Wolf-Shifter

Dancing among the Stars 38

Namid knocked on Rose's door and the young woman answered, looking pleased. "Hello, Mother." She whispered, opening the door wider so that she could enter.

Silently, Namid walked inside, jade green skirt whispering as she walked, and head held high. Rose silently envied her mother for the ability to appear poised and untroubled. "I've been meaning to ask something of you, Rose."

The princess looked up from sorting notes and was surprised by the look of brief sadness in her eyes. "Why so sad, Mother?"

"I have been thinking about this a while and I wondered if you would like to be escorted by Nyesh."

Rose beamed, "I'd be honored."

Namid sighed, almost tiredly, "I was worried about you when you had gotten captured…but I am glad that Rakab and Nyesh got you back safely. " Namid replied, sitting on the edge of the bed, folding trembling hands neatly on her lap. "And I'm not surprised Ralon was behind it!" "He's hated the wolves for many years now, yet hasn't had the stomach to attack the Lupine clan, to my relief." Namid gazed at her daughter who sat drying her recently washed hair, "Here," Namid laughed and stood, taking the towel and began drying Rose's hair.

"Why hasn't Rakab come back to the Court?" Rose asked, fumbling with the cuff of her sleeve.

Namid, startled at the question, sighed softly, "I-I don't know why, Rose…Perhaps he thinks that, if he stays away for a while, things will be better."

Rose stared down at her feet, covered with red silk slippers. "Or maybe he thinks you don't want to see him anymore…"

Namid put the towel on the bed, and picked up a brush. "No," she began brushing out Rose's hair, "I do. I really do want to see him again."

"Why not invite him to the Midwinter ball tonight, then?" Rose suggested, hopeful.

Namid sighed tiredly, "Oh, that would be a wonderful dream, Rose, but alas I cannot reach him by tonight. I don't even think he'll accept."

"Just try it." Rose whispered, hoping to bring some of that hidden determination from her mother. But Namid just shook her head, "It wouldn't be wise, dear."

Rose scoffed, "Wise?" "Since when is inviting someone to a ball, not wise?"

Namid licked her dry lips, and sighed, "Is there any way you may accept my choices?"

The younger woman stared at her slippers again, "I just want everyone to be happy." She whispered. Gazing in the mirror, she noticed that her mother's gown was form fitting and her hair neatly settled atop her head. Her mother's face was as beautiful and blank as porcelain although Rose knew a battle of emotion raged beneath those eyes. "The image of a queen." the young princess thought.

"Well happiness cannot be granted without a price." Namid murmured, her face blank as Rose quietly walked to the door. "I know." The princess nodded, and smiled slightly, "I'm going to find Nyesh."

Namid nodded slowly and Rose walked out the door, and down the halls her modest red silk gown bright against her fair skin, and shining slightly in the light of candles.

Salem stood in the door, magnificent in deep violet trimmed in silver. "Namid?" his garnet eyes yielding no emotion.

Namid turned to her mate and stood, "She's become so distant, Salem."

"As have we to her." Salem replied, walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "We must let her go sometime."

Leaning close to his chest she wrinkled her nose at the brief, yet heavy, scent of a woman's perfume reached her nose amongst his regular fresh scent. Ignoring it, she welcomed the warmth in his embrace. "Let us enjoy the evening while it lasts." He murmured, kissing her cheek and walking with her to the ballroom.

Namid nodded, an empty smile gracing her features. "Lets."

Yet a nagging thought lingered in her mind: Salem hadn't been with her the past few nights, saying he'd been 'out' seeing how things were in the Court while Oliza oversaw to her other duties, yet why did she smell a woman's perfume on him?

Had he betrayed her as she had him with Rak?