Ancient Guardians: The Uninvited by S. L. Morgan Read Free Book Online

kingdoms. As it turns out, we will be visiting the Sandari Kingdom, where my father’s closest friend, King Hamilton, reigns. My family has an estate there, which I believe you will enjoy, given its proximity to the ocean shoreline.”
    “That sounds really nice. Is that where the celebration is going to be?”
    “No, it will be hosted by the Hamiltons at their estate. King Hamilton has arranged a ball in order to honor the emperor and his success in recovering our men and keeping you safe from the Ciatron. This will be an interesting gathering, due to the fact that all of the kings and their families will be in attendance, not only to celebrate, but also to meet with their emperor to discuss the events that took place that day in the Council of Worlds.” Levi’s lips turned up into an admiring grin. “These kings and their families are highly anticipating making your acquaintance as well.”
    Reece was doing fine up until the last part. She swallowed hard. “Um…exactly how am I supposed to prepare for something like this?”
    “All you need to do is walk into the room and they will all…”
    He went to kiss her, but Reece held one finger over his lips and stopped him. “Any other time I would gladly listen to you over-exaggerate how wonderful I am, but let’s get real for a minute; a ball?” She cleared her throat. “Do I need to do anything to prepare for this?”
    Questions started lining up one by one in her head. She’d done pretty well in this land so far as she struggled to blend in with its culture, but wearing seventeenth-century clothes instead of t-shirts and jeans, or riding in a horse and carriage instead of driving in a car, wasn’t the same as attending an extravagant ball with royal families.
    Levi pressed his lips into her fingers for a soft kiss before taking her hand into his. “You’ve already admitted to Harrison, Elizabeth, and me that you’ve taken dancing lessons; am I not correct?” He laughed softly. “So it appears to me that the only thing you would need to prepare for is already resolved.”
    She narrowed her eyes at him. “Laugh it up, Mr. Oxley, because you’re going to look like an idiot when your future wife busts into some square dancing moves on the ballroom floor.”
    Levi’s eyes crinkled in humor. “Square dancing? That most certainly will be delightful to witness. I’ll see to it that the emperor secures the first dance set with you.”
    Reece arched her eyebrow at his smug grin. “Or the two-step…” she taunted.
    His eyebrows shot up as he softly laughed. “Ah, indeed, the two-step…now that I should love to see,” he said, as he reached for a small piece of fruit. He tossed it in his mouth and leaned back. It was obvious that he had no concerns about bringing her to this ball, prepared or not. “I will say, that if this is your preference of dance at the celebration, Harrison will be extremely delighted to help you introduce this way of dancing to the Pemdai culture—preferably those in royalty.” He laughed again.
    Well, if he wasn’t going to worry about it, then neither was she.
    Reece shrugged her shoulders. “Forget it. You’ve been warned,” she said with a smile.
    Levi turned to face her. “Whatever style of dancing you should decide upon, I can assure you, I will not ever consider myself an idiot to be at your side.” He ran his long fingers along her neckline and over her shoulder; his vivid blue eyes followed the fiery trail his fingers created on her skin. “However, if you should choose the Pemdai way of dancing, I will happily volunteer my services to help instruct you.”
    “The Pemdai way of dancing?” she repeated with confusion.
    “It is similar to what those of Earth consider ballroom dancing,” he absently answered her, while he slowly pulled her sleeve down, exposing her shoulder.
    Well, that’s not so bad, she thought, while having difficulty keeping her thoughts straight now. Levi’s attention was solely on her bare