Chapter Thirty one

"Thank you for the dance, Ella," Micheal said.

The song finally came to an end, and Michael bowed gallantly with a hopeful smile on his face.

I forced a smile back. "It was my pleasure, Michael."

I turned to leave, not resisting the urge to steal one last look at Nico.

He was still watching me, his eyes filled with that same unspoken longing.

A hush fell over the crowd. A flurry of activity rippled through the room as royal guards scurried to clear the dance floor, forming two distinct lines that carved a wide path through the heart of the gathering. Murmurs of anticipation rose like the tide, anticipation thick in the air.

My heart pounded in her chest as I looked towards the cleared space, curiosity and apprehension swirling within me.

It's the Royal Family," Ariana whispered, her voice barely audible over the hushed whispers. Ariana and Claire had somehow found their way back to where I was standing.

"Now this is how to make an entrance," Claire exclaimed in awe.

A fanfare erupte