Cade had lain awake with his thoughts most of the night. In all honesty, he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to attend the ball or not. He was telling the truth when he said that they did have parties outside of the Dome, he just hadn’t been to any. Large groups weren’t his thing but he would’ve said yes in a heartbeat if Deianira had expressed any interest in his attendance. His feelings for her had only doubled after last night. Cade knew that it must not have been easy for her to ask him to come to the lake. It was obviously special to her.
After much deliberation, he decided that if she could step out of her comfort zone, so could he. He was going to the ball. First though, he needed to wear. Cade had barely left the palace since his arrival. He had no idea where to start but what he did know was that he wanted to impress Deianira.
Getting an idea, Cade ran up to Jude’s study, first thing in the morning and knocked.
“Come in,” Jude answered promptly.
Nervous, Cade opened the door and stepped in. He hadn’t spoken to Jude much during his time in the palace but he knew that he’d practically raised Deianira. That was reason enough for Cade to be scared.
“Good morning, sir,” Cade said respectfully.
Jude snorted. “Way to make a guy feel old. Jude, please.”
Cade nodded emphatically. “Jude. Right. I, uh, wanted to ask you a favor.”
“Go on.”
Cade rubbed his shaky hands together. “So, the ball is tonight and I was wondering if I could borrow a suit. I didn’t exactly pack to come here and I don’t know where to get one or…” he trailed off as he caught Jude’s amused expression.
He sat back in his chair, lips tipping up. “Someone to impress?”
“No, sir,” he replied, way too fast. “Jude.”
Jude laughed and stood, already moving to his adjoining bedroom. “I should have a couple lying around.”
“Thank you.” Cade released a sigh.
“No problem.” Jude stopped and turned back to Cade with a sentimental look. “For the record, I think you’re good for her.”
Cade wasn’t sure what to say, so he just inclined his head.
Cassian
“Wake up!”
Cassian jolted awake and rolled off the side of the bed, hitting the floor with a not-so-graceful thud.
“What the fuck was that for?!” he yelled, glaring daggers at Eulalia.
“I need you to do something for me.”
“Oh yeah, I would love to after the sweet way woke me up,” he hissed as he got back into bed.
She shook her head. “So dramatic. But seriously, I need you to cover for me tonight.”
“For what?” he asked, words muffled by the pillow.
“I’m going somewhere I can’t take my guards,” she said casually.
He lifted his head from the pillow. “Where?”
“None of your business. I just need you to say that I’m in here sleeping if anyone asks.”
“No,” he said, pulling the covers over his head.
The covers were quickly yanked back down. “Why?” she whined.
Cassian looked at her like she was out of her mind. She probably was.
“You do know that if something happens to you and Cade finds out that I lied and let you go off into the night, he might actually kill me.”
“No, he wouldn’t…” she said, narrowing her eyes before rolling them. “Okay, maybe, but that’s beside the point. This is really important,” she pleaded.
Cassian leaned up on his elbows. “Eulalia, what could be that important?”
She watched him for what felt like an eternity before quickly saying, “I think my mother is here but I need to look for my birth records in the Queen’s study to be sure.”
Oh. Cassian wasn’t sure about the specifics but he knew that Eulalia didn’t grow up with parents. She’d lived in the school for most of her life.
He was young when his mother died and if he had the opportunity to see her again or even learn more about her, he’d take it. Her curiosity was understandable.
“Fine,” he huffed before rolling over.
“Thank you!” she squealed, throwing herself on top of him in a very uncomfortable hug.
He elbowed her off him and readjusted the covers. “You have until three to do whatever you need to do and I swear to the Gods if you’re not back by then, I’ll rat myself out to Cade.”
“Awww,” she cooed, climbing off the bed.
“What now?”
She turned back toward him. “You care about me.”
She wasn’t wrong but he wasn’t going to admit it.
Deianira
Deianira sat on her bed and stared at her dress. The truth was, she’d found the Prima Ball almost unbearable each year. There honestly wasn’t much to enjoy. She got to watch others sing, dance, and enjoy themselves whilst she sat and watched, pretending not to notice how her people gasped or flinched when they moved too close to her. But that was the reality of ruling. Though Deianira hadn’t signed up for it, she knew that fear was the only way to keep order.
As much as she didn’t want to admit it to herself, that was why she wanted Cade there. Having one person in the room that didn’t fear her or wasn’t bound by duty would’ve made the night just a bit more tolerable. But she understood his objection. His words from the night before had been playing on her mind.
Of course, she knew of the history behind the divide in Terra. Even before her reign began, she was schooled by the best teachers in The Dome. Knowing and hearing it first-hand was different though. Deianira couldn’t even imagine how the people outside were living, but she swore an oath to protect hers. But does it have to be one or the other? Cade was right about everyone being ‘one people’ at a time. But that was hundreds of years ago. Deianira was nothing like her ancestors before her, who created the Prima Act, but that didn’t mean that she had to be the one to rectify their wrong-doings. Did it?
