Chapter 6 #2
“Princess. It is a pity about the fine print, but Pearly White’s contracts are extremely fine. Did you know that he’s the sole profiteer of this show? That was in his fine print. You have rights to share your bits on your own platform, as well as the other contestants, or they wouldn’t be on.”
“Yes, I did check that part. The voting section was very convoluted, so I skimmed.”
“You’ve learned so much from this little debacle. I take it you’ll never skim something before you sign again.”
His dark eyes danced with amusement before he turned and took a glass of champagne off a tray, sipping it while he returned to his place on the stairs.
Rafe the wolf laughed loud enough to get my attention while he sneered and pointed at the angel standing on the steps above him.
“She rejected you! I knew she would. You’re just a virginal angel who doesn’t know what a woman wants.”
Excuse me? Who said that? And even if Richard was vile, I’d never talk about his personal life like that.
“She’s a virgin,” the fairy said, sniffing suspiciously at the red rose. “Haven’t you seen the way she reacts around Banus? Or rather doesn’t react.”
I really didn’t want to hear this conversation. Except it was good to know what they thought of me, and they weren’t keeping their voices down low enough that a vampire wouldn’t be able to hear them.
I tried not to notice the way Rafe’s lip curled as he looked at me in a way that was absolutely objectifying. How could they talk like that right in front of me? It made me wonder what they said about me when I wasn’t there.
Richard cuffed the wolf on the back of the head. “So sorry,” he said as he tucked the white rose behind his ear. “Your head was in the way of my elbow.”
Rafe scowled at him, but kept his snarling to a minimum.
“Smiles, everyone, except the angel, you can look devastated. More devastation, less boredom! You’re hopeless.
Five, four, three…” Pearly White beamed at the camera.
“And we’re back! After tallying the final votes, we have the results in.
Staying on the show, we have Monterose Fellicci, the princess’s pick.
Second, we have Banus, the charming incubus who proved his excellent conversation skills during this week’s romantic stroll.
Also staying is the wolf with the most, Hughenot Raferty, whose charm is as unmistakable as his pectorals. ”
Pearly summoned a deathly serious expression.
“Now, ladies and gentlemen, for the final count. Who’s going home?
Is it the Elf, who sadly tends to blend into the woodwork, the devil who must miss his casinos he talks about them so much, or is it the angel, the one who saved her, but the one our princess rejected?
Do you think she has a chance to truly win his heart in spite of his angelic nature? ”
His smile became diabolical as he opened an envelope that I could clearly see was blank.
“Leaving us this week is the Devil of Wonderland! Thank you so much for coming on our show. Staying on another week is Richard the Lion, and Zander Spinnera. Now the devil will dance with our princess, one last chance to say goodbye.”
The devil’s expression remained amused as he offered me his hand and I let him take me on a spin around the grand hall.
“You’re happy to be going home,” I said, examining his features.
His smile sharpened. “Indeed.”
“Why did you come here in the first place? You were too obvious to actually be peddling your casinos. What do you really want?”
He raised a brow. “Honestly? You wouldn’t believe it.” He leaned close and murmured, “I’m trying to find my soul’s mate.”
I blinked at him. “You’re right. I don’t believe that. You honestly came here thinking that I’d be your soulmate?”
“Not you. I’m getting exposure so my soul’s mate can find me and rescue me from the misery of my existence.”
I laughed. “That’s funny.”
His smile was absolutely charming. “Hilarious. I laugh myself to sleep every night. You see, there was a curse. I won’t bother you with the details, but it seems I’ll die if I don’t find my soul’s mate soon.”
I stopped laughing. “You’re serious.”
“Unfortunately. Of course, I don’t take dying very seriously, so it’s not as bleak as it could be. Enjoy your time playing with angels. There’s something so compelling about the two of you. I know that I’m going to be tuning in to see how things develop.”
He spun me under his arm and then danced so well and so elaborately that I had to put all of my focus on his lead so I didn’t fall over and knock myself unconscious. It was disastrous enough that the angel wasn’t going home. I didn’t need a concussion to go along with it.
The camera panned the men. After Pearly White’s, “Until next week!” the music cut off suddenly.
The devil frowned, but brought us to a stop.
“He’s terribly abrupt. And he complains about us not being able to show appropriate emotion when he’s eternally cutting every moment short.
I suppose I’d best be on my way. Stay safe, Princess.
And enjoy your life as long as you have it.
” He winked, put a top hat on his head that he hadn’t been wearing and strode out of the hall, throwing the double doors wide as he went with one final lash of his forked tail before he vanished in a cloud of smoke.
“He wanted to be voted off, or he would have saved some of that drama for the audience,” Richard the Lion said, directly behind my shoulder.
I stiffened up before I turned slowly to look up at him. “Certainly. You give the audience all the drama and never save anything for yourself.”
His lips twitched as he brushed the white rose across them, white silk against pink satin.
“On the contrary, princess. I have more drama than you could ever dream of. Pray you never live to see such drama.” He brushed the white rose over my cheek, velvet petals sending a shiver through me before he turned and walked away.
“If you actually want him off the show, you can’t look at him like that,” Monterose the fairy said, dragging my attention off the retreating angel.
He frowned at me, his accent not as strong as it usually was.
“You can’t look at him with stars in your eyes.
Love is a play. You play who you love. Yes? ”
I flashed a smile at him while my stomach twisted from embarrassment. “Thank you. I’ll keep the stars in the sky where they belong. When would you like to do another duet with me?”
“Ah, but I couldn’t until all the other gentlemen have sung. It wouldn’t be fair.” He edged away from me, all smiles, the rose pinned to his lapel.
My heart sank. He didn’t really like me, or he’d jump at the chance to do a duet. I swallowed hard and held onto my smile. “I suppose that will be next week’s contest.”
His eyes sparkled magically. “I believe that’s baking. Such a charming idea.” He bowed, turned and disappeared, like he didn’t want me to get too close. Also like he had things to post on his platform. Maybe he’d do a solo about how he longed for my love. That would get a lot of hits.
I went outside and then sat down on the steps, the stars above mocking me.
The stars were beautiful, but not as beautiful as the angel.
Who was staying for at least another week.
It wasn’t enough for me to want him to go.
Somehow I had to convince the audience that’s what they wanted.
And I had to do it without getting killed.
Or killing him. That would be the most difficult thing of all.