The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,82

head high as I joined them near the door.

"Do you feel ready?" Wendell asked.

I nodded, surprised by my own answer. "I do, actually. I think I might even be looking forward to the evening since I have you all with me."

Aric moved to stand behind me, his fingertips touching the snake briefly, a wicked gleam in his eye. "Then let the night begin."

The ballroom glittered with candlelight, marble floors polished to reflect the gold moulding of the arched ceilings and delicate glittering arms of the chandeliers above us. The room was warm with so many bodies, and I was flushed and warm with the wine I'd been drinking.

The royal table was long, and luckily, I had my mother and her Chosen separating me from Camellia, who'd been forced to only bring a select group down from her suite. One of whom, I noted, was Prince Holden, looking grim and uncomfortable at the far end of the table.

I was sipping wine, pretending not to feel the stares of the many nobles at their banquet tables around the perimeter of the room, when someone touched my shoulder.

Michael, looking handsome and polished in finery, smiled tightly down at me. "Your mother thinks you should be the one to lead the dancing tonight."

"Me? Oh—I…" I paused on the refusal on my tongue, glancing at Thao on my right. He nodded at me, eyebrows rising. "I'd be happy to," I said at last, the words a little dry on my tongue.

"You can waltz?" Thao asked me as Michael moved away.

I laughed that he would wait till now to check. "Yes, well, with a good partner. You or Wendell?"

"Take Farraque," Thao answered, smiling as I sat up in surprise. "Just trust me."

I did trust Thao, especially on this kind of matter, I just hadn't expected him to suggest Daniel. Daniel had the education for this kind of thing, it was true, but Thao had always preferred to promote himself or Wen.

"All right," I said, smiling at the idea. Daniel would never expect it either, and it would be a lovely mark of my appreciation for him at the same time it was a smack in the face to the council.

I waited for the clink of cutlery to quiet, until the room was only full of conversation and drinking. It was already late into the night. Camellia was not so subtly making demands of her Chosen beneath the table, and I was pretending my palms weren't sweating against the napkin fisted into my lap.

We hadn't had many balls growing up, and I'd only danced a little. I was practiced as I ought to be, but I'd certainly never been the one to open a ball, to be alone on the floor with my partner and all the eyes of the room watching politely.

But if you want to be queen, you'll get used to people staring, I decided, and when the musicians were taking their seat and conversation was in one of those strange lulls that took a room, I stood from my seat. Voices hushed further, and for a moment, I wanted to sink right back down into my chair. Thao covered my hand on the table briefly, a reminder to hold onto my courage, and the musicians on their small stage in the corner were quick to pick up their instruments.

I lifted my glass into the air, ignoring Camellia's growl at the end of the table. "Thank you all for your support and trust during this trying winter. The loss of my grandmother is a great wound to Kimmery, but as all wounds must, we will heal and grow stronger, prosper more richly, live more fully. Let our transformation begin tonight. To Kimmery!"

I hid my shuddering gasp of relief as a hundred glasses rose to the air. "To Kimmery!" the room echoed.

I spared a glance at my mother, pretending for a moment that I'd really earned her glittering smile. I had, even if she would've given me the same one for less effort.

I drank to my kingdom, drank with my kingdom, and then lowered my glass, moving behind the table to Daniel.

"Open with me," I whispered, bending to his ear.

"Me?"

I smiled as he echoed my own surprise, stroking my fingers through his beard and then smoothing it as I bent for his kiss. He leaned into me for a moment, the room watching our simple affection, and his eyes were bright as I pulled away. Daniel stood and offered me his arm, our audience rising from