26.

I smoothed out the black silk of my evening dress while staring at myself in Aunt Syl's full length mirror. My hair had been straightened and styled by a professional hair stylist and my make up done to perfection by another professional. I hardly recognized myself.

The dress Aunt Syl and I had picked out had been an extravagant price, but as I moved the full mermaid-style skirt, swishing the beautiful fabric about, I knew it was worth it. The gown clung to my body, the halter straps tying around my neck and dipping into a deep v. My back was exposed and I turned around self-consciously making sure the delicate silk covered all of the appropriate areas.

A knock at the door drew my attention away from myself and I looked over to see Jericho standing in the doorway. I hardly recognized him either. He was dressed to the nines in a tuxedo with tails. His hair had just been trimmed; it made his crooked nose stand out against his angular face. His hazel eyes twinkled more green tonight, while his fingers tugged at his tight collar.

He was paused in the doorway just looking at me, and I at him. I was more nervous for this dance than I should be. Without any threat of attack, since the Resistance would actually be attending the dance this time, there would come a point in the evening when I would have to dance. My stomach did a flip. I looked at Jericho frantically.

"It's too much, isn't it?" I whispered and when he didn't answer I continued, "The dress, I mean. I can't pull it off." I looked back to the mirror trying to find myself in it.

Jericho cleared his throat and I feared that he would confirm my doubts, "No, Eden," he paused again and I looked back over to him, the panic nearly drowning me. "That dress was made specifically for you," his eyes swept over me in obvious appreciation and I could breathe again.

I walked carefully over to him, in my tall silver stelletos and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you," I whispered, "I couldn't do this without you."

"Are you ready then?" Jericho cleared his throat again before extending his elbow. "They're waiting for us."

I nodded my head and we walked down the stairs and into the living room where Avalon was, very nervously, talking with Lilly. Roxie sat on the fireplace, playing idly with the brick. She looked very defeated and I felt sorry for her for a second. For an unexplainable moment I wanted to explain to her that Avalon's feelings for Lilly didn't run that deep. He was more attracted to her beauty than the idea of a relationship he would probably never pursue her. Although after seeing her in that dress, he might change her mind.

Lilly was dressed in a striking emerald gown that covered her feet despite the gold heels that were probably six inches off the ground. I couldn't see them now; she had shown them to me earlier, worried that she wouldn't be able to reach Avalon's arms while they danced, without them. The gown was a full skirt starting at her hips and the bodice tight against her tiny frame. Gold beading made straight lines of flickering light, extending from the boat neck top to the very bottom of the impossible amounts of fabric in her skirt. She looked up at me and the green from her dress set off the green in her eyes in a flash of color that betrayed her timid personality.

Avalon too was dressed in a tux with tails, his hair pulled back tightly in the little messy bun at the nape of his neck that usually only girls wore. He was too confident however for the pony tail to be effeminate and it somehow created more of a masculine impression than diminishing one. He tore his eyes from Lilly a little reluctantly when we entered and the look that crossed his face was anything but flattering.

"You can't wear that," he demanded of me.

"Calm down," I said quietly, feeling embarrassed and suddenly inappropriate.

"Oh stop, Avalon," Aunt Syl swept into the room and this time Avalon conceded to her authority. "Eden looks ravishing. Now, get together for a picture." She held up her camera and we all obeyed.

I was almost too nervous to smile but somehow we all managed the appropriate poses and faces Aunt Syl was hoping for. When she was satisfied with the photo shoot, I gave her a kiss and we headed to the dance in Jericho's jeep, after stuffing both Lilly and my dress into the backseat, careful not to harm either shutting them in the door.

Jericho pulled up to the valet after a long line of limousines; I had to laugh at both boys' sense of entitlement and the feeling of pride they carried at being the only non-luxury vehicle in the lot.

I walked arm in arm with Jericho into the gym. I inhaled a sharp breath; they had somehow out done even the Fall Equinox dance. Everything was white and sparkling. The chandeliers that hung from the ceiling were crystal and lighted the expansive room in a soft, warm glow. The table cloths were white, with low bouquets of white roses tumbling across the tables and down the sides to the floor, leaving only room for place settings. The dance floor, too, had been made into pure white with millions of white rose petals covering every inch, so when the people would dance, the petals would float up and around them. Tall silver stands were placed around the room with the same style of bouquets flowing down their elegant sides and onto the floor in pools of delicate flowers, painting the room with purity.

I looked up at Jericho with pure delight. I had no idea something this fanciful could exist. I truly felt like a princess at a ball.

"It's just so beautiful," I sighed, losing my anxiety and feeling swept up by the very night.

Jericho smiled down at me, his eyes intense. I could tell he wanted to say something but he didn't. He just looked at me until the moment passed and he was tugging at my elbow, "Shall we find our seats?"

"Yes," I agreed and my eyes floated over the room again searching out Avalon and Lilly who had been ahead of us.

In a moment, the sick feeling was back and the room began to swim. My eyes had fallen on Kiran's table, and there he sat in all of his handsome glory, Seraphina at his side, having a fabulous time. He was surrounded by the usual group and they sat in an elite circle, laughing and carrying on. I was nearly swallowed whole by jealousy. For the first time that Kiran and I had been secretly together, I felt foolish and naive.

There he was, with the right woman. The woman his father had handpicked for him. The woman that he would marry. I was the girl that no one could know about. The secret mistress. The girl that would always love him and never get to be with him. And as he enjoyed his public life with those people a prince should surround himself with, I had come with a pretend boyfriend and was not even allowed to speak to the love of my life.

"Are you alright?" Jericho whispered in my ear, tensing his grip on my elbow.

"Yes, no, I'm sorry, I'm fine," I felt the color drain from my face and I thought for sure I would vomit. Kiran momentarily glanced our way and I had to escape before I was sick all over Jericho. "Excuse me," I said over my shoulder, nearly running in the direction of the bathroom.

I nearly fell into the plush sitting room, adjacent to the women's restroom, reaching the doors in what felt like just in time. I took long breaths trying to calm my nerves and walked around the center divan waving my arms and willing myself not to start sweating.

In India, things had felt different. I had had Kiran to myself and even a dinner with his parents. There were no other, beautiful, more qualified girls to contend with. Seraphina was not there flashing her engagement ring and laying her filthy hands all over him. Kiran had been mine. I had been a part of his home. I had seen a part of him that I had not known existed and had fallen impossibly deeper in love.

India had made me hope, like I hadn't before. The secret part of our relationship had been momentarily forgotten and I had glimpsed a future for us. Now, back in the same halls that had tormented me for months I was painfully reminded that I was no closer to normalcy than before. I was still inhibited from loving Kiran, and still prohibited from having an open relationship. I was a prisoner, a prisoner to my feelings and a prisoner to secrecy.

I stopped when I felt the beginning of blisters on the soles of my feet and leaned heavily against the counter. I talked to myself, making my brain understand that this was no different than school. I had a part to play and so did Kiran. This was no different than school.

Are you ok? What are you doing in there? Avalon sent with a sense of urgency and irritation. Use your f-ing magic and get out here.

With the reminder of magic, I knew Avalon was right. I was being over-dramatic and needed to find my center. I released the magic I had been holding, realizing this was becoming a bad habit every time I started to panic.

With the magic loosed on my frayed nerves, I could breathe again. I fidgeted with my hair in the mirror, applied some more lip gloss and decided to brave the rest of the night. Things were not going to change any time soon and I needed to find a way to cope, and at least enjoy, what was left of the beautiful evening. I left the bathroom, ready to find Jericho and maybe even dance.

"What is this about a boyfriend?" Kiran surprised me from the darkened hallway housing the bathrooms.

"I'm sorry?" I asked still trying to shake the startled feeling. Kiran's eyes were a cloudy mixture of all the different blues of his eyes. He was scowling at me in a way that I had never seen before, and I felt his jealousy radiating off of him in waves.

"Sebastian came home Tuesday night, informing me that you and Jericho were dating," Kiran accused.

"That's because Sebastian showed up at my house all wanting me to come to the dance with him," I whispered defensively.

"Well, Sebastian would have been better than that bloody bloke!" he scoffed, eyeing me over in disgust.

"Really? You really would have preferred I danced the night away with your nosey

cousin?" I asked, sarcastically.

"At least I know he is a man with honorable intentions," he replied smugly.

"Oh, I'm sure. He's not trying to sleep with me. Just kill me," I rolled my eyes and started to turn around.

"So, he is trying to sleep with you!"

"No. No one is trying to sleep with me!" I whispered harshly at him, doing my best to keep my temper in check. "Not even you," I leveled my eyes with him, willing him to fight me. "And why would you, when you have someone else so easily accessible?"

"Eden, are you coming? The first course has been served," Jericho turned the corner to the bathrooms, not even a little bit surprised at the scene he found. I wondered if he was that good of an actor or if Avalon had given him the heads up.

"No," Kiran spoke up before I could even make a sound. "She is not going anywhere with you," his tone held such hatred that I had to look back just to make sure it was really Kiran talking.

"Excuse me," I turned on him.

"It's alright, Eden, the prince hasn't realized yet, that he doesn't hold any authority over

you," Jericho didn't even look at Kiran, holding out his arm to me and I took it gratefully.

"That is where you are wrong," Kiran growled. "Eden, go out to my car, we're leaving."

"She is capable of making her own decisions," Jericho said evenly. "and I believe she would like to stay."

"I would like to stay," I smiled at Jericho, ignoring the brooding Kiran. I tugged on Jericho's arm and he escorted me to our table.

Avalon and Lilly were glancing at me nervously from across the table, and I didn't know what to say. I couldn't explain what had just happened to me, let alone them, while they were surrounded by a room full of loyal, royal subjects.

"I have never understood the first course," Jericho announced loudly, drawing the attention of our table to him. "What is the point of plating something this small?" he gestured down at the bite-sized hors d'oeuvre and laughed.

"Don't be such a fatty," Avalon mocked him. "This is plenty for me," he took a small bite and then set it down, rubbing his tummy like it had been too much.

The table broke out into laughter and cut the tension and awkwardness I had dragged back from the bathroom. Jericho stretched his arm around me, rubbing my back in a protective way that also let me know things would be ok. I trusted Jericho, even if that meant pissing Kiran off. I couldn't help it.

Kiran had treated me unfairly. I lived my life in jealousy, watching him enjoy his public life. Even Jericho lived with the jealousy that came with the girl he liked choosing someone else. When I had fallen in love with Kiran I knew that he was used to getting what he wanted and more than a little spoiled, but I would be damned before I let his jealous feelings ruin my night. If I could put up with Seraphina, he sure as hell could put with Jericho for a few hours.