I saw Fred, who was still dancing with his partner. Our gazes met and, with one hand, he grabbed me and twirled me over to the next person. Fred smiled warmly at me and winked. His dance partner looked confused on why he didn't switch us.

But I, on the other hand, remembered our promise. That he would be my last dance for the night. I smiled at him to let him know that I remembered before I faced my new partner.

Well, supposed to be a partner. It was Nate, but apparently, he was having a conservation with another girl. And he didn't seem happy.

It was a girl with long purple hair that shone in the light. I remember from my lesson with Ace that she's Princess Camille. Her silver dress sparkled with different colors as if it were alive. Expensive non-metallic jewelry decorated her from top to toe. I'll say she's beautiful. Camille, the princess of the Kingdom of Fae. The fairies.

Princess Camille Clevelan smirked at Nate, making him frown at her even more. "What's with the face, Prince Nathaniel? Don't you miss me?" she said in a soft sweet voice.

"I'm not in the mood for your silly games."

I didn't do anything and stupidly watched the scene in front of me.

She pouted and batted her long lashes at him while running her hand up and down his shoulders. She leaned in and whispered something to him.

"The throne is not for you," Nate told her and pushed her back, not wanting to be anywhere close to her. "It's for your older brother. Prince Gregory Clevelan."

Camille had a dark look on her face. "Gregory isn't the problem. I can take the throne from him. I'm a summer fairy, and he's just a fall fairy." She said. Her voice laced with venom at her older brother. "But the only problem is my little brother Chace - A winter fairy." She rolled her eyes. "A rare one but useless if you’re ignorant." She then focused her eyes on me, and her face softened. "But with you, I think we can overpower Chace and let him hand over the throne. What do you say?"

I feel like I am not supposed to be hearing this. Isn't this technically a topic close to treason? But I can't say anything since Nate might get involved.

Nate gave her a disgusted look. "Your brother, Chace, is only 12, and Gregory is a fine man and a born leader." He told her. "And I don't want any throne. I just want to be rid of you."

Her green eyes darkened. "You have to. I can't just let you go around and flirt with other girls!"

"Who are you to order me around? I am not your pawn."

"You're mine, Nate."

"You're crazy!" This girl is unbelievable. Nate suddenly pushed her away. "I am not your property, and I certainly will not be leaving this castle anytime soon. Not for some silly fantasies of a spoiled girl like you." His voice rose a little in my anger.

Camille only rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, and Nate had to breathe through his nose slowly to ease up his temper. "Fine. You can stay."

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"I said you can stay." she repeated."But only if you'll get rid of that Princess Rosalie and if you'll take me to be your Queen once you win." Her words sent ripples of anger through me, and Nate looked at her furiously.

"Don't bring Rose into this." He hissed at her. His fangs elongated, and he tightened his grip on her hands and stopped dancing.

Now they were speaking in hushed voices that I couldn't hear anything."Touch her, and I swear I'll kill you. I'll drain every drop from your body even if I become an undead. It'll be worth it if it means getting rid of you."

Camille gave him a pointed look. "Rose? You sound different, Nate. It's as if you're on close terms with her. Don't tell me you care about her?" She let out a laugh. "That can't be, right? After your last one? You can't possibly care for another woman other than leading her on and leaving."

Nate clenched his teeth and shook his head.

"Don't you remember Kascada? You love her, didn't you?" She was saying something to Nate that had him gone pale. He looks like he is struggling and suffocating at the same time.

"You." He growled at her. "You're the one who ruined us. By spreading those rumors that she left me!"

"She wasn't worth your affection!!" She countered back. "And neither will that Rosalie girl that you're trying to protect!"

"Stay. Away. From. Her! The only reason I haven't killed you yet is that I respect your brother, but once you touch Rose or hurt her, I swear, not even your brother can stop me from tearing you."

Oh well. Here goes nothing. Nate better be grateful.

I grabbed my dress and ran straight into Camille. We collided, and both of us almost fell on the ground if it weren't for Nate. He grabbed his waist to steady me while having a surprised look on his face. Camille had grabbed Nate's arm to steady herself. When Nate noticed this, he glared at her.

I straightened up and gave a fake apologetic look at Camille. "I-I'm so sorry! It's just that I slipped while switching partners!! Prince Fred was supposed to be my partner, but he whisked me off." It was an excuse, but it held a bit of truth in it.

On the other hand, Camille tightened her grip on Nate's shoulders as she glared daggers at me. "You did that on purpose!" She snarled and flipped her purple hair out of her face.

I looked at the side. Uninterested in dealing with her. Did I make the mistake of helping Nate? Without any emotion, I said, "But it was an accident. It was time to switch partners. Look!" I pointed at a man who was standing alone and looking confused. "See that guy? That's your next partner." I said innocently. "So excuse me!"

If looks could kill, I'd say I would have been long gone by now. Camille made a move as if to attack me, but before I could raise my foot to kick her, Nate quickly pulled me towards him to shield me from her. Camille looked slightly taken aback by his action and looked from Nate before looking back at me. I gave her a teasing look and stuck my tongue out.

Serves her right.

Her fist clenched at her sides and then gave me a final deadly look before storming out. Her dress danced like waves as she headed towards her next partner.

"Well, that was intense," I commented. "Are you okay?"

"Sorry." He said and released his hold on me. I fixed herself up and flipped some stray hair back and off of my face. Finally, he took one of my hands and placed another on my waist. I put one hand on his shoulder as we continued the dance.

"You're crazy." He finally said. He gave me a small smile that didn't fully reach his eyes.

"What do you mean?" I asked innocently and batted my eyes.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" He asked. As a response, I gave him a wicked smile.

"Maybe?" I shrugged. "I don't know. What do you think?"

He managed to crack a smile. He shook his head and let out a small laugh. "You're insane. You know that?"

I smiled back. This time, it was genuine. "I was telling you half the truth, you know? Fred was supposed to be my next partner, but he held on to his last partner and whisked me off. And after that, I kind of saw you having a heated conversation with that girl." My expression darkened. "I saw your face, Nate. You look as if you were ready to pounce at her." Strands of my hair fell off, and he reached out to push it back behind my ear as I continued. "So I decided to come and...you know...push her off." I grinned proudly.

He chuckled. "Seems like you were trying to rescue me."

"I did, didn't I?"

He nodded. "Indeed." He said and kissed my hand. "I guess I am in your debt."

I smiled. "That's good. A prince in my debt. Can you imagine the perks of that?" He laughed at me.

Suddenly I became serious. "But what was that all about? I've never seen you look at a girl with so much hatred. You love girls. And to be honest? The only guy who I know having that sort of expression is Ace."

He shrugged. "Let's just say that she's obsessed with me, and that drove her to do something that made me dislike her."

"Wait. She likes you?"

He raised an eyebrow at me, seemingly offended at my words. "Hey, I have the looks. Of course, girls fall on their knees when I'm around. Just like you earlier."

I rolled my eyes at him. "I only pretended to slip, Nate. That's it. What did you do to make her that crazy for you?"

"If only you knew, Rose. I wasn't like this before."

"What?"

"That's a story for some other time." He replied and gave me a small tired smile. "I don't want to talk about it."

I saw his pained look, so I decided that I wasn't going to ask anymore. I looked back towards Camille and another boy dancing. Camille was wearing a frown while her partner tried to talk to her, probably asking what had gotten her in a bad mood.

Finally, I turned my gaze back at Nate. "Well, good news. It looks like the guy over there is trying to make conversations with her." I then leaned in and whispered. "I think he likes her, and it's only a matter of time before he makes a move." Nate suddenly laughed.

He slightly bent over, and laughter continued to come. Oh boy. I think Nate is on crack.

"What? Was it something I said?"

He straightened up. He looked at me in amusement and chuckled. "Rose, do you know that guy over there?"

"Yeah. His name is Prince Gregory Clevelan."

Then I realized something. "Is that...?"

"Yes."

"And I said....."

I nodded.

"Oh my gosh!! That was incest!!" I said, completely horrified. "Ew!! And to think that I thought they would look good together! And that they would fall in love and..."

"Have babies?" He added.

We both looked at each other. And by the looks of it, he, like me, was picturing both of the Clevelan siblings in love. We both cringed and made disgusted faces at each other before we both laughed hysterically that people nearby gave us weird looks.

"Let's keep this conversation between us."

"Babe, if it's you, then I'll gladly keep it." he winked. Then his expression changed. "I would like to ask you a favor." He said just as the music was starting to change.

"What is it?"

"About what you learned. Please keep that between us as well." Nate started to twirl me off to my next partner, but I looked back at him and smiled just before I was out of his line of sight.

"I already forgot about it." I smiled.

He smiled brightly. And, just as he received his next partner, he took a rose from his coat and offered it to the now blushing lady.

I rolled my eyes. Now there's the Nate that I know.

I stopped twirling when I saw my next partner. My eyes nearly bulged out in surprise. "Ace?"