18. Chapter 18
E very instinct screamed at Ren to move, to vanish into the nearest shadow, to suddenly remember an urgent reason to be anywhere else. Maybe she’d left a window open, or her boots needed polishing, or perhaps Mirella needed company.
But Ren’s body betrayed her, held fast by the weight of too many eyes and the suffocating pull of Kaelin’s presence.
Kaelin stopped before Ren. Ren clenched her jaw. Gods, Kaelin lingered close enough that it felt like a provocation – close in a way that made Ren want to shove the fae princess back.
Ren’s mind whirled. She considered pretending to faint.
Or vomit. Or spontaneously combust. Anything to escape the way Kaelin pressed closer, leaving Ren no choice but to lift her gaze and crash straight into those violet eyes, far too close to deny, searing through whatever half-formed excuse might’ve passed for a graceful retreat.
So, Ren stayed. Because leaving now would mean running.
And Ren didn’t run from anyone.
At least, not where they could see her do it.
“You,” Kaelin murmured, voice low enough only Ren could hear.
Kaelin reached forward, and brushed a gloved finger along Ren’s collarbone where it peaked above the neckline of her tunic. A mere ghost of a touch, but it certainly swept the air from Ren’s lungs .
“Your outfit is bold,” Kaelin drawled. “Though I anticipated you wouldn’t have much to wear. Being mortal, after all. Your first ball?” Her tone dripped with honeyed mockery. “I do hope someone warned you it wasn’t a tavern brawl .”
Kaelin’s violet gaze lingered a beat too long, flicking down Ren’s form. Ren arched a brow. “And here I thought overdressing was a fae sport. You must be in the lead.”
Kaelin’s smile turned razor sharp, but she responded by extending her hand, palm up. Ren hesitated, but the predatory look in Kaelin’s expression dared her to refuse.
Kaelin’s lips curled, just enough to bare a hint of teeth. “It’s only fitting I dance with the one entrusted with the noble task of hunting monsters for the realm. A proper send-off, wouldn’t you agree?”
Ren’s teeth clenched, her jaw tight from the effort of swallowing the retort rising hot in her throat. The urge to yank her hand back flared, to defy, to shove the fae princess back. Nevertheless, Ren placed her hand in Kaelin’s.
Fine , I’ll play your stupid game.
Gasps stirred as Kaelin led Ren forward, their footsteps the only sound on the marble.
The music resumed.
Kaelin’s movements were smooth, precise, her body flowing through the steps with the ease and grace of a trained dancer.
Though Ren supposed that shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering Kaelin’s royal status.
Kaelin probably received dancing lessons as soon as she learned to walk.
Ren, unaccustomed to the refined dance, followed by instinct, but with each step, she felt Kaelin’s subtle need to control.
The fae princess’s touch lingered just a breath too long on Ren’s waist, her fingers tightening slightly, guiding Ren’s steps with a quiet insistence.
But Ren wasn’t without fire. She shifted her weight, subtly challenging Kaelin’s lead, forcing her to adapt. The fae princess’s gaze flicked to hers.
You’re not as easy to bend as you look , Kaelin’s eyes seemed to say.
Neither are you , Ren thought fiercely, matching Kaelin step for step, her pulse racing with a growing defiance.
They spun, a whirl of lavender silk and scarlet braids, the air between them charged with a silent battle neither dared voice aloud .
Then, with a graceful twirl, Kaelin spun under Ren’s arm. As she turned back into Ren’s space, Ren caught a glimpse of Kaelin’s cheeks faintly flushed, her eyes half-dazzled from the wine, her lips parted slightly as if the dance had drawn more from her than she’d intended.
For a heartbeat too long, they were close, too close. Ren’s breath caught, her pulse thudding wildly as she felt Kaelin’s scent, jasmine and frost, curl around her like a lure.
Heat flared in Ren’s cheeks, and she pulled away, breaking the spell with a jerk of her arm.
Kaelin let her, her smile widening into something equal parts mockery and delight. “Careful,” she purred softly. “Blush too brightly, and you might catch fire.” Kaelin’s smile deepened as they spun again. “Though I suppose that would match your dancing. Wild, unrefined… but certainly spirited.”
“Funny,” Ren retorted flatly, maintaining Kaelin’s gaze. “Seems like you’re the one struggling to keep up.”
Kaelin leaned in just enough for her breath to brush Ren’s cheek. “Oh, darling,” she whispered, “I could dance blindfolded and still lead better than you. But by all means, keep pretending you’re not out of your depth.”
Ren’s jaw tightened, but she kept her face neutral, her steps measured as they moved across the polished floor. Arrogant, insufferable , she caught herself thinking, her lips pressing into a hard line. She’s nothing but a spoiled fae with too many knives and far too much power.
Kaelin’s gaze flickered down to catch Ren’s eyes lingering.
“Stare too long, and the court might think you’re hoping to be more than just my latest amusement.
Not that I would want you, of course. It’s nothing personal.
You’re just not my type. I find myself more drawn to women with more refinement. ”
Ren’s gaze locked on Kaelin’s, like a blade drawn and leveled at its mark. Ren eyed Kaelin like she would an opponent in the fighting pits. “Don’t worry. You’re not my type either.”
Kaelin’s returning scowl gave Ren a sweet satisfaction with her comeback, knowing it landed its mark. Then, Kaelin dipped Ren low enough that Ren’s hair nearly brushed the floor.
Kaelin hovered close, her breath ghosting over Ren’s cheek, violet eyes catching the light like shards of amethyst. Ren’s stomach curled, every muscle locked in place as she stared up at the fae princess.
The music around them continued, but Ren could hear only the frantic pounding of her own heart.
Before she could even gather her bearings, Kaelin pulled her upright in one smooth motion.
The suddenness of it sent Ren stumbling a half step, surprised by the effortless strength and quickness behind the move.
Kaelin didn’t release her hand. If anything, her grip tightened, her smirk widening as though she knew exactly how easily she’d unsettled Ren.
“You know, I have more dresses than I could ever wear. Perhaps I’ll let you borrow something that wouldn’t make the nobility flinch when you pass.”
“There’s always a price with your kind. I’d rather shove my body in a tunic than owe you a hemline.”
“Who said you’d owe me anything?” Kaelin asked sweetly.
“I’m not stupid. Your kind never gives without carving the debt into stone first.”
Kaelin let out a soft laugh. “You’re learning.”
Ren should have put distance between herself and the fae princess whose eyes could set whole kingdoms to ruin. But her feet stayed rooted, heart hammering like she’d just stepped into the ring.
Only this fight didn’t require fists.
Kaelin’s fingers lifted again and toyed with a loose thread at the neckline of Ren’s tunic. Her gloves had come off at some point, and her bare touch was far too cold against the exposed skin of Ren’s neck.
Ren reared back and caught Kaelin’s wrist. Her skin was the kind of softness that came from scented oils, from never knowing the bite of rope burns or the sting of iron cuffs. Ren’s own hands, calloused and chiseled by years of hardship, felt coarse in comparison.
“And one more thing,” Kaelin murmured, her voice like a blade’s edge against Ren’s skin. “You say you’re here with the noble goal of defending the realm.” Her gaze swept over Ren, sharp and assessing. “But I don’t believe you.”
They continued the dance, Kaelin’s voice even, resolute. “I’ve seen the way your eyes wander the palace halls. Not like someone protecting it, but like someone memorizing its weaknesses. Its exits. Makes me wonder what you’re really after. ”
“Maybe I just like knowing where the exits are in case I ever need to make a dramatic escape from a certain insufferable princess.”
“Only a fool wouldn’t keep a close eye on strangers who stroll into their court. Especially ones with a knack for setting things on fire.”
Ren’s lips curved into something closer to a snarl than a smile. “Then maybe you should watch me a little closer, Your Highness, because the last time someone underestimated me, I left nothing but ash behind.”
Ren knew that prodding a fae princess was the kind of mistake mortals rarely walked away from unscathed. And yet, something inside her wanted to shove back, to see if Kaelin’s poise would crack, if her control would falter.
Kaelin’s eyes flashed, something fierce and deeply protective burning behind them. “If you so much as look at my family with ill intent, I will personally have you rotting in the dungeons until you beg me to finish the job.”
Kaelin whirled, sweeping Ren into another dip with the elegance of a predator, her violet gown sweeping behind her like a storm cloud. Ren’s pulse stuttered, fury and something hotter pooling in her chest. Arrogant witch , she thought viciously.
But just as the final turn ended, the heavy doors of the ballroom slammed open with a boom .
A figure staggered through the arched entryway, half-dragging himself across the polished marble floor. His cloak was shredded, his armor slick with blood, one eye swollen shut – the other wild and glazed with terror.
Conversation died like a candle snuffed. Music screeched to a halt mid-note.
He made it only a few steps in before collapsing to his knees, gasping. “The plague…” he rasped. “It’s… it’s at the palace gates—”
And then his body seized. A violent jerk, a spasm that arched his spine with a crack. His mouth gaped open in a soundless scream.
His eyes rolled back.
And he dropped.
For one heartbeat, the hall was frozen in silence. Even the chandeliers seemed to still, their crystal lights flickering like they, too, sensed what had come.
Then the screaming began in earnest .
Nobles scrambled in silks and heels, trampling one another for the exits. Chairs overturned, silver clattered across stone, and the scent of scented oil curdled into sweat and fear.
Ren remained rooted. Her gaze stayed fixed on the body now twitching faintly on the floor, as if something beneath the flesh still stirred.
She felt the piercing sense of being watched. Looking over her shoulder, she met Talen’s gaze. His eyes matched hers, and they didn’t need words to communicate their thoughts.
Because whatever had arrived, it wasn’t just a sickness.
It was a message .