Chapter 37
“He’s never brought a date here before. Not once,” remarked Abraxas as Reeve entered the Ballroom accompanied by a beautiful, blonde Immortal.
“Is that his mate?” Asked Arianna.
“No,” said Abraxas. “I heard his mate died long ago, years ago, an Immortal girl. Alphard said there’s a statue of her at the entrance to Crystalmore.”
“What a romantic notion,” squealed Arianna.
Maeve looked at her with speculation. “It’s ridiculous,” she stated plainly.
Arianna frowned at her. “No, it isn’t. It’s no more ridiculous than the prophecy we are all here because of.”
Maeve laughed and relaxed. “Fair enough.”
She watched the High Lord cross the ballroom with the blonde beauty on his arm. She was strikingly unique, with the famous immortal glow, just as all his dates were.
“Now that I think about it,” said Arianna. “Back home, I’ve never seen him with any girls but blondes.”
“Oh look,” drawled Mal, “you stand a chance, Abraxas.”
Mal smirked. Maeve looked up at him, biting her bottom lip.
Abraxas swirled his drink and couldn’t even argue. In fact, he looked pleased by the revelation.
Maeve moved to go around Mal, heading for the balcony, fresh air, and any room that Reeve did not occupy. Mal’s slender hand slipped around her waist and pulled her gently to him. His lips met her ear, and he spoke with a soft dominance.
“I expect a dance before the night is over.”
Maeve looked up at him. “I wouldn’t dream of depriving you.”
He released her, satisfied, and she slipped by him. Arianna followed Maeve onto the balcony and staggered slightly.
“Are you drunk?” Asked Maeve with a smirk.
“Maybe,” said Arianna.
“You are,” said Maeve with a laugh.
“Perfect time for you to tell me why the Zaichosky family are all dead.”
Maeve’s smile faded.
“Didn’t think I’d know that was you?” Asked Arianna.
“It wasn’t me,” replied Maeve softly.
“Mal did it then,” she corrected dramatically. “You can’t get by on a technicality, Maeve. If he did it in your name, the blood is on your hands.”
“Fine,” snapped Maeve.
Arianna frowned. “You’re not going to tell me why?”
Maeve paused. “You know why.”
Arianna looked away from her, quickly grabbing another drink from a floating tray. She took long sips, neither of them speaking until Arianna asked quietly, “But how do you know?”
“Because I saw it within Loxerman’s mind. They paid someone to do it.”
Arianna’s drink paused at her lips.
“Down the whole thing at this point,” said Maeve with a small laugh.
The corners of Arianna’s mouth turned up. She looked over at Maeve with a slow and steady breath.
“The blood on my hands is from bleeders of betrayal. I do not feel remorse for avenging our father and Antony.”
Maeve had, as promised, not forgotten her dance with Mal. In fact, on their fifth song when Maeve tried to step away from him, Mal’s hand slid lower, bringing a quick gasp from Maeve’s lips. She reprimanded him with her eyes.
“Something wrong?” He asked innocently.
“There are people watching us,” she said with a smile.
Mal chuckled. “And which one is going to tell their Prince to take his hands off what is his?”
Maeve’s smile blossomed as his head turned and he bent towards her. Their noses brushed, and then he flicked his bottom lip across hers.
A moan pulled from her throat as her stomach tightened and heat rushed between her legs. Mal’s satisfaction grew as he looked down at her darkly. The scar across his eye only fueling her fire.
His hand on her lower back tugged her closer as he pressed sinful Magic through his fingertips.
“That’s not fair,” she whispered against his parted lips.
“No,” said Mal. “What’s not fair is the way those baby blue eyes cut me from across the room. What’s not fair is the arousing scent of gardenias that lingers in every room of this castle you occupy. What’s not fair is the insatiable thought of licking across every darkened vein on your body and making you admit they all belong to me.”
Maeve reeled and moved to press her lips against his. She hadn’t realized he’d moved them from the ballroom and into the Entrance Hall until he pressed her against the marble wall, pulling his taunting lips from her before she had a taste.
His hand slipped beneath her hair, gripping tightly and forcing her mouth to angle up at him. She pressed her lips towards him.
He smirked down at her, completely satisfied with her desperation.
“Have you been deprived, Little Viper?”
His grip on her hair tightened, pulling her to the balls of her feet. She nodded earnestly.
Mal’s free hand moved across her face with a calm expression. His thumb snagged her bottom lip, rolling it over.
He hummed in contemplation, his Magic forcing her legs to squeeze together.
“I can’t decide what’s more enticing,” he started, staring down at her in a predatorial way. “Watching you squirm for me, or the way your mouth tastes.” His hand trailed down her chest, sending her skin scattering with tingling Magic. “Because you taste like victory, Maeve. But watching you yearn for my touch. . .makes me want to start a war.”
He pulled her from the wall, his grip never faltering as he backed her down the corridor.
“Where are we going,” she whined.
“Someplace I can claim victory,” he said with a taunting smile.
With a flick of his chin, a door slammed open behind her. Maeve gasped and Mal’s grip on her loosened as the room they stumbled into was already occupied.
Arman pulled his lips from Arianna’s swiftly. Maeve’s sister paled and Arman straightened. Maeve’s mouth fell open as a smile began to blossom across her lips. Mal was frozen next to her in the uncomfortable silence.
“Apologies,” said Arman.
A soft exhale slipped from Mal. Maeve could hear the playful tone slip through his voice as he said, “Are you apologizing to your Prince for walking in on one of his Bellator enjoying himself? Or because it’s my Second’s sister your lips were locked on?”
“Or because you two were only coming to do the same?” Asked Arianna with a loud giggle.
“Arianna,” hissed Maeve with a smile.
She was indeed drunk.
Arman looked back over at her and cocked a brow. She shrugged innocently. Maeve’s smile faltered as she pictured the twins and their blonde set of hair.
Hey eyes darted to Arman. She understood at once. This was no mere moment in the dark.
He looked at her calmly, his eyes anything from denying it.
“I believe Arianna has acquired her limit, Arman,” said Mal smoothly. “Please see that she reaches her old chambers here for the night. I expect you to keep watch all evening.”
Arman’s eyes flickered in shock for a moment. He fought to not return the smile dancing across Mal’s lips.
Arianna was on Mal in a flash as she threw her arms dramatically around his neck. He looked over at Maeve with a shake of his head.
Arman’s hand slipped around her waist, pulling her gently from Mal.
“Come, darling,” he whispered as he brought his lips to her ear.
Arman pulled her from the room and Maeve stared up at Mal in complete shock.
“Did you know?” He asked her with a laugh.
“No,” she said, covering her mouth.
Mal nodded. “This may be the one and only time that we know something Abraxas does not.”
Maeve laughed as he placed his hands back on her hips, pushing her further into the room.
“Now,” he said lowly. “Where were we?”