Thank you soo much for the reviews/follows/and favs! Hope you like the new chapter! Please read and review. I am also still looking for costume ideas! :)

Chapter 11: Prince Charming

Rio's POV

"Lady Parker, is there something wrong?" Caleb asked, his blue eyes sparkling in the garden's moon light.

I was on my late night date with Caleb and I had a lot on my mind. Not only was I distracted by my earlier encounter with Damon but also by the Halloween Ball challenge. I kept replaying Caleb's announcement in my head, my heart racing with the thought of failing miserably.

"For my next round of eliminations, I will be holding a challenge that will give you some insight on what it's like to be an Illean Princess. For your challenge, you will be in teams planning, organizing, and hosting the annual Halloween Ball. The princess would normal do this job alone." Caleb paused, flashing his charming smile. "You will be planning the menu, the music, sending out invitations, decorating, coordinating, creating seating charts, greeting and entertaining guests, creating a master schedule, and planning every detail. It's a big job and my future wife will need to be able to handle herself professionally, gracefully, and eloquently.

"Prince Caleb, have you designated our teams?" Asked Piper, looking a bit pale.

"Yes, Lady Piper, I have. Katie and Marcie will be in charge of the menu and table settings, Rio and Natalia, the music, entertainment, and greeting guests, Emilia and Piper will be in charge of the guest list, invitations, and seating charts, and finally Layla and Zoey will be doing the master schedule, room décor, and making sure everything is cohesive." Caleb looked around the dining room, every eye on him. "As for the elimination aspect, I will eliminate the group that's performance does not meet royal standards."

"You mean both girls?" gasped Katie. She looked faint when he nodded.

"Lady Parker?"

Caleb's voice broke my train of thought and brought me back to our date. I felt guilty for being so distracted but I couldn't help it, I didn't want to go home. There were too many unanswered questions between both Damon and Caleb and myself. I could not leave now.

"Please, Prince Caleb, call me Rio," I sighed. "And I'm fine, just a little—distracted."

"Anything I can help with, La—Rio?" Caleb flashed me his charming smile as he pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. I couldn't help but smile at the tingle of his fingers as they touched my skin. It was hard to believe that he made-out with Emilia frequently when we had moments like this.

"I—I just wish this wasn't a competition," I sighed, wringing my hands in my lap.

"You and me both."

I looked up at Caleb, surprised to see a sad look on his face. I guess I had never considered what it must be like to have 35 girls fighting to be your wife; it would personally drive me crazy. Not to mention the girls that were only here to gain the title instead of his heart.

"What do you mean? You don't like eight girls falling all over you?" I teased trying to hide my jealously of the others.

"Not as much as you'd think," he sighed, swirling the ice in his cup. "It's a lot of pressure and female emotions to deal with."

"But you must get whatever you want between the eight of us," I said bitterly, crossing my arms over my chest. I shivered in the cool autumn breeze, pulling my silver shawl around me. Though my blue strapless gown was beautiful, it was not practical for this time of year.

"No, nothing more than a few kisses but that's only because I would rather not hear her talk."

I chocked as I took a sip of my drink, not expecting that response at all. I also wasn't prepared for Caleb to lean forward and cup my face in his hands.

"In all honesty, you are the only one that truly interests me. The others are beautiful but they are not you, Rio," he breathed, his blue eyes glittering in the moon light.

My breath caught in my throat at his words. There was that feeling of warmth and wanting that I had craved my entire life. As Caleb's lips took my, I knew his words were true. A fluttering erupted in my stomach, making me want me. I pouted when Caleb pulled away a few moments later. This kiss was just as powerful as our first but lacked original intensity. I believed it was because a guard was standing six feet away: king's orders.

"If the others bore you, why not end the selection at the ball?" I asked boldly. I watched as a thoughtful look spread over Caleb's face.

"I have to make sure you're the one," Caleb said casually, leaning back in the chair. "We've only known each other for a short amount of time and I need to make sure you're not crazy," he chuckled.

I smiled, knowing that he was right. I hadn't exactly given him my full attention lately and I felt guilty about Damon. I still hadn't been able to get over the image of Damon walking away from me earlier. I was angry and irrational when we spoke and I said some things that I didn't really mean; maybe it was for the best. I hated pushing Damon away but I knew we couldn't start a relationship and that I needed to focus my full attention on Caleb.

"I have a temper but I'm not crazy," I giggled, taking Caleb's hand. He pulled my hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. "I will prove it to you."

"I'm not worried, darling." Caleb flashed me his charming smile. "I love everything I know about you so far and I am excited at the prospects of a future."

I smiled, hoping that this wasn't a line that he had told every other girl. I wanted more than anything to believe him and fall in love with him. Caleb was the perfect guy and I just wanted to give him my undivided attention.

"I also cant end the selection yet because of my father. He said something about the public's view and opinion is very important and that the selection brings us together; lets them see we are human. I can see what he means but it's my life and I don't understand why I cant live it the way I want to."

"That's how we all feel," I shrugged.

"Well, enough of this depressing talk, let's dance!" Caleb said, pulling me from my chair.

"But there is no music!" I giggled as he swung me around on the patio.

"Use your imagination, Rio," he laughed before he started to hum an unrecognizable tune in my ear.

I giggled as his warm sound filled my ears. Caleb was actually a good singer and I was impressed by how effortless he glided me across the patio. I had never danced like this before and it took all of knowledge of dance to keep up. It felt like we danced for hours before Caleb walked me back to my room.

"Thank you for always distracting me from the palace monotony," Caleb said after giving me good night kiss. "Keep it up and you will be Illea's new princess in no time." He kissed the tip of my nose, making me blush.

"I don't care about being princess, you know. Honestly, I couldn't care less if I was a princess. I am here for you."

Without warning, Caleb's lips pressed against mine and I found my back against the wall. I couldn't help but let my fingers curl in his hair, his body pressing against mine. It felt like fire erupted within me with his every touch; I couldn't get enough. It wasn't long before I felt his hand travel down my back and pull me closer, his lips pressing harder. I gasped against him, feeling more than I ever had before.

"Wait," I breathed into his lips. "Lets take it easy." In truth i was afraid of what was happening to me.

Caleb pressed his forehead to mine, staring me down with his stunning blue eyes. "You're right, but I couldn't help myself."

"Good night," I smiled, kissing his cheek. "I will see you at breakfast."

"Good night beautiful"

"Ugh I don't know what kind of music we should have at this ball!" Natalia huffed, throwing down her pad and paper. "I'm a four; I don't know anything about being royal or how to properly talk to guests!"

I sighed because I felt the same way she did. I had played for a number of balls but never one for the royals and I felt anxious. I just wanted to get everything right because I couldn't be the reason Natalia and I got sent home.

"The ball is in a week, so we need to book a band fast," I said, flipping through a pamphlet Maria, our royal tutor, had given us. "But you're right, I don't know what they usually have. This is handout mainly deals with how to plan a menu and décor!"

"Maybe you could ask Prince Damon?" Natalia suggested, catching me as I watched him walk across the library. Natalia and I had been stationed in the library for the past few days trying to plan our part of the party. It was more difficult than we had expected.

Aside from the music, we had planned a number of traditional Halloween activities to entertain the guest. We organized a trick-or-treat station with candies to fill decorated bags, arranged for pumpkin decorating, a spooky costume photo booth, and number of haunted riddles to answer to win prizes. I felt secure with those ideas because they had been Caleb approved.

"Those ideas are brilliant! We've never had anything so innovative before!" He said when I explained it to him one evening on a walk through the gardens.

"Hello, earth to, Rio?" Natalia called, waving her hand in front of my face to bring me back from my reverie.

"Sorry, and I don't know. I don't think I should bother Prince Damon. He's been pretty busy with wedding contracts and everything." In truth I was afraid to talk to him after our encounter at the beginning of the week. I knew I needed to apologize for my actions but I didn't know how to make it right.

"Oh, don't be a wimp! I'll do it if you wont! Besides, I think he thinks you're hot because he's always looking at you," she giggled. I rolled my eyes; she didn't know the half of it.

"Fine, but read of the section on guest interaction and clue me in when I get back!" I said with wink. "Hopefully the two of us together will be able to figure this nonsense out."

I slowly made my way across the library, watching Damon as he read from a book in the back corner. I noticed that he was reading a book from the parliament section and I wondered what he was looking for. Damon had once told me that he had spent years in lessons learning about Illean law; he was and expert. His actions didn't make sense and I wondered what specific loophole he was searching for.

"Prince Damon," I said, giving him a small curtsy as I approached. "May I asked for your help?"

Damon looked at me from over top of the dusty book, his blue eyes dark and unreadable. He slowly put the book down, taking deep breath. I could tell he was trying to be cautious and control everything that he said and did. It made me wonder if I really had that much of an effect over him.

"Ask away," he said casually but I could tell there was some strain in his voice.

"I'm trying to plan music for the ball but I don't really know what is acceptable for a royal ball." I tried to control my racing heart as his blue eyes reached into my soul. Why did he have this effect on me?

"Why don't you asked Caleb?" He half snapped before shaking his head. Damon and I looked at each other in silence, the chill in his words stinging.

"I'm sorry, that was rude. I told you I would help you with anything," Damon continued after a moment, his eyes turning even darker.

I gapped at his response, trying to understand the demons he was facing right now. I hoped that his inner struggle wasn't because of me.

"Mother and father love the Angeles String Quartet or the band The Kings. Either would be appropriate. Have a great evening with Caleb. He is truly enjoying your company. Please excuse me," Damon said robotically and pushed past me and out the door. His words stung and I couldn't explain why.

Now I knew what he must have felt the other day with my coldness, except this time, I was the one left hurting.

what did you think? Anyone turning into a Caleb fan?