Chapter 45 #2
“Thank you all for coming on this beautiful evening. The moon is our protector, a guide and a harbinger of change. In her light, we renew our bonds with the stars and ask the moon to lend us her strength in these troubled times.”
Mrs Delalune now moves gracefully through the circle, her fingers tracing symbols in the evening sky. Light trails where her hands pass. She whispers words I cannot hear every time she passes a priestess and with it, threads of white light form between the pillars and the other fae.
I glance at Ami out of the corner of my eye and see how her skin is glowing and her eyes have turned a little hazy. When I look at the other fae around us, I notice a similar expression. But I still feel the same.
“It’s because the sun gives us strength, not the moon.” Conláed’s low voice makes goosebumps spread all over my body and nearly causes me a heart attack.
I place a hand on my heart. “Could you maybe tap my shoulder next time?”
One corner of his mouth tips up and I have to restrain myself from jabbing my elbow into his ribs. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
We stand there in silence for a minute and I watch in awe as Mrs Delalune finishes up her ritual. A small sprinkle of light rises from the chests of most of the fae. But not for Conláed and me.
“I’ll let you know when it is time to honour the sun. You’ll like it, feather, really.”
And with that he disappears and Ami looks like a glowing, very happy version of herself. “Come on, babes, it’s time for the fun part.”
We change into our party attire and Neo enhances my beauty, so she says, with some sparkling dust along my eyelids and cheeks, an intense black liquid that defines my lashes even more and a soft pink tint on my lips.
“I didn’t even realise my lashes were this long.” I say when I take a quick look in the mirror.
“You don’t need much, I only made your stunning features pop. This is all you, darling.”
“Your hair somehow has gone lighter,” Ami notices.
I nod. I have seen it too. The dull black more leaning towards a dark chocolate brown, the red flock still stands out though. I thought it was just my imagination, but apparently others notice it too.
“Everyone’s ready?”
Our outfits are very diverse, but we complement each other in the best way. When we leave my room, I already hear some music swirling up the stairs and my excitement grows.
Bubbles float through the sky and the flowers are in bloom, spreading a soft scent on the breeze that lifts my hair.
“Come on, let’s dance!”
A few fae sit or talk on the outer edges of the dance floor, and although my friends move as fluently as what I imagine professional dancers look like, I have not a single idea what to do and decide that off the dance floor might be a better idea.
Ami hugs me from behind as she brings her mouth close to my ear. “And where do you think you’re going?”
“You know I don’t know how to dance, Ami. This is torture for me.”
“Just move with us, babes. Fae are naturally good dancers, it’s literally in our blood. Just listen to the music and feel.” She releases my shoulders and places her hands on my hips as she moves against me. “Follow my lead.”
The first seconds feel a little awkward, but thankfully no one’s staring. Neo appears in front of me, takes my hand and makes me do a pirouette. I laugh, throwing my head back as she dips me low and in that moment, I understand what Ami said.
I stop thinking about it and live in the moment, letting the music hum through me and feel the vibrations of the base.
When the beat slows and my moves become more sensual, I move my hips in a slow circle and when I bring my arms up high, I am not surprised that I feel cool hands holding my burning palms.
They turn me around and with a strong arm at the curve of my back, Aramis brings me to the ground and moves me upward in one fluent movement so I am flush against his chest.
My hands land on his chest, the material of his white shirt so thin I don’t need my imagination to know how taught his muscles are. “Dammit, gorgeous, you’re killing me. You look stunning.”
Still not used to receiving compliments I laugh and continue dancing and I’m surprised I’m not catching fire where we stand.
He makes me do half a turn so my back is against his chest. Something hard presses into my rear.
For a second, I think it might be his belt, but when I feel rather than hear a low rumble coming from him, I’m certain I feel his arousal.
The thought alone makes my core clench and I start to move against him, feeling how we move perfectly in sync.
He nuzzles my neck, softly sinking his teeth in the soft flesh near my shoulder — not yet breaking the skin — and places a kiss right on the same spot.
I throw my head back, giving him better access, because I want it all. And more. His fingers dig into my hips and he turns me around, pressing his lips onto mine.
My fingers tangle in his hair and his hands roam over my body. I need him everywhere. But it’s still Aramis we’re talking about, so he remains ever the gentleman.
I don’t know for how long we go on like this, but eventually his forehead brushes against mine and he tells me he will be back in a second.
My lips still tingle and my body burns with a desire even stronger than when I drank the nectar. I will have to find some release or I might set this whole place on fire.
“You certainly have mastered dancing by now, Maily. And with my brother none the less.”
My mouth drops open and embarrassment is starting to replace the heat, but only slightly. “I’m —"
Ami holds my hands and squeezes. “Dear moons, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I was just kidding. I’m happy to see you’re having so much fun. In the end, that is what this is all about.”
Fun.
I can have fun.
The other part of my fun is standing across from the courtyard and as if he’s sensing my attention, maybe feeling the same tug near his heart as I do, Conláeds burning gaze finds mine, still in fae form and looking unfairly handsome in his all-black attire.
It should really be a crime to look as good as he does.
Without giving it a second thought, I move towards him. He is all I see. For a split second I think he might reject me. I fear that all the things I’ve felt for him — feelings I don’t fully understand — are only felt by me.
But as he leaves his group of friends behind and walks towards me, stretching out his hand to pull me close instantly, I am certain I did not imagine things.
We stand there, in the middle of the crowded courtyard and I reach out my hand towards his cheek, the little muscle there pops as he clenches his cheek and he puts his hands on my waist.
“Dance with me, feather,” he whispers in my ear and we start to move together. I’ve never been this close to him before, not in this way at least. In combat, yes, but this is fully voluntary.
I feel like a nervous little deer around him, the confidence I felt moments ago evaporating with every second. Maybe I should get a drink and I start turning away when —
“Don’t,” he suddenly says. “Stay. Please.”
He guides one of my hands towards the back of his neck, while the other is placed on his bare chest. His thigh is between my legs and we move perfectly in sync. I am not surprised when sparks fly around us, his eyes glow a golden red, pointed fae ears visible through his curls.
“And still, you’re the only one I see as a fae all the time.”
My words seem to surprise him, but he hides it away quickly, pulling me even closer. I move my hands from his bare, golden chest one smooth movement towards the back of his neck.
“You don’t even realise what you’re doing to me, do you?” He says the words so silently I barely miss them. Maybe I wasn’t meant to hear them.
And I don’t realise it, not really. But his eyes fall to my lips, down to my neck and lower, until he closes them as if it’s too much to bear. And when his eyes open again, I see he is holding back his power.
“Conláed? Are you —”
A soft kiss is pressed against my neck, at the same spot where I saw Conláed's eyes linger. But it’s not his mouth that is on me.
Aramis is back and I’ve never wanted to disappear as much as I do now.