Thirty #2
“Keep your hands to yourself, Beimenor!” Finn warned him with a laugh. He was now dancing with a tall and voluptuous woman with lavender hair.
Beimenor turned out to be a great dancer despite his large frame, and I let myself get lost in the twangy melody, my only worry that of keeping up with the swift foot movements.
More and more patrons joined the dance as those who remained observing clapped and cheered us on.
We switched partners again and again until everything else faded away, and I felt light and carefree, my heart hammering in my chest, and sweat beading on my forehead.
By the time Finn and I had reunited, I was gasping for breath, my cheeks flushed, and my hair tousled.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re enjoying yourself.” He grinned at me.
I grinned right back. “I am! Though I think I’m growing tired.” No sooner had I said that than my legs cramped, and I went to crumple to the ground. He caught me, holding me close, our chests rising and falling quickly.
“You know, I meant what I said earlier. I do think you’re stunning.”
His face was mere inches away from mine, and now my heart was hammering for a different reason.
He was even more gorgeous up close, the liquid honey of his eyes swirling with amber specks.
His sensual lips were parted, revealing the hints of his fangs, and an almost predatory gleam had invaded his gaze.
I felt the urge to pull away. Not because I was scared of him, but because it felt like I was too close to the sun, standing to be blinded if I stared at him for too long.
“Thank you,” I breathed. “And thank you for bringing me here.”
“You’re welcome,” he purred as his gaze dropped to my mouth. “I can help you really enjoy yourself.” He stopped suddenly, his gaze flicking to my hair. “We’re out of time.”
“What?” I blinked, and the next thing I knew, we were back by the fountain in the royal gardens.
“The spell has run its course,” he said, gently grabbing a lock of my hair. When he lifted it off my shoulder, the tress was golden blonde, not auburn red.
The courage I had felt a moment ago when he was about to kiss me must have faded with the spell because I suddenly felt conflicted.
I pulled away and untangled myself from his embrace before stepping to the fountain to inspect my appearance.
The remaining crimson streaks disappeared right before my eyes, which had returned to their golden hue.
When I turned to the side, my ear had changed back to its rounded shape.
I looked like me again, and I instantly felt more like myself, which only solidified my decision not to follow through with the kiss.
What was I thinking? I gave a small shake of my head as I straightened up from the water.
“We don’t have to cut our evening short,” Finn said when I faced him. “I know this is bold of me to offer, but I can take you to my place, away from prying eyes.”
That was bold of him, though I didn’t sense any malignant intent.
A different kind of intent burned in his amber gaze.
The look made me uncomfortable, now that I wasn’t Naeven anymore.
Finn might have suggested that I reevaluate my beliefs and moral standards, but I wasn’t ready to do so yet.
I was human, not Fae. Even if some things were common practice in their world, they weren’t in my—Emelin’s—world.
“It’s late. I think it’s time I returned to my room,” I told him, immediately feeling like I was making the right decision.
Disappointment flickered across his features but was quickly replaced by a genuine smile.
“As you wish, my Queen. Thank you for spending the evening with me.” Moving incredibly fast, he closed the distance between us and stole a kiss on my cheek.
“Until next time.” In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
A smile forced its way out as I softly touched the spot on my cheek where a pleasant sensation lingered. Lowering my hand, I stepped to the fountain again to ensure I truly looked like myself before returning to the castle.
“I am me, all right,” I murmured.
Gone were the lightness and the carefree feeling I had experienced earlier. The weight of everything that I was and was expected to be settled over me. I wouldn’t be able to hop and prance as I had at the tavern, even if I tried.
With a heavy sigh, I set off toward the castle, trudging through the gardens, then the maze of guard-lined halls.
Had any of the guards told Adrian that I had gone out?
Was he waiting for my return in my room to question me?
I halted before the door to my quarters.
Why was I thinking about Adrian as if he were my captor?
He wasn’t. And why did I have this feeling that I had done something wrong? I hadn’t.
Scowling, I entered my room. It looked the same as I had left it, cast in a soft glow from the lamp on the nightstand.
Adrian wasn’t waiting for me and discovering that brought both relief and disappointment.
A part of me wanted him to know that I had been out with Finn.
The part that I wasn’t proud of. Blowing out a breath of frustration, I headed to the bathing chamber, where I showered, scrubbing my skin until it was pink and tingling to erase Finn’s scent.
I still felt dirty, though, when I stepped back into the bedroom.
Dressed in a long, silky nightgown with cap sleeves, I brushed my damp hair before the vanity mirror.