98 Lucian

"Are you ready?" Aniyoh asked Lucian as they stood out the grand double doors leading into the White Palace ballroom. 

Lucian took her arm lazily into his own and sighed, "Of course I am ready. When you have seen one grand ballroom, you have seen them all."

Aniyoh snorted, "Well, not all of us are fancy well-to-do aristocrats such as yourself, and some of us are nervous."

He could feel her hand trembling slightly as it lay daintily atop his forearm. Lucian noted that though the witch's expression was calm, there was a slight tremor to her voice as well. He tried to give her his most reassuring smile but judging by the eye roll, she pointed in his direction; he hadn't done a very convincing job.

"All will be well, Aniyoh. Enjoy yourself. This may be our last hurrah before all is said and done," He whispered conspiratorially into her ear as the doors opened.