Exported [Book 3 in the Expiring Series]

15 The Trade of Looks

Iris~~

Colton stands beside me, my arm threaded through his. Bently is stationed on my other side. Below us stairs descend into the ballroom where royal guests and reporters gaze up at us. The trio from Elleany. From the Society. The oddities.

What if Erik hadn't saved me? I would never be standing here, being escorted by the Beta and Digamma as the fiancée of the Preeminence. I wouldn't be attending this glittery ball or wearing this immaculate ball gown. Colton had a plan where I would wear one of Abella's gowns, but she's six inches taller than me and with a much fuller breast. I was not going to fit that dress. Colton then had to ask Vienna for one.

To the right, windows look out on the balcony. In the distance lights from the city twinkle.

"Shall we?" Bently's face is aloof.

I tighten my hold on Colton's arm and nod.

As we descend into the ballroom, the chaos of guests and reporters parts for us until we're given a clear way forward to where Abella and Alix stand on their dais. All the while cameras flash and questions are thrown at us.

"Miss Levine, how did you meet Preeminence Blackwood?"

"Digamma, what are your reasons for traveling to France?"

"Where is the Preeminence?"

"Will the travel ban be lifted, Beta?"

Colton and Bently act as if the reporters aren't even present, and I do my best to mimic them. In their articles, I'll be called rude. But those papers and news stories will go to a world I wasn't a part of for any of my life. There were as nonexistent to me as a story I could read in a book. So, what do I care what they think about me as long as they believe that which the Society needs?

The royal twins approach us, and I curtsey to them, dipping slightly lower than Abella's curtsey to us as the men bow.

Alix makes a short declaration in French and I understand enough to know he's telling everyone to enjoy the ball.

Colton releases me and approaches Abella, holding out his hand to her. She accepts it, and he guides her to a clearing on the ballroom floor. Bently locates Vienna in the crowd and asks her to dance. I don't think that's going to go over well with Colton, but okay, Bently.

Now it's me and the king of France who holds out his hand and bows. My stomach does a bit of a flip as he guides me to where the others await the start of the music; this is more nerve wracking than when I danced with Jonas the first time. There wasn't a crowd of press waiting for me to trip. Honestly, I'd rather be dancing with Colton. Maybe not Bently. But definitely Colton.

The band positions their instruments, and music drifts around us like a fog rolling in. Alix spins me around the ballroom as more couples fall in around us. Colton and Bently and their partners dance as beautifully as they can when they keep glancing at each other.

"Everything all right?" Alix asks right before he dips me.

I want to ask if it ever seems like there's a lot of unnecessary tension, but he would probably get the wrong idea. "Just missing the Preeminence."

Alix pulls me back up as the violins build around us.

"That's all."

As we waltz, he spins me under his arm. "I am rather disappointed he didn't join you."

"He's on a business trip." Not necessarily a lie.

Alix has guided us into the center of the floor, and the other dancers whirl around us. "I'm certain he misses you very much." His hand presses into my lower back, his fingers dipping a little too low, but I'm saved by the song coming to an end.