Taming the Wolf King novel · Chapter 15 of 32
Chapter 15: The Autumn Ball
The applause went on and on.
Old wolves were nodding at each other.
Araminta came down the dais steps in her silver silk.
The crowd parted for her.
The band struck up a waltz, slow and old-fashioned.
The first dance at the Autumn Ball belongs to the King.
Everyone stepped back to the walls to give him the floor.
Araminta stopped in the middle of the empty flagstones and held out her gloved hand.
She was smiling at Caspian.
Under the candlelight I could see the edge of the bandage on her blistered fingers.
Caspian took his arm out from under my hand.
My stomach dropped through the floor.
I'd known.
I'd known since the kitchen table that this was how it ended.
He'd be confirmed, I'd go home, and some wolf in silver would stand beside him.
He walked out onto the floor.
Every eye in the hall followed him.
He walked straight up to Araminta.
He looked at her hand.
Then he walked past it.
He didn't slow down.
He didn't look back.
He crossed the whole length of the great hall, past the band and past the packs and past his uncle on the dais, and stopped in front of me by the pillar.
He held out his hand.
"Dance with me," he said. "Please."
The music kept playing.
Nobody else moved.
Somewhere behind him Araminta was still standing with her hand out in the air.
"Caspian," I whispered. "Everyone's watching."
"I know."
"Your uncle's watching."
"I know."
"There's a girl in silver standing in the middle of the floor."
"She can stand there all night."
I put my hand in his.
He led me out onto the flagstones, right past Araminta, and put his other hand flat on my bare back.
His palm was hot.
I shivered all the way down.
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