Chapter 19
It took me a long time to convince Kieran to glamour the bite marks he left on me—even if just for tonight.
But I finally managed to do it. The question is: at what cost?
My head’s a battlefield as I replay everything that happened in the Council Room.
Every kiss. Every flick of his tongue. Every little filthy, beautiful thing he did to me—and let me do to him.
My cheeks flush again, like maroon is my permanent colour.
Now I’m standing in front of a mirror, trying not to look like I didn’t just get ruined by the King of the Fallen on the very table where they plan to pass judgement on rebels and debate which laws to bring into effect.
Breathe, Cassandra. Breathe.
I pick a heavenly dress from a few options the Court’s attendant left for me.
It was an obvious choice. The rest were dull as a paper.
This dress, on the other hand, clings and floats like its thread was spun from moonlight.
Pastel silk layers melt from rose to sky, wrapping me in weightless magic.
The bodice dips scandalously, and the sleeves hang off my shoulders so perfectly.
Lucas stares at me, blinking, when I meet him outside my door.
“You look …” And then he shuts his mouth.
Speechless.
Good. That’s what I was going for.
“Thank you.” I wink, looping my arm through his. “Let’s go.”
The ballroom hushes the moment we step in. Someone gasps. Another whistles.
My eyes scan the room—then land on Kieran. He looks unbelievably sharp and wicked, in a tailored three-piece suit. Even from across the room, I can still feel his gaze on me, like back in the Council Room, in front of his Council.
Kieran looks like he’s choking on the very air we’re breathing in.
His jaw clenches. His drink is still halfway to his mouth. Those gold and storm eyes rake over me as he mutters a curse under his breath, like the sight of me undoes him in the best possible way.
He wears his bite marks with pride.
But his fingers curl around his glass, like he’s imagining it’s my waist.
I smirk and keep walking, hips swaying just a little more than necessary, drawing attention from every direction, but I move like I don’t see all eyes on me.
My dress is the only one bright as daylight in a Court that favours black and gold.
It was truly made to be seen—designed to haunt those who lay eyes on it.
“I hope they don’t lick you with their eyes like this all night, because I can’t be bothered to throw punches in formalwear,” Lucas mutters.
I chuckle. “Maybe I want to be licked.”
“Good Gods, Cass.” He groans, scrubbing a hand down his face. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Shut up and go get us some drinks.”
“I would,” Lucas says, glancing around like he doesn’t trust even his own shadow, “but I’m afraid someone will snatch you while I’m gone.”
“With a gown this bright in a room full of darkness, I’m sure you’ll spot me in a second.” I gently nudge him on the back.
“Fine.” He frowns. “I’d say try not to get into trouble, but it’s probably impossible when you look like that.”
I don’t know whether to roll my eyes, kill him, or blush.
“Go.”
He hesitates, then sighs and disappears into the crowd—completely unaware of how many female Fae are already eyeing him like a main course they can’t wait to devour.
“You clean up nice,” a female voice says behind me.
Daisy.
I’m not sure if that was an insult or sarcasm. Daisy is dressed in gold gown tonight, sparkling like sunlight. A golden armband gleams on her bicep, catching the chandelier light.
I don’t smile. “What do you want?”
“I have a proposition for you,” she offers, taking a sip of Fae wine in her hand. “It’s about the next trial.”
I tilt my head. “What about it?”
“We should team up,” she replies, all sugar and no sincerity. “Think about it. You don’t want to get stuck with Lucas if the pairing twist ends in betrayal. If it’s a trap, you’d have to fight him. Do you really want that?”
I narrow my eyes.
“If you partner with me, there’s no emotional strings. No tragic heartbreak. You can swing a blade at me guilt free, and as much as I hate to admit, I’d probably never stand a chance.” Daisy shrugs. “Lucas? He can finally beat the crap out of that one-eyed jerk, Jordan.”
“You’re only saying that because you don’t want to partner with the one-eyed jerk.”
Daisy doesn’t even blink. “Can you blame me?”
I suppose not.
She does have a point. I’m ninety percent certain that if I end up fighting her, a librarian like Daisy will probably just run. But there’re still two weeks until the trial.
Who knows what twisted little skill she’ll master by then.
In this Court, if you are smart enough, you can probably learn how to kill someone with a bookmark.
“I don’t know.” I shake my head. “I need to think about this.”
“Fine.” She huffs, clearly annoyed. “Don’t take too long.
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s just us girls against them now.
If we don’t stick together and start thinning out the competition, they’ll eat us alive.
” Then she lowers her voice. “Let me know if you want to get rid of Jordan before the trial. I’m down for that. ”
Absolutely ruthless.
Even I haven’t thought about taking out competitors between trials.
“How do I know you haven’t gone to Jordan and said the same about me?”
Daisy arches a brow, downing the rest of her Fae wine. “You don’t.”
I exhale.
That’s what I thought.
Daisy walks away without looking back.
“Why is it that every time I leave you alone for two seconds, I always come back to you talking to the last person I’d ever expect?” Lucas asks as he returns, handing me a glass of Fae wine.
“What can I say—everyone wants a piece of this.” I grin.
“More like want to slice a piece of you, in Daisy’s case,” Lucas mutters, deadpan. “What did she want?”
“To see if I’d pair up with her for the next trial.”
“Yeah, right.” He scoffs. “And I want to go on a date with Jordan.”
I snort. “She did have a point, you know. What happens if we partner up and they order us to take each other out?”
“Then I’ll just let you kill me,” Lucas says, completely unfazed, no hesitation. “No way in hell I’ll fight you.”
“You don’t mean that.”
He shrugs. “You’re the only person here smart enough to win the whole thing. And if I go down, I’d prefer it to be on my own terms.”
My chest tightens. I’ve been trying not to think about this for the entire time we’ve been here—the fact that we might end up hurting each other.
How could I ever hurt him?
“So what? I’m supposed to be remembered as the heartless bitch who killed her friend?”
Lucas laughs, then winks. “Just make it quick. It’ll earn you another popular vote.”
I just shake my head and drink. Lucas has been spending too much time with me—he’s starting to sound just as twisted.
“Have you two found anything yet?”
Atticus appears out of nowhere again, like a damn ghost.
I nearly choke. What is his power? Turning into smoke?
“It’s barely been a day since we saw you at the tavern,” Lucas says flatly. “And it’s not like we spend every waking minute with Jordan.”
“So that’s a no.” The High Commander narrows his eyes at us like he’s looking at two underperforming apprentices whose hobby is to disappoint him. “You’re a trained guard, Lucas. Can’t believe you came up empty handed.”
“Are you kidding me?” Lucas clicks his tongue. “I should be getting paid for this.”
“For what? Nothing?” Atticus shakes his head. “You should be honoured I even asked.”
I raise my eyebrows. Watching the two of them bicker is more entertaining than half the performances this Court puts on. Even a few nearby Fae glance over and chuckle, biting their lips like they’re imagining what it would be like to take both of the smoking-hot idiots to bed.
I’m just about to chime in when someone grabs my waist from behind.
I turn and meet the storm-lit eyes.
And just like that, all the noises fade from the world.
“Oh, hello, handsome.” I smile like I haven’t spent the entire morning tangled up in him, gloriously undone by him. My stupid heart flutters like it’s the first time I’m seeing him today.
Kieran leans in, close enough to brush a kiss to my cheek—but instead, he whispers into my ear, voice low and sinful, “You are”—a pause, a soft inhale—“taking-off-clothes gorgeous.”
A shiver dances down my spine.
“Do you ever think about anything else?” I murmur, thumb brushing a bite mark on his neck—all these marks he didn’t care to glamour, like he’s so proud to let the world know he’s taken …
He’s not really mine, but he doesn’t know I’m already secretly, hopelessly his.
“With you?” he whispers, eyes flaring like twin suns under the starry ceiling. “How the hell am I supposed to think about anything else?”
I try not to blush, but it’s damn near impossible when Kieran’s been like this all day—when the memories of what went down in the Council Hall are still imprinted in my brain. I glance over my shoulder, hoping that Lucas isn’t watching.
It’s right then he notices Kieran.
“Let’s dance,” Kieran says, offering a hand. “Show our faces, then we can vanish the hell away from here.”
Yes, because slipping away with the King of the Fallen while dressed like a star-kissed fever dream won’t be noticeable at all.
But before I can place my hand in his …
“Kieran.” A voice cuts in behind him—Aurora.
She stands there like a queen in gold, expression carved from ice. “A word?”
“What is it, Aurora?” Kieran sighs, not even bothering to turn to her.
The beautiful face goes a faint shade of red. Public humiliation from her ex yet again. “It’s important.”
This time he glances at her, then turns back to me and lets out a soft breath.
“Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.”
I nod, trying not to look too disappointed. Gods, I hope this is actual Court business, and not Aurora dragging Kieran away purely because she can’t stand the sight of me within two feet of him.
She had him for a decade.
Those lips. Those hands. Probably pleasing her the same way they pleased me. How many times have they done it in ten years? Thousands?
I clutch my stomach, tasting the bitterness in my mouth.
Why do I feel so small all of a sudden?
I’ve got nothing on Aurora—nothing but stolen moments and bite marks I begged him to glamour.
I’ll be gone in the next few weeks.
Aurora will still be here for eternity, looking down at me the next time the Court reveals itself, smiling because she knows I won’t even remember her.
That is, if I’m lucky enough to get to leave at all.
“Wow, your dress is gorgeous!”
The voice pulls me out of the pit in my head.
A female Fae has stopped mid-stride, one hand wrapped around a glowing drink, the other gently curled around my arm. Her wide, beautiful eyes rake over my gown like I’m something she wants to hang in a gallery. I don’t remember seeing her in the Court before.
“Oh.” I blink. “Thank you.”
“Where did you get it from?” she asks.
“Wish I could tell you, but it was one of the options I was given by the Court.” I glance down at myself. I’d wondered the same. It’s not exactly on theme with the usual doom-and-gloom aesthetic, but it’s so beautiful that I couldn’t resist.
Once in a blue moon, I get to wear something like this here.
“Guess I’ll have to ask Aurora.” She chuckles. “You do look fantastic.”
“You’re too kind.” I offer her a genuine smile, then reach out a hand. “I’m Cassandra.”
“Oh, Gods, I know!” She laughs, then leans in to kiss both my cheeks like one of the highborn girls I’ve seen back home. It’s strange, a little too familiar for a Fae. “Too bad I’m going to have to stain that pretty dress …”
“I’m sorry—”
I haven’t finished the sentence before pain explodes in my side.
Something sharp—piercing through the left of my ribs, just below my heart.
I gasp, choking as my brain tries to catch up.
Searing agony blooms up my arm, spreading slowly down my body. My vision swims as crimson blossoms on my dress.
The Fae pulls back, still smiling.
A second later, she’s gone.
Just—gone.
Cold creeps in. The world tilts around me. It all happens so fast I don’t have time to utter a word before I collapse to the marble floor.
I hear screams. Panic rips through the hall like wildfire.
Someone shouts my name.
Footsteps thunder towards me.
The light fractures.
And everything turns pitch black.