Matched

Chapter 4

As Kate and Dax wound down the spiral staircase, the noise from the party below increased. The light chatter grew to a deafening roar, as the voices of hundreds of people blended together to create a symphony of different pitches and tones.

"You look nervous," Dax said, casting a sideways glance at Kate.

Kate gave him a slight nod. "You could say that."

He smiled and chuckled. "Did you at least get the binder that my mother left for you?"

Kate looked at him in horror. "Binder?"

Dax shook his head. "The assistant's binder. One will be delivered to you every day. The one today had the names of everybody in attendance that you will need to let me know about."

Kate felt at though she wanted to cry. "No! I never got it. Oh God, you're not going to know anybody. You're going to make an ass out of yourself. You're going to -"

"Relax, Kate," Dax interrupted, "I'm sorry I stressed you out. I'll just avoid people I don't know tonight." He turned to face her. "Don't worry please. Don't worry." He placed a hand on the side of her neck. "This party is to let me get to know those who were matched to me. Do you at least know them?"

Kate nodded. "Yes, and I can tell you all about them once we get in there. I did take some time to learn about each of them."

Dax nodded. "Okay, but first we have to be introduced."

They had reached the end of a long hallway and were standing at a pair of double doors. There was a finely-dressed servant waiting for them. Dax turned to Kate. "Are you ready?"

Kate looked in the long mirror on the wall to the side of her. A foreign version of herself stared back. She pushed a strand of hair off of her neck to revel the puncture wounds that were healing quickly due to the medicine that Alicia had given her.

Dax came to stand behind her, and his eyes locked with hers in the mirror. "I'm always nervous before I go out in front of people, but so always take a deep breath and tell myself that I'm going to be fine." He turned her around to look at him. "This is me telling you that you're going to be fine."

Kate smiled softly at Dax. Where was the jackass from her memories? She knew that he didn't remember who she was, but the side of him he had showed her all those nights ago on the streets of Horavia was buried under all of the layers of the prince-like attitude he had adopted. She shrugged his hands off of her shoulders and masked her nerves with a smile. "Of course I'll be fine," she said, "I'm not nervous."

Dax looked at her questioningly, the coldness in her tone surprising him, but nonetheless offered her his arm. Kate took it, looping her arm through his.

The servant that had been waiting for them moved at Dax's nod and opened the doors to the grand staircase. A man who was dressed in a white suit coat was waiting at the entrance and bowed as Dax approached.

"Everybody has entered the ballroom at this point and the appetizers have been put out for the guests," the man said.

At this comment, Kate's mind wandered off to thought of Hunter and her mom, who were probably stressed right now, making sure that every piece of food was prepared and served correctly. She was brought out of her thoughts by the man in white addressing her and saying something that she missed.

"I'm sorry, what?" Kate said.

The man chuckled. "A little nervous are we? I asked you what you would like to be addressed as when I introduce you two."

Kate's mind raced as she tried to remember what her mother had told her before she had left that afternoon.

"Lady Kate of West End," Dax interrupted. When Kate went to protest he said, "Your house was in West End was it not?"

She nodded and he patted her arm. "Here we go," he said, taking a deep breath and stepping forward with her.

"May I present His Highness, Prince Dax of Fóvos, and his escort, Lady Kate of West End," the man announced to the entire ballroom.

At this, murmurs rippled across the crowd, as nobody from outside the castle walls had ever been in the royal ballroom as a guest. Kate felt the eyes of everybody in the ballroom on her as the Prince led her down the steps.

The six matches of the Prince had gathered at the bottom of the steps. "Anybody I should be aware of?"  Dax said softly to Kate.

"Watch the one of the far right," Kate said slowly out of the corner of her mouth, "From what I've heard, she's a vindictive bitch."

Nobody had ever been that crass with Dax, and at this, he burst out laughing. "Mother said you were truly a breath of fresh air, but she never mentioned that you had a mouth on you!" he chuckled, "At least you'll make this whole process more bearable."

They had reached the bottom of the stairs now, and each of the Princesses were waiting for Dax to address them. As Dax let go of her hand, Kate felt panic rising suddenly in her. Where was she supposed to go now?

As Dax turned away, she glanced around to see if a familiar face caught her eye but every curious eye that she met instantly turned away as if to shun her entire existence.

All of a sudden, Kate felt something tug at the sleeve of her dress. She turned to her left to see Preston standing there. "May I have the first dance my lady?" he asked. As his eyes looked into hers, she knew that Preston knew exactly what she was feeling. She took his hand, knowing that Dax needed time with each woman throughout the night, letting Preston lead her into the crowd of people.