prisoner (shadow & bone)

Chapter Eight

THE WINTER FETE

When Tatia returned to her room that afternoon, she couldn't quite shake this flustered feeling. In her head, she kept replaying the kiss over and over until she wasn't sure that it even happened.

She lay down on her bed, facing the ceiling and sighing dreamily. Of all the people her first kiss could have been with, she was glad it had been with the general. No one could deny that those two had a connection that went beyond any ordinary relationship.

General Kirigan came to fetch her from her room a few moments before the Fete would start, so that he could escort her. His breath got caught in his throat as he laid his eyes upon her.

She was wearing a white dress that reached the floor, and the top was decorated with golden patterns that sparkled when they caught the light. Her eyeshadow was matching the dress, it being a golden color, and Genya had tied half of her hair up, a golden flower crown resting on the girl's locks.

Genya had done a wonderful job. Though, when the canvas is this beautiful, the paintjob barely matters at all.

He extended his hand after he had gotten over the shock and past the lump in his throat. "Shall we?"

Tatia took his hand and together they descended the stairs, making their way down to where the party was being held. The two kept sneaking innocent glances at each other, looking away and blushing whenever they were caught.

When the two entered the room, all eyes were on them, though neither of them noticed. Many gasped in awe at Tatia's beautiful dress and appearance, but she didn't hear anything (which was a good thing, otherwise, she would have been too shy to keep walking).

She quickly found Fedyor in the crowd and pulled Kirigan along, who let her lead him anywhere without complaint. She noticed that the Heartrender was trying to get his partner, Ivan, to eat something bright pink, and she smiled to herself.

"Fedyor!" she said, tapping his shoulder.

The man turned around and his jaw dropped at the sight of her. "Tatia!" he exclaimed, his eyes raking up and down her figure. "You look gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!"

This made the girl blush shyly, and as she was tucking a strand of hair behind her ear distractedly, she failed to notice the way Kirigan's eye twitched at the man.

The general placed his hand on her waist and pulled her close, possessively. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I am going to have to greet some of the attendees," he muttered lowly. "Let's find Genya so that she can keep an eye on you."

Tatia realised that she could just as easily been left with Fedyor, who could also keep an eye on her, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she let the general tug on her waist gently, until they came to a stop in front of the redhead.

"Keep an eye on Tatia for me," he instructed the Tailor. "I will be right back, but if there is anything wrong, anything at all, I want you to inform me straight away."

Genya nodded, showing that she understood, before the general disappeared into the crowd, off to greet some of the important people that showed up today.

"I told you you would love the dress," Genya grinned as she watched how happy her friend was in her outfit. "You're practically radiating sunlight, and you're not even the Sun Summoner!"

"I do love it," Tatia said, twirling around for good measure, not noticing the stares she was still receiving from the people around her. "Speaking of the Sun Summoner - where is Alina?" she tried to stand on her tiptoes (which was quite hard, considering that she was wearing heels) to peer over the heads in the crowd, but she couldn't find her friend.