Her Forbidden Alphas

4. Engagement Ball

Ivy's POV.

Music was playing throughout the Keep as dukes and lords began to fill our ballroom. I was seated at the table just below the high table where the royals would be seated. The ladies of the dukes and lords sat in their seats having conversations with each other. I looked over to my left and saw Charlotte talking to a handsome-looking male. No doubt he was a son of a lord. I could tell by just looking at his posture.

My mother and father were greeting everyone that was still arriving. Soon enough, everyone was seated in their seats, and the king and queen entered the room. They sat up on the high table with the prince seated on the right side of the king. The room went silent as the king tapped a butter knife on this glass cup to get everyone's attention.

"Evening dukes and lords and ladies." The king began. "I'd like to make a toast to the Darthes for inviting my family and me into their home," he said. He looked at my parents while raising the glass cup in his hand.

"Now you're all probably wondering what the occasion is for this ball to be held on such short notice. I will be quick this evening to announce that my son Prince Blake will be accepting Lady Ivy’s hand in marriage." The king said. Everyone gasped at the news and clapped their hands together.

I looked at Prince Blake who was already staring at me. I blushed at the fact that he was checking me from head to toe. I don’t think he realizes that I'm staring at him yet. Also, how can he even see the bottom half of my body when the other half is hidden under the table?

His father said something to him. I was contemplating if I should listen in on their conversation... I don’t think it is a good idea to ears drop on the king of darkness. So I turned my head to look for Charlotte to distract me from being nosey. I pretty much searched the entire ballroom and there was no sign of Charlotte. Where on earth did she go? I saw the young lord was still in the room. Maybe she had left the ballroom. Her father wasn’t there. I assume that her father must have taken her away to have a word.

"My Lady" I heard the prince's voice. "Would you have this dance with me?" Blake asked me.

"Of course, my prince," I answered.

As I stood in my seat, the prince and I exchanged a little bow with each other. The prince then held his elbow out and I placed my arm around him for us to be joined. He walked me over to the dance floor with my arm intertwined with his arm. Every eye was on us as we walked to the centre of the ballroom.

"The Prince shall now share a dance with his bride-to-be." The king announced as we got to the centre.

I started to feel a bit uneasy. I don’t know if it was from every eye staring or if it was something I ate. I noticed everyone was standing except for the king and queen. I felt nervous seeing the guests staring. I inhaled a deep breath before the music could start.

Once the music began to play, the prince and I started to move. Our steps were in sync as I stepped back and he stepped forward. He twirled me around and for those couple of moments, I was dancing with him. I had forgotten that there were a lot of people staring. It felt like it was just me and him and no one else was watching us.

All that soon came to an end once the music stopped. The guests who stood watching began to clap as the prince and I walked away from the centre. Instead of the prince going back to sit at the high table with the king and queen, he continued to walk by my side.

"Would you like to sit and talk on the balcony for a while?" He asked me and I nodded. He leads me to the balcony just on the side of the ballroom.

"You look beyond beautiful tonight, Lady Ivy." He said once we were out on the balcony.

"Thank you." was all I could muster.

I could feel myself blushing like a tomato. My skin tone was pretty light, so there was no doubt that he could see it. He gave me a huge smile as he stared at me.

"So, Lady Ivy, I am taking my leave tomorrow," he said, "As does my father and mother. My father has already arranged for you to join us," he added.

"Oh, So soon? I thought I would be travelling separately as I was hoping Lady Charlotte would join me," I said.

"I know it's too fast but if bringing lady Charlotte along will make your stay more comfortable, then I'll arrange with her father to also allow her to come," he said.

"Thank you, Prince Blake," I said.

"Also, the wedding will be held in two months' time on a blood moon. My mother will help you decide on the arrangements and your friend can also help," he said.

"Again, thank you for allowing my friend to come along," I said and gave a smile.

"Anything to keep that beautiful smile on your face," he said as he grabbed my hand and kissed it.

The moonlight was full tonight as I stood there on the balcony with Prince Blake. He was handsome, loving and a gentleman as we spoke to each other. I thought that from all the stories I heard of how cold and cruel he was, it would also be how our arranged marriage would be. But it was far from that. I felt so much hope for the future, for our future. He wasn’t just the future King of Vampires but my future husband. I smiled as he was talking away about his hundredth and eighteenth birthday night. I was five years younger than him at the time and the year I visited DRead Castle, he was away fighting a war.

We are not the only creatures that hide in the shadows or the cold. The other creature is a werewolf. They, however, can walk in the daylight and over time they will age. The other difference was that they could have as many children as they wanted, whereas vampires, whether female or male, could only have one child. It was one of the other reasons why I was eligible to marry the prince: I was a virgin. That fact alone guaranteed a future heir.

“Evening Prince Blake.” My father spoke as he stepped onto the balcony. “ Is it okay if I speak with my daughter?” He added.

“Of course, Lord Aiden. I think I will call it a night since we leave at sundown.” The prince said to my father. He turned and kissed me on the hand. “My lady,” he added, as he turned and walked off the balcony.

“Father,” I said to my father once the prince was gone.

“Daughter, I just wanted to know how things are between the two of you?” He said so seriously as he sat down and I followed.

“He is sweet, handsome and a gentleman. He is nothing like the stories I heard from Knights that have been to war with him.” I said to my father.

“Good, good. I assume as much with the way I caught the two of you smiling.” My father teased.

“Father,” I said with a blush.

“It’s good to see that the arranged marriage isn’t how you thought.” He said, causing me to look at him, “Your mother was concerned and you know how much I love her... And you.” He said, looking at me. “I also want you to be happy, but this arrangement is also a great honour to our family.” He added.

“I know father,” I said as I kissed my father on the cheek.

My father kissed me back on the cheeks before he left. I stood and walked to the edge of the balcony as I leaned and looked at the moon.

“Oh, I do hope I live out my immortality as a happy woman,” I whispered to myself before I went back into the ballroom.

“There you are!” I heard Charlotte yell behind me.

“There you are, I lost sight of you in the ballroom,” I replied to her.

“Oh, I was speaking to another young lord.” She said, smiling.

“So, any Lords asked for your hand in marriage?” I asked.

“Not that I know of. My father will probably tell me in the morning,” She said as she rolled her eyes.

That was the look she gave whenever her father would try to get her the best of something. Although she says that she despises that her father gives her the best. There would be a few occasions where I catch her loving it too much. My mother had told me one too many times that Charlotte looked like her mother. Her father was so in love with Charlotte’s mother that he did anything for her. And even though her mother died from childbirth, Sir Marcus never blamed Charlotte. He saw Charlotte as his everything and she was the only thing left that reminded him of his love.

“Well then, let’s celebrate tonight in my room. I have just convinced my future husband to allow you to travel with me by the next sunset.” I said, causing her to smile. With that, we both walked arm in arm to my room to celebrate.