Chapter 35
HEMMING
I looked around at the gross display of wealth and indulgence as I awaited Ariel’s return from our encounter. My blood was still running hot from what had happened in that darkened bathroom, and I closed my eyes as the vision of her pressed against the wall, glorious wings spread wide around her, writhing under my touch, assaulted my mind. I could barely focus on the matter at hand as images of what I wanted to do with her next clouded my mind, but it cleared the moment I opened my eyes and spotted her rushing through the crowd. I tracked the warm waves of her hair as she plunged deeper into the throng of partygoers.
Vesstan slipped into her path, smiling wickedly as he intercepted her.
The beast inside me surged, his agitation barely restrainable. With my eyes on the two of them, I walked to the perimeter of the room and grabbed a drink from a servant’s tray, throwing it back in one swallow. As I lurked near the wall, the presence of a dark shadow grew nearer. I watched it slide through the spaces where the candlelight scarcely fell until the figure stood directly at my back.
“Where is she?” Kier whispered, his voice loud enough for my ears only. I jerked my head toward the dance floor. “The way he’s looking at her…it will not be long now.”
“I know,” I replied behind the shield of my crystal glass.
“When he leads her away from here, you must follow, but discreetly.” Kier leaned forward enough for a flicker of firelight to dance in his eyes. “There is no room for error.”
“I am aware of what’s at stake, Kier. There will be no errors.”
“Good. Now I must go, before I am seen.” Before I could reply with the Nychteride war blessing, I felt the slight breeze of his wing wrapping around him, burying him further in darkness, stirring my hair. He disappeared from the room like a ghost in the night, leaving Shayfer, Eldrien, and me to follow Ariel and Vesstan to their final destination without drawing attention; a daunting task, given how empty the halls had just been.
“Communing with the shadows, are we?” a soft voice called from behind me. I turned to find a woman smiling coyly, offering me another glass of wine. “Would it not be much more entertaining to drink and dance about the room?” She handed me the cut crystal filled with burgundy liquid, and I took a long sip to calm myself. Her eyes went wide with lust. “Once we’re done with that, perhaps we could go back to my room and roll about the bed until sunrise.”
She drew her finger along my jaw, turning me to face her, but I caught her hand and pulled it away. “By night’s end, I’ll be in bed with someone, but not you.” I handed her the glass and turned to walk back to Shayfer and Eldrien as she cursed at me. According to Kier, it was almost time, and they needed to be ready. But as I pushed my way through the finely-dressed mob, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
Because neither Vesstan nor Ariel was anywhere to be seen.