Shadow and Wrath (The Undesirables Book 1) by Penn Cassidy

Author:Penn Cassidy [Cassidy, Penn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

The ballroom stretched out before me, a field of battle draped in opulence. Black silk cascaded down my form, contrasting the icy silver of my eyes, the gown clinging to every curve as though it were a second skin. Wolfe trailed behind me, only steps away.

I stepped into the grandeur with measured grace, the soft rustle of my gown a whisper among the symphony of sounds—the delicate clink of crystal, the music rolling through the room from the musicians up on the balcony of the ballroom, and the murmured conversations of the gathered ladies.

Glittering lights danced along the walls, casting prismatic rainbows across my path. Fountains of crystal-clear water burbled in the background, adding to the music that filled the air, and trays laden with delicacies passed by.

At the grand table, a congregation of hopefuls began to take their seats, each vying for the favor of a prince who seemed more phantom than flesh. And amongst them, I moved with careful precision, acutely aware of Wolfe's gaze fixed on me as he took his place at the far wall with his hands behind his back—a weight that was both comforting and disquieting.

As I joined the other ladies, a flutter in my stomach grew, not entirely from nerves. Surrounded by the opulence of the ballroom and the scrutiny of countless courtiers, I realized that I was feeling true nerves for once.

The air was thick with hushed anticipation, almost palpable like a physical shroud. The prince's authoritative voice cut through the silence, and he quickly took his place at the head of the table, only a few seats away from me. "Ladies, please uncover your plates."

He didn’t bother to meet anyone’s eyes, only poured himself a goblet of red wine, looking utterly bored.

Gingerly, I lifted the cool pewter lid from my tray. Beneath it lay a single golden rose, its petals shimmering in the enchanted light. A collective breath seemed to be held and then released in waves of relief and despair around the table.

"Those without a rose," the prince continued, his words a velvet hammer, "are dismissed from the pageant."

Whispers fluttered around the room like dark, ominous wings, and I risked peering down the long table. Lady Lily's complexion was ghostly pale, her eyes filled with shock as she gazed at an empty plate. A soft gasp escaped her lips before a loud wail echoed through the silence.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.