Becoming a Luna Queen

Roller coaster ride

***

Angeline’s POV

***

 Mother continued talking about her first time dancing with Father but I wasn’t listening. I couldn't focus. My stomach was still back-flipping and the guests were standing on the sidelines were gawking at us, pointing and talking. It was unnerving.

 Mother broke from me as Father and Dimitri made their way to us. We exchanged hugs before Father took Mother’s hand and Dimitri took mine. He was just as much my big brother as he was my best friend.

 "How are you holding up, Ange?" He always knew when I wasn't feeling the best, either that, or I exhibited one of the worst poker faces known to man.

 "I'm OK, just a little overwhelmed. I don't want to find a husband, I want to stay here. Mav's still so little, I don't know how you and Eli can stand living out in the Village." I let out a sigh I hadn't realised I was holding in. I rested my head on my brother's shoulder as we continued dancing. 

 "Ange how about this, when this song finishes we go grab a drink and head out on the balcony for some air?"

 "s**t, yes, yeah" I squeaked in return, looking at him with a massive smile on my face. He just laughed at me but it was the first time I felt I could really relax. I was really looking forward to having a breather and resting my poor feet. 

 As the music changed its tune from slow and steady to something a more upbeat, my brother took my hand in his and led me outside. The Ballroom had its own balcony that accommodated 100 round 8-seater tables for summer dinner parties. There was no shortage of fresh air and space here. 

 Dimitri left me to myself for as he chased the serving staff around trying to get two glasses of champagne. I couldn't help but laugh watching him dodge between bodies, doing his best to avoid stepping on the trains of dresses and bumping into people while on his mission. 

 He came back to me with his chest puffed out, donning a proud grin with a glass in each hand. This brother of mine was the best. "Dimitri, why is it we women have to be presented to the masses? For the love of god why can't it be you men? Specifically, future kings?" His eyes caught mine before he rolled his eyes and sighed.

 "Ange, I'm at one of these damn things being introduced to women as they come of age every other f*****g week. Do you know how many young princesses and ladies there are in the world? Too many! Consider yourself lucky, sis. This could be a one and done deal for you. I'm a semester away from completing my double degree and I'm being forced to attend these in an effort to find a bride." His eyes were now focusing on the champagne he was swirling in his hand. 

 "Dimitri, you can't really tell me that you haven't found at least one worthy woman you’ve fancied? Need I remind you Bro, you’re not getting any younger." Sue me for teasing him, I couldn’t resist.

 "Ange, there was one that caught my eye,” He started, as I raised a brow in his direction, “That was Genesis, you remember the one from England?" I nodded. Genesis was your typical tall, stunning blonde. She had a lean figure with sky-blue eyes, pale skin and natural red lips. Your typical Barbie doll, really.

 "At her Presentation, we danced and I thought we had clicked really well. But as the night was ending, I noticed she had disappeared so I went searching for her. I found her up against a tree with her tongue down some other guy's throat, as his hands were aggressively exploring her body, if you know what I mean. I left without another word." He sighed and lowered his head as he was reliving the events of that night, his spare hand clenched into a fist.  

 "I'm so sorry, Dimitri. That was two years ago. You never said anything." He took a moment to breathe and relax himself as I rubbed soothing circles on his back.

 "What's worse, Ange, is that the bastard who had her in his grasp is here tonight. I actually thought he would have claimed Genesis after, well, you know. So I didn't bring up with Marmi and Papa, it wasn’t worth it. But tonight’s not about me, it’s about you and I want you to have the perfect night." He then looked at me and smiled, clinked our glasses together before downing his in a single gulp.

 "If that bastard even tries to dance with you tonight, it’ll either be me or Eli stepping in, every single f*****g time. I'm not subjecting you to him, you simply don't need to know him, meet him, or acknowledge his existence" He looked at his glass and noticed it was now empty. He then proceeded to take mine and again he downed it in one swift go. I rolled my eyes. 'Brothers' I thought to myself as I giggled.

 "Do you want another?" He asked, his voice perking up again.

 "Yeah, I'd like at least one champagne tonight, after all, this is meant to be 'my night'" We laughed and once again he left me in search for the serving staff.  

 We were both enjoying our own glasses of champagne as we walked back inside the Ballroom. As I entered, the song was coming to an end. The MC then locked eyes on me seeing me entering and announced that any suitable gentleman could now ask for my hand to dance. ‘Great, because I wasn’t nervous enough’ I thought before hearing a small cough from behind me but I ignored it.

 Dimitri had left me in search of the men's room and as I turned around in search of my sister Genni my hand was taken by a guy who I pegged to be as old as Dimitri. He hard dark brown eyes, so dark they could have been mistaken as black. He was dressed in a simple black suit, a white collared shirt and a black tie. His hair had been gelled back with so much aggression that if it wasn't black, you would have thought he was bald. He had thin lips that stretched even thinner as he gave me a half smile. Shivers flew down my spine and not in a good way. He gave me the creeps not he hadn’t even spoken a word. I didn't want to be anywhere near this guy. I didn't want his hand on me and I definitely didn't want to dance with him. He had womaniser written all over him. If it wasn’t for his gelled back hair, he may have actually looked somewhat nice.

 “Good evening, Princess” he began in a smug tone while bending to kiss my hand. Ugh. Gross.

 “I'm Prince James, son of King Frederik and Queen Mary from the Firewood Hills. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. Shall we dance?” His eyes darkened and turned cold, if that was even possible. His voice was thick with ego and cockiness.

 Despite wanting to, so very desperately, I couldn’t say no. My doing so would only appear rude to our guests and would have given the tone that I wasn’t interested in finding a partner, a future husband. Then again, that was a half-truth, but I couldn't do that to my parents. 

 “As long as you can keep in time with the beat and keep your manners in check” I retorted. I felt my eyes turn to daggers as the word ‘manners’ shot past my lips. This only seemed to encourage him, to my disgust, as his blackened eyes lit up and a smirk crept across his vulgar face. Another shiver shot down my spine in an unnerving way. Every fiber of my being was telling me this guy was bad news. For f**k’s sake. I couldn’t even eye roll as my every move was being studied. Another reason why I hated being the centre of attention. 

 “Keep your hand on my waist and we won’t have any issues” I threatened through gritted teeth before the music had us dancing to the waltz. ‘Bloody fantastic’! My body returned to a stiffened state, while having to humour this asshole. Not a word was said as we danced. He was trying his best to eye f**k me and I was doing my best not to punch him in the stomach. Waltzing with said asshole only survived one lap before I welcomed the interruption of another young gentleman. 

 ‘Thank god for that!’ I thought, having not realised who had come to my rescue. The night had only just begun and it already my stomach flipping as though I was on a roller coaster ride. 

 When I locked eyes with the welcomed intruder's, I heard myself gasp. Something inside me stirred, as if a new side of me was waking up for the first time. Was this what being attracted to someone felt like?

 Then I heard it again, the growl from the garden. I knew I hadn't been hearing things!