Page 113 of Heavenly Bodies
‘Well, subtlety certainly doesn’t seem to be Emerald’s strong suit, but Helions aren’t exactly known for it either,’ continued Alfonso. ‘You’ve seen how big Prince Lorenzo’s crown is, haven’t you?’ The crowd laughed. ‘And from a long line of seductresses, Emerald clearly knows what she’s doing.’ Emerald jumped up, facing Enzo as she undid a button of his shirt before sinking low. Elara’s hand twitched.
‘Easy,’ Isra warned. ‘Please don’t go all lady-of-darkness on her ass.’
Elara clenched her jaw as Enzo smiled down at thecharmer, leaning towards Emerald’s face, before shaking his head. ‘And the Lion still isn’t satisfied. Next!’
Emerald only winked, before lightly pushing off him and blowing kisses to the crowd.
When the next woman stepped out, Elara felt like cold water had been poured over her. She recognized the goldenblonde hair of the woman from the night of Leyon’s Descent. She’d been playing with Enzo’s hair in the grove, and seemed determined to remind him as she smirked, reaching on tiptoes to rake her hand through his curls, then draping herself over him.
‘And what’s this, a reunion? For those who weren’t here last year, Melodi stole the prince on the last summer’s solstice. Will she seduce the prince for the second year in a row?’
She saw Enzo search the crowd, his eyes finally settling on Elara.
‘Enough of this,’ she snapped.
Melodi tried to pull him up to dance, but he pulled his arms away, still looking at Elara. The charmer’s brow furrowed, as she twisted around him. ‘Ooh! It’s not looking good for Melodi!’
Jealousy, hot and cold at the same time, curdled in Elara’s stomach. She squared her shoulders, looking at Merissa.
Merissa nodded. ‘It’s now or never, Elara. All eyes on you.’
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Elara took a deep breath as she weaved through the crowd, pushing herself into clear view of Alfonso. She looked over at Leo, standing behind Idris, nodded to him, and got a single nod in reply. Then she glanced up at the pink lightdown streaming through the glass palace roof. One, two, three…
A spotlight struck her, Leo’s powers spilling towards her as she stepped out, the mirrors shining rays off her as though she was the Light itself. The music ceased, as an acapella voice sang for three beats. She waited as the crowd admired the source of the brightness, gasping in wonder as they saw her shine.
‘And who is this?’ Alfonso said. ‘A new entrant? Who is this mysterious beauty?’ Then, with a smile to Leo, who winked back, she waited a few seconds as the band began playing again, and on the next beat of the drums she released her shadows and plunged the hall into darkness.
To their credit, the band continued, using the excitement to fuel their music as screams and gasps filled the cavernous chamber. The shadows hid her while she slinked through the crowd, Alfonso continuing to commentate in excitement.When she spotted Enzo, looking around in anticipation from his chair, she smiled. Counted down. Then, on the next drum beat, she pulled her shadows in.
Light exploded back into the room to reveal her straddling the Prince of Helios. Enzo’s eyes flew to hers in shock.
There were more gasps, murmurs and whispers through the crowd.
‘An Asterian?! Ladies and gentlemen, this is history being made!’ the jester screeched. ‘What could this mean should she charm the prince? Peace between the kingdoms of Light and Dark?!’ There were hollers and cheers of encouragement as the onlookers overcame their shock. Elara was taken aback. She thought that the other kingdoms despised Asterians, and yet here was this elated mass of people from every reach of Celestia, cheering her.
‘Surprise, prince,’ she whispered to him as she pressed herself into him. He swore, too low for anyone to hear, clenching her waist with his hands. Her skirts hitched around her as she rolled her hips again for good measure in time to the music as the crowd cheered again.
‘What the fuck are you doing?’ he whispered.
She smirked. ‘You needed all eyes on me, didn’t you?’
Enzo let out a disbelieving laugh as his gaze trailed down to where her hips moved like water.
‘Were you tempted by any of those other girls?’
‘Not a single one,’ he purred, bringing his eyes back up to her with earnest sincerity. In one swift move, she spun so that her back was to him, her hair cascading behind her. She felt one hand tighten as the other pushed her hair to one side.
‘I didn’t get to appreciate this dress from the back before,’ he added.
‘Take a good look then.’ She arched her back, wideningher legs and dipping forwards so that her full back was on display, the delicate chains slipping across it.
She felt him lean forwards, trailing his nose up the tail of her dragun. ‘I need to personally thank whoever made it.’
‘Well, the prince is definitely interested!’ Alfonso shouted. ‘It’s the most attention he’s shown a charmer all night!’
She rolled her hips from where she sat. ‘If you like that, you should see the golden lingerie I have on to match.’