Love’s Eternal Fire

Chapter 23: The Ball

Solaris' POV

Tonight was the night of the mating ball my dad had insisted on. It would be the night I would choose my mate if my fated one wasn't in the room. I did hope to find my fated mate tonight, but I had this weird feeling like I already knew who it was. Ryse seemed less angry about not taking over the clan, though I wasn't sure if he was pretending. I was still in my house finishing getting ready, knowing that first impressions tonight would be crucial. Every unmated phoenix from every tribe would be here along with their families.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I examined my choice of outfit: black dress pants and a red long-sleeve button-down. It wasn't much, but I didn't look half bad. Delaying the inevitable as long as possible, I left my house and headed for the clan house where the ball would be held. Once I found my mate tonight, my dad would announce the change in command to the rest of the tribe. This was going to be good, is what I kept telling myself, despite the nagging feeling in my gut that I shouldn't be doing this.

The second I walked into the ballroom, it went silent. All eyes turned to me, and I could have sworn I felt and heard a ripple of giggling run through the crowd. I wasn't surprised by how many in attendance were female, batting their eyelashes and smiling at me. This must have been how men felt back in the 1800s during the season of finding a wife. All these eyes on me made me feel so small, like a bug under a microscope. Clearing my throat, I went further into the room, keeping my eyes forward, feeling the burning looks and whispers. My destination was the bar, hoping a stiff drink would help take the edge off.

"Whiskey on the rocks," I told Raziel, one of the bartenders tonight.

"Sure thing," he responded, taking a glass from under the bar and adding ice. He poured the whiskey and handed me the glass. Immediately, I took a big drink, not even finished swallowing, when someone came into my line of vision. She was beautiful, with sparkling light brown eyes and short black hair. This person must have been from a different clan because it was someone I'd never seen before. Not much shorter than me, her square face gave her an intense look, but she was still soft and feminine in how she'd done her makeup.

"Hello Solaris, my name is Ravenna Calista. I'm the daughter of clan leader Lysander Calista from the north," she said, holding out her hand.

"Hi," I replied, shaking her hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too," she said, looking at Raziel and me.

"Would you like a drink?" I asked, noticing her hint.

"I would love one," she replied. "White wine, please."

"So, Ravenna, what do you do in your clan?" I asked while Raziel opened a fresh bottle of wine.

"I teach fire skills to the ones who just gained their phoenix powers," she said, taking the wine glass. "What about you?"

"I teach combat to the younger warriors and some of the older ones," I explained.

"Are you still going to do that once you take over?" she questioned, sipping her drink.

"I'm not sure; I suppose I will if I still have time, or maybe my brother will take over my classes, though he's not exactly a fighter," I told her, walking away from the bar.

"How is he taking the whole thing? We heard he wasn't happy about it," she asked.

"He's not happy, but he seems to be getting over it, at least I think," I told her.

"Solaris!" someone called. Looking around, someone else was waving at me. This was another girl I didn't recognize with long light brown hair and grey eyes. She was wearing a long black dress with a high slit, and her heart-shaped face was done to the max with bright red lips and high cheekbones.

"Inara," Ravenna said in a cold, irritated voice.

"Ravenna, don't tell me you're keeping Solaris all to yourself," Inara said, giving her a smirk.

"Of course not. We were discussing how we both teach," Ravenna told her, touching my arm lightly.

"That's so nice," Inara said with another smirk. "I wish I could teach, but I'm very busy with my duties as assistant to the Queen."

"I thought you worked in the kitchen?" Ravenna said in a voice dripping with disdain but trying to sound sweet. The two seemed more interested in talking with themselves than me, so I slipped into the crowd, knowing they would find me later. Taking another drink, I scanned the room for anyone I might want to approach instead of them approaching me. My eye landed on a stunning woman with red hair down to the middle of her back, styled in a loose, half-up, half-down hairdo. Her face was peppered with freckles, and her green eyes reminded me of someone I knew. I found myself walking towards her without realizing it. Looking nervous, this woman stood off the side, sipping a bubbly drink in a tall glass.

"Hello," I said gently when I got closer. She must not have heard or seen me approaching because she jumped slightly, spilling a little of her drink.

"Hi, Solaris, you startled me," she smiled, taking a napkin from the tall table before her to mop up the spill.

"I'm sorry. I should have given you a warning," I apologized. "I saw you all by yourself and thought you might like some company."

"Thank you. I'm afraid parties aren't my thing, but my father insisted that I come," she told me, blushing a deep shade of red.

"I know what you mean," I smiled. "I'm not sure about all of this myself."

"My father is the clan leader in the south, and when he heard about this, it wasn't an option; I was coming even if I didn't want to," she sighed.

"You didn't want to meet me?" I joked, watching her blush again.

"No, no, it's not that," she stammered. "I'm just not good in crowds."

"That's alright; I was only joking with you," I reassured her. "What's your name?"

"Malina, Malina Melisande," she said, looking up from the glass in her hand to my eyes.

"It's nice to meet you, Malina," I said, shaking her hand. "You know why this ball is being put on, right?"

"I do, so that you can find your mate," she told me, looking slightly scared.

"I would love to get to know you a little bit more," I told her, happy when she smiled and stopped looking nervous.

"Okay, I'd like that," she replied.

"Would you like to go for a walk with me? Get away from all the craziness?" I asked, looking over my shoulder at the room stuffed full of people, some eating, others mingling, and many on the dancefloor in front of the band dancing away.

"Sure," she said, setting her glass on the table. I did the same and held my hand out for her, and she intertwined her fingers in mine. She might not have been my fated mate, but there was something about her that I liked. Her green eyes were so comforting, and I couldn't pinpoint who she reminded me of. I led Malina from the ballroom, out into the hallway, and then outside into the cool evening air. The sun was setting, lighting the sky in a parade of pinks and oranges.

"Your clan is wonderful," Malina said as I took her along the forest's edge.

"Thank you. Is yours similar to this?" I asked, having never been in the southern clan myself.

"It is, but it's more rustic, which is the better word for it. Your clan is more futuristic and modern," she replied.

"A more rustic vibe sounds nice," I told her. "How many clan members do you have?"

"We have about nine hundred members," she told me, which was only about half the size of our clan, but we were always known for having a larger clan.

"That's a solid amount; I believe we're close to two thousand now," I replied.

"Wow," she said, sounding impressed.

"How old are you, if you don't mind my asking," I said as we walked, the sun sinking lower and lower.

"I'm twenty-six, and you?" she asked, looking over at me, walking almost at my height in her heels.

"Twenty-eight," I told her with a smile.

Malina and I kept walking and getting to know one another. I thought that she would make a good mate and leader for our clan. For some reason, I liked that she hadn't been all over me and trying to get my attention like so many other girls. It was clear my fated mate wasn't in the room because I could have sensed her when I walked in. With Malina, it was easy to talk to her, and I enjoyed our conversation; she seemed like someone I could learn to love or at least grow fond of overtime if she felt the same way. We stopped at the far end of the forest, having walked a reasonable distance from the main house where the party was taking place. The two of us sat down on a bench along the walkway.

"Malina," I said, taking her hands in mine. "Since I have to choose a mate tonight, and it's clear my fated mate isn't in the room, I wanted to ask you if you would consider being my chosen mate. That's a lot to ask, especially if you're waiting for your fated mate."

"I was waiting for my fated mate, but unfortunately, he passed away a month after meeting each other," she said, looking down at our hands tangled together.

"I'm so sorry," I told her sincerely. Losing a fated mate was a hard thing; many people didn't survive the heartbreak.

"Thank you. It's been three years, but I still think of him often. Even with that, I know I'll need to find another mate to get out from under my parents. Solaris, I would love to be your mate and help you lead this clan."

"That's amazing. I think you're lovely, and we'll be able to do amazing things together as leaders. I promise I'll never stifle your freedom or ban you from doing the things you love. I'm not like my father or most clan leaders," I explained.

"I know, I can tell," she said with a smile. Smiling back, I took one hand and cupped the side of her face. She closed her eyes and leaned into my touch, letting out a small sigh. Before I knew it, I leaned into her, my lips brushing against her gently. Reaching over her with my other hand, I pulled her closer, and she draped her legs over my lap, placing her hands around my neck. Now it was time to tell my father I chose a mate and announce it to everyone; I assumed he would also expect us to mark each other tonight.