tonight, you mustn't see the dress again if you don't want to and of course, you would have already given the Court something new to discuss."
"That's the plan."
Lysara helped Giselle out of the ball gown, storing it safely in a walk-in wardrobe.
A quiet knock came from the door.
Lysara opened it and on the other side was a manservant holding a velvet box.
"Good day, my lady. The King sends a gift to the Queen."
She took the box with a polite nod and closed the door.
"Who was that?"
"A manservant. Probably the King's, he said this gift is from his Majesty."
That familiar bitter taste filled Giselle's mouth at the thought of the King sending her gifts but she opened the box anyway. It was a pair of sparking silver shoes, with a note wedged between the pair.
Wear this to the ball tonight, the note simply read.
"They are beautiful." Lysara said. "Will you wear them?"
The box reeked of alpha pheromones, Fabio's familiar scent of cedar wood and hickory. She wondered what he hoped to achieve by scenting the box.
"Yes, I suppose I will."
Giselle knew the 'gift' was merely for formality sake yet a part of the bond within her ached at the gesture.
Before mating, wolves would usually exchange gifts during the courtship stage as a show of affection. Theirs was far from a marriage born of love and Giselle knew that very well.
Then why on earth did the bond quake within her simply because of a meaningless gesture from such a vile man?
Curse the bond, Giselle thought.
***
Giselle ended up sweeping her unruly red curls into a high updo decorated with silver pearls and a simple tiara as was the custom. Even though she wore matching pearls on her ears, she left her neck bare to show off her unmarked scent gland, a stylistic choice that as Lysara said, would give the Court more than enough to talk about.
The palace bells tolled loudly, signalling the start of the grand celebration.
Giselle looked outside her window to see carriages drawn across the grounds with nobility being led into the ballroom by footmen and other attendants. Her eye caught her reflection in the full length mirror and she stifled a gasp at what she saw. The extremely beautiful woman staring back at her had sharp green eyes, an elegant, bare neck and fiery hair that pooled upwards in a decorated bun. The woman seemed older, more intelligent than she had been just a few weeks ago. She knew heartache, pain and pleasure.
She ran a shaky hand over her bare chest to feel her thumping heart, stopping just shy of her breasts. She wondered if Fabio would like her dress or order her to go back to her room and change.
"It is time, my Queen." Lysara popped her head in through the open door.
She was wearing a velvet blue evening dress that contrasted beautifully with her pale skin. As eccentric as her lady-in-waiting was, she was a pretty thing and wore her charming traits well. Giselle suddenly recalled how it was the role of the Queen to help her lady-in-waiting find a suitable mate if she chooses. Any worthy alpha would be lucky to have Lysara as a mate.
The hallway led down to the other end of the palace, towards the left wing. Classical music was already lilting softly in the air and Giselle could hear the chattering of guests.
They weren't using the regular entrance for guests; Lysara led her to the loft that overlooked the ballroom which the King and other members of the royal household would use, descending the staircase whilst being announced to the public. Traditionally, Fabio should be by her side, they should be entering the ballroom together. Theirs was a delicate situation so it wouldn't be the case.
Lysara nodded to the herald and the man bellowed to the ballroom below.
"Announcing Queen Giselle Castille of Montegnera and Lady Lysara de Fontana!"
Giselle descended the stairs and only then did she notice Fabio at the end of it, looking up at her with a gaze so penetrating it sent shivers up her spine. His long dark hair was in his usual low bun with a golden circlet on his head. He didn't wear his usual black suits and tunics, rather a navy blue apparel that was tailored to perfection.
The music didn't stop but silence seized the ballroom.
Beside her she could hear Lysara snicker to herself and she definitely shared her satisfaction. The dress had been a great choice after all. It glittered in the golden lights, casting a warm hue all over her exposed skin. She could feel Fabio's eyes follow him all the way down.
Giselle accepted the King's outstretched hand as she reached the bottom of the stairs. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, lips parted as though he had a lot to say.
"Beautiful, little red." was what he settled for, blue eyes darkened with want, an emotion she recognized all too well.
At this point, the bond was all but taunting her, tempting her to throw herself into his arms when all she wanted was to run as far away from here as possible.
"Thank you." she barely whispered.
Fabio's eyes couldn't seem to tear itself away from her bare neck and shoulders. She could feel the heat of his want tugging at the bond they shared.
She licked her lips, trying to hide a pleased smirk.
For her finishing move, she turned her back to him, nearly moaning out loud when she heard his sharp intake of air and how he tried to hide it with a cough.
Murmurs from guests swept through the ballroom.
Lysara had worked extra hard to massage and rub oil along the expanse of her back to emphasize its soft tan texture so she could only guess how spotless it looked.
"The King and his Queen will now commence the Full Moon Ball with the opening Waltz of Roses!"
Fabio blinked out of his trance and once again extended his hand. Giselle slid her hand into his firm one, nearly shivering at how strong and rough his fingers were.
What was wrong with her tonight?, she thought.
His other hand came to rest at the curve of her back, the heat from his fingers tickling bare skin. Her right hand came to rest on his shoulder and with his hand clasped firmly in hers, the waltz started.
Fabio was so close she could feel his hot breath on her cheek. It was almost frightening, how deeply his eyes stared into her but she didn't look down at their feet or look off into the distance.
"You look beautiful tonight, Giselle."
She nodded back politely.
"You already said that, my King."
He swirled her to the tune of the waltz. "Yes, I have. A simple complement, really seeing as you dressed up nicely. Wasn't that your plan tonight, to catch my attention?"
"You flatter yourself."
"Do I?"
"Thank you…for the shoes."
Outside Giselle seemed confident but the rising crescendo of the violin matched the rising beat of her heart.
She looked up just in time to see Fabio's eyes drop to her lips.
"I never danced with another at a ball like this before, you know. Genevieve had been my dancing partner for as long as I can remember. But even I must admit, you aren't half bad."
"I did tell you that I attended my etiquette classes diligently. The Waltz of Roses was…difficult to master but it grew to be my favorite."
He spun her around, holding even more firmly onto her waist, "Hmm, I'm glad it is. I…composed the sheet music for it."
"You compose? It's a beautiful piece." Giselle couldn't help her surprise. This man was her husband yet she knew next to nothing about him. A hazy memory of a young boy playing the piano with Genevieve beside him flashed through her mind. "How long have you been composing music?"
"A while." the dance was drawing to a close as they twirled around the ballroom floor. "I first wrote it shortly after I met Genevieve."
Giselle's lips hung partly open, she didn't know how to respond. Everything in this palace came back to her twin; Genevieve.
"What would you do if you find her?" She finally asked.
"Bring her back and make her mine." His voice was like hard steel. She nearly got whiplash at how quickly he'd changed from playful to guarded.
"What about the Court? What if–"
Fabio's fingers pressed painfully against the curve of her back, she could practically feel it bruising.
"They will never know." He traced her bare neck as the music swelled to a halt. "Because you won't be there to tell them, if you wish for your family's safety."
The waltz finally ended and they parted with Fabio bowing slightly, his eyes twinkling.
Giselle suddenly felt breathless.
"May I cut in?"
When she turned to look at the woman speaking, it was none other than Vivienne, the wily Countess of Hensbury. She, at least, knew not to corner the King during the opening waltz however that was done with and the second song was starting. Vivienne looked lovely tonight with her beauteous features enhanced further with dark makeup and similarly hued blood red dress. Even her neck was bare like Giselle's save for a simple diamond necklace around it.
Giselle waited for Fabio to either accept her courtesy or reject it; her word wouldn't matter to him anyway. Either way, she could feel the eyes of guests on them, watching, waiting.
"Of course, Vivienne." Fabio accepted her hand. The woman pushed past her to take the position she'd stood in earlier.
"Oh—didn't see you there…your Highness."
Giselle made a beeline for the refreshments table. Lysara was already there, pouring some white wine into a glass.
"Not that one, I'll need something stronger to get through this night."
Lysara wordlessly reached for the bottle of foreign liqueur and poured her a shot.
"What happened? The opening waltz is over already?"
"Yes, I just needed a break."
The King and Vivienne moved elegantly across the Hall and for a moment, Giselle thought he was staring at her. Beside her Lysara gasped at the sight.
"Oh ho, that woman really has some nerve." She whispered harshly. "And his Majesty isn't doing his best to stop the rumors either!"
"It's alright, Lysara. I've already made my peace with the matter."
"But you shouldn't have to! Even a blind person can see that he's stoking the flames and creating more rumors. I mean, he's the King and the most powerful wolf in Montegnera, not everyone can approach him but you on the other hand—he's throwing you to the wolves, literally!"
Her chest squeezed painfully. The slight pain on her side was increasing.
"I'm going for some fresh air."
She nodded at a few guests who bowed or curtsied in her direction and left the ballroom. A small corridor led to the gardens outside and she relished the soothing coolness of the evening air.
Her body felt more loose and less wound up after the alcohol had settled in her system. The moon, like the ball's name suggested, was full and white and bright, glowing beautifully among the stars. If it were a millenia ago in the past, wolves would be roaming the forests, all shifted into their true form, uninhibited and free. Nowadays, very few wolves could even access their wolf within them and most couldn't even shift; only the King and his father before him could fully shift and communicate completely with the subgender. Some elders too as well as a few shamans had the gift but the majority, like Giselle, were limited in this ability. They could only feel fleeting thoughts, feelings and, when they meet their soulmate, they feel the bond too.
Right now, Giselle's wolf was on edge. She could barely feel her since she was dormant but she felt enough to tell that her inner self felt restless.
A shadow lurked in the bushes and in her semi delirious state, she almost called out to Fabio. Fabio was her mate, Fabio would save her. It edged closer, morphing into a person, the hazy figure of a man with golden hair.
"Y-your Highness? What are you doing out here?" The person said.
Giselle squinted her eyes at the figure, trying to map out the person's features.
"Sir Dorian?" she slurred. She faintly recalled being introduced to the alpha knight who was also the King's personal guard a few days ago by the Grand Princess. However, it was too dark to tell if it was really he but the kind brown eyes and glittering royal armour were unmistakably his.
A painful jolt spread up her side like hot coals pressed on her skin. She sucked in a breath until the sensation passed.
"Are you alright? Should I fetch his Majesty?" He swam in and out of her vision, she could barely make out his concerned face.
"N-no…"
There was a rustle somewhere far off and a man's urgent tone. Boots stomped against grass, stopping in front of her and firm hands held her shoulders.
"Fabio?" Everything felt like it was underwater. "W-what are y-you–"
"When did you find her like this?" His voice was far away yet so close.
"Just now, she probably came out for fresh air but she doesn't look alright."
The pain was back deep in Giselle's belly, now scorching hot, like claws were ripping at her insides. She stifled a scream but couldn't help sobbing aloud.
"Giselle? Look at me, what is it?"
Fabio's voice sounded worried. Why did he sound worried?
She sobbed again, burying her face in his chest and squeezing his arm. He was sniffing desperately at her neck, growling as he tried to find the source of her pain.
Slick gushed down her thighs at the sound and his eyes turned red at the scent.
"Dorian, go!"
The knight hesitated, already affected by the scent of an omega in heat.
"Leave, now!"
Fabio shuddered with relief when the other alpha ran off. His wolf was dangerous close to ripping his best friend apart for even standing the presence of his heat-stricken omega.
Her scent was like a drug, the most intoxicating thing ever; like a thousand fresh roses in bloom. He wanted to bury his face in her neck, closest to where her scent gland was and slobber like a goddamned animal.
With a groan, the King cradled her in his arms.
Curse the bond, Fabio thought.