Chapter 17 #2
You never know how Aurora is going to greet you. Today, it’s all orange silk and white fur, beaming like it’s summer and the sun is singing just for her.
For a fleeting, wicked second, I consider telling her whose head was between my thighs a few minutes ago, just to wipe that smug smile off her flawless face.
“The second trial will begin in two weeks,” Aurora announces, like we didn’t know that already. “Now that you’ve had a few days to rest and grieve”—her gaze lands on me and Lucas—“we can properly celebrate the upcoming trial.”
Yes, because we need an excuse to throw another fancy party.
“There will be no clues this time,” she adds, voice syrup sweet. “Only the person winning the mini-game will receive an advantage. All I’m going to say is, the second trial will be completed in teams. Two people will go home. Or, you know …” She blinks, unfazed. “In a coffin.”
Two people.
Not a team, but two people.
I’ve made it a habit to listen very carefully to everything the Fae say, ever since Aurora said the rooms were warded against contestants and mentioned nothing about the Fae.
Lucas and I look at each other.
“Oh, great.” Daisy throws her hands up. “Cassandra and Lucas will pair up, Oliver and Leon are thick as thieves—so what, I’m stuck with a one-eyed sex addict?”
“I’d rather go solo than have you as my partner,” Jordan snarls. “It’s not my fault you’ve been such a bitch that no one wants you.”
“Says you. At least I’m—”
“Simmer down, both of you,” Aurora cuts in, her voice sharp enough to take both their heads off. Then she bares her teeth, wicked and absolutely terrifying. “I said the trial will be completed in teams. I didn’t say anything about team members helping each other.”
Oh, here we go.
They’re trying to mess with our heads again.
“Are we not?” Oliver asks, brows drawn tight.
“I didn’t say that either.”
Lucas sighs beside me, low and weary.
Do we pair up … just to kill each other?
“You have until the day before the trial to choose your partners,” Aurora says, her smile bright as day, her eyes sparkling at the sight of us slowly unravelling.
“Tonight, there will be a ball—and you are all invited. Bring a plus-one, or two.” Her smile sharpens. “Whatever you’re into these days.”
The Fae are unbelievable.
They feel like partying, so they are throwing a ball—tonight.
“Attendants will stop by with a few outfits for you to choose from. I look forward to seeing you all tonight.”
With that, she blows us a kiss and sweeps from the hall, her gown whispering across the marble floor. She barely does much, hips swaying naturally, but all eyes follow her like we are all enchanted to do so.
I’m trying very hard not to imagine Kieran between those legs.
“Guess I’ve got to find a plus-one,” Jordan murmurs as he stands.
Daisy barks a laugh. “Please, who would want to dance with you?”
Jordan just stalks out of the hall, slamming the door like he’s aiming for Daisy’s face.
I exhale.
It’s not mandatory to bring a plus-one … is it?
Because if I asked who I’m actually thinking of, Aurora might just combust on the spot.
“Well, I guess we’ll just be each other’s plus-one,” Lucas drawls, biting into an apple like it’s no big deal.
“I don’t think it’s mandatory,” I say carefully, keeping my tone light and reaching for a slice of bread and butter. “Besides, this is your time to bring a hot Fae—or whoever you ended up with last full moon.”
Lucas almost chokes on his apple.
I grin.
Tessa and I had been trying to find out which lucky Fae he hooked up with that night, but Lucas never let on. Only kept saying, “A gentleman never tells.”
“It was a one-time thing,” he mutters, flushing slightly. “Just drop it already.”
“Oh, come on,” I say sweetly. “Give me a name. If it’s just a one-time thing then it shouldn’t matter, right?”
He glares. “You’re relentless.”
“And you’re cute when you’re flustered.” I laugh, squeezing his cheek gently.
Lucas is very much not amused, his face turning even redder now. “For Gods’ sake, can’t a man have some peace at breakfast?”
Peace?
Next to me?
That’s never been an option.
Especially after breakfast—when I have to see Kieran again.
I take a deep breath before I step into the Council Hall. Sometimes Kieran works elsewhere—but today we have an important meeting. Updates about the rebellion, and of course, the rat in the Court.
Not everyone has arrived yet—thank the stars. Only Gideon, Octavia, and Skylar.
Kieran is already in his usual seat, eyes tracking my every move like a hawk stalking its prey—though the handsome face gives nothing away.
A face that was between my thighs, kissing, licking—
I clear my throat and make a beeline for the furthest seat.
The golden and deep blue eyes narrow, like he’s asking “Really? You really think you can escape me?”
Gods save me.
“I never got to thank you.” Gideon turns to speak to me. I blink. “Because of you, I won a handsome sum in the last trial.”
Oh, right. He said he was betting on me.
“Maybe we should strike a deal,” I say with a grin. “I try my very best to entertain—and you share a slice of your winnings.”
Gideon laughs, a sunshine-on-an-autumn-day sort of laugh. “Always so witty. How about five percent?”
“Ten.” I cross my arms.
He raises a brow. “Seven.”
“Come on, it has to be at least eight.”
The High Commander shakes his head, though his smile never leaves that angelic face. Gideon runs a hand through his silver hair. “You’re robbing me blind.”
“Well, it’s my life on the line.” I shrug.
“Fine,” Gideon says at last, extending me a hand. “Deal.”
I take his hand, shaking it firmly. “Deal.”
“Pretty sure that’s against the rules …” Octavia mutters, yawning like she’s about to fall asleep. “But whatever. Aurora isn’t here, so I’m going to pretend I didn’t see it.”
“You both done flirting yet?” Kieran cuts in, voice sharp with that commanding edge he only uses in this room.
I straighten in my chair like I’ve just been caught committing a crime.
“Why?” Gideon teases, glancing at me, then back at Kieran. “I haven’t had a chance to ask her to the ball tonight yet.”
Kieran doesn’t say a word, but his eyes shoot straight through Gideon’s skull like a golden, storm-lit arrow.
“Sorry I’m late,” Virgil announces as he strides through the door, then pauses, surveying the room. “Never mind. I’m not even close to being the last one.”
“You’d think people would learn to be on time after all these years.” Kieran groans, frustration lacing every word.
I doubt it’s really about his Council’s tardiness.
I open my notebook and dip my head to hide a smile
Aurora, Atticus, Daphne, and Felix arrive not long after—and the King of the Fallen barks at them like he’s ready to bite their heads off … even though they’re just less than five minutes late.
Oh, Kieran.
The meeting begins with a stressful conversation about the rat. Most of the time, I only listen, jot down anything important, and keep my mouth shut, unless anyone asks me something—which they rarely do.
Today is the same.
But also … not quite.
“I have a reason to believe Florence, the blacksmith, might be involved with the rebellion,” Atticus reports to Kieran. “I don’t have any proof yet, but my people are tracking her and her suppliers.”
Kieran nods.
But his eyes are on me.
I scratch my arm, glance around, pretend to listen to the others, and note nonsense down on my notebook, because I can’t properly concentrate with Kieran’s eyes burning into me.
But every time I look back, he’s still watching me.
Shit.
“I’ll post more guards at the ball tonight, just in case.” Virgil offers a very reasonable solution.
Kieran just hums.
Then he grins.
Right at me.
I swallow—hard and slow.
That mouth was on me barely two hours ago, kissing almost every inch of my body. His tongue and the things he did—
Gods, dirty images explode through my mind like fireworks.
I cross my legs, trying to steady my breath.
The gesture earns a brow raise from him, like he knows. Like he remembers how I’m not actually wearing anything under this dress—for “easy access.”
It doesn’t take long for someone to notice.
For everyone to notice, actually.
Their eyes start darting between us.
“Kieran, are you even listening?” Aurora snaps, her voice more upset than it probably should be. “This is a matter of life and death—your life and death.”
“Yes, I’m listening,” Kieran mutters, eyes still glued to me, voice flat and completely unamused. “And you are all boring.”
“I’m sorry?” she asks, like she can’t believe what he just said.
My heart skips a beat, then slams into a sprint.
“Get out,” Kieran demands, calm, but deadly.
Everyone stares at him like he’s lost his mind.
“Kieran, this is ridiculous.” Skylar frowns.
“I said out.”
Oh, fuck.
I shoot to my feet, ready to bolt—
But then Kieran stops me. “Not you.”
I freeze. Swallow hard. Another lump caught in my throat.
“The rest of you—out,” he repeats, his voice sharper now. Urgent, like there’s fire in the building. “Now.”
And I think there is.
It’s him.
His people have no choice but to obey. They shuffle out, mumbling as they go. But from the look in Kieran’s eyes, he couldn’t care less.
The doors shut.
Silence falls.
Then he rises, both hands bracing on the edge of the dark wood table. His eyes never leave mine.
And with a wicked, wolfish smile, Kieran says, “Get on the table, Little Star.”