Fae's Fate: Fated Mates of the Fae Royals (Summer Court Book 7)

18. Ciara

Igiggled then slammed a hand over my mouth. Since when did I giggle? The sensations running through my body from one sip of the happy potion made me feel light and airy. As if I didn’t have a care in the world. In the back of my mind, I grasped I did, but I couldn’t seem to conjure the will to let that into the front of my mind to be the thought I cared about right at this moment.

The server returned with another tray of drinks, but I shook my head and nursed the one I already held in my hand. Sir Axis and Nerita accepted the second drink, but Malachi didn’t take another glass either. Neither of them told us to take the second drink which I was glad of because my head was floating in the clouds, or the water of this place. It was light and magical.

Soon musicians walked onto the stage and the strumming of instruments began. Sir Axis rose and bowed while offering me his hand.

“It would be my pleasure to dance with you.”

I should deny him, but it was only a dance. What harm would happen from a dance? Mother and Father had been his friends once from what he said. I placed my hand in his and let him lead me onto the dance floor. He twirled me around and then drew me tight into his arms. A gasp of delight left my mouth as he floated us around the dance floor. I had to admit I was having fun dancing. Sir Axis was a fabulous dancer. At the end of the song, he twirled us back to the table. I fell into the chair out of breath from how many dips and twirls he’d entertained me with.

The moment I saw Malachi’s expression though, the smile on my face dropped. His brows were in a deep furrow. His lips turned down. And the way he had his hands shoved under the table suggested he was struggling with his power. I thought the potion was supposed to make him happy.

“Come on, handsome,” Nerita said. “Your turn to take me for a spin.”

Malachi shoved his chair back and stomped onto the dance floor.

“I thought the potion made everyone happy?” I asked Sir Axis.

He lounged back in his chair with a smug grin on his face. “It does, but the person has to want to be happy for it to work.”

“Are you saying Malachi doesn’t want to be happy?” I turned to the dance floor.

Malachi placed one hand on Nerita’s hip, the other he curled around her palm then he stepped them into a ballroom dance we’d learned through reading the human books. Nerita smiled and flowed with him. With each step, she drew closer to Malachi until their groins were brushing against each other. Jealousy pounded hard inside me. She must be his fated mate for him to dance with her like that because now she had her arms wrapped around his neck and her face close to his. Within kissing distance.

I rubbed my temples and then stood. “I can’t be here.”

Sir Axis laughed as I fled from the room, shoving past all the cheerful people in the place. I’d never been more out of place. More out of tune with everything in the world, but this wasn’t our world. Father had it right when he locked us inside the Summer Court. The rest of the realms were too painful to bear.

Faster and faster my legs paced until I was running through the doors of the ballroom and outside onto the walkway hovering over the water. I clung to the railing and hauled in as much oxygen as possible.

The door creaked open and then closed, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Didn’t want to admit I’d never be happy without Malachi in my life.

“Ciara?” Malachi whispered.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“You don’t seem fine since we got here.” He stepped closer and leaned on the railing beside me, peering into the dark water too. “I’m not either.”

“You’re not?” I whipped my head up.

“No.” He turned his head sideways, and we were so close if I shifted a fraction, we’d be kissing.

I sucked in a breath and held it.

His gaze dipped to my mouth then he slammed his eyes shut. I thrust off the railing and put distance between us because surely I’d imagined the blatant lust in his eyes. Malachi didn’t feel that way for me.

“Do you think we’ll find our fated mates?” I asked.

His arms slipped on the railing as he forced himself to stand. “Why would you ask?”

I shrugged. “We in all probability have limited time to live, and Father waited two hundred years for Mother. We’re both past that age now and we still haven’t found ours. Or have you?”

“What are you talking about?” He frowned.

“Nerita. Is she your fated mate?”

“Dia, no. I couldn’t imagine anyone worse for fate to send to me.” He chuckled.

“You seemed happy dancing with her.”

“You appeared happy dancing with Sir Axis,” he shot back. “Is he your fated mate? Is that why you’re asking? Is this your way of telling me?”

“No,” I scoffed. “I was happy after drinking the potion. I was floating across the dance floor.”

“You looked exquisite,” he whispered.

The tension I’d experienced since coming to this realm tightened. My entire skin heated from head to foot. I shook the reaction away as an after-effect of the potion.

“Children,” Sir Axis said as he flung open the door. “The party is inside, please join us, otherwise…”

“Otherwise, what?” I folded my arms over my chest.

“You can leave.” He copied my stance.

Shite, we couldn’t leave without coming for what we needed. I had to follow the Master’s instructions. I wouldn’t risk our last hope because I was jealous of Nerita and the way she’d danced with Malachi.

“We’ll stay,” Malachi said, holding out his hand for me.

The second he placed his palm in mine, triumph surged deep inside me. I was still his. He hadn’t found his fated mate. I would spend every minute with him before he tossed me aside for a mate. Not that I thought he would. No, Malachi would insist on us being friends still even though seeing him with another woman would make me go insane.

Sir Axis opened the door for us. “Oh, I have a request for the princess.”

“What else do you need me to do before you’ll help us?” I sighed.

“Sing.”

“I don’t sing.” She firmed her lips.

“I’m sure you do. You have your mother’s blood in you.” He smiled and closed the door sealing us inside the beautiful ballroom once again.

This time though, it seemed like fate had sealed us inside.