Claimed By the Fae Lord (Brides of Falcondale #2)

Prologue

Raina

The Past …

The silver filament of my gown shimmered like moonlight under the giant chandeliers, attracting both envious and disdainful looks in equal measure. Every gaze felt intrusive, every cutting glance a silent attack.

Guests gave me a wide berth, like I was a contagion to be avoided. I could extend my arms, spin, and come nowhere near touching anyone, even if I were holding a spear.

Even in a crowd, I stood alone.

At least I’d learned the importance of hiding my feelings before I’d reached double digits. It wasn’t easy growing up trying to please those who could never be satisfied, but I did my best.

My best had never been good enough.

If Mother and Father had not demanded it of me, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be within a hundred miles of him, assuming he showed up.

Liam had yet to make an appearance. I prayed to the gods he wouldn’t, but the gods weren’t known for granting me any sort of mercy, small as this one might be.

In a self-induced trance, I’d gone through the motions when getting ready for the evening. Then again when we arrived and greeted our hosts.

Of course, my parents abandoned me the second they saw an opportunity to interact with those they deemed worthy of their attention. I wasn’t on that list.

So here I stood, bracing for it, for the moment I knew would eventually come. Watching bodies promenade around the dance floor, I envisioned him passing by with another female in his arms.

The last two social gatherings had communicated loud and clear how Liam was choosing to deal with the end of our relationship. Just two weeks ago, he’d kissed a beautiful forest nymph I’d never seen before.

The asshole had waited until I noticed him. Then he kept his glare on mine when he took her lips, right there in front of everyone.

Maintaining my composure while he trampled all over the last shreds of my dignity was a difficult feat. I wasn’t sure I could do so again.

As I sipped at my glass of honeyed wine, I let my eyes wander. Fae flitted about, dressed in finery worth enough money to feed every soul on the continent. It was disgusting.

Looking down at the skirt of my gown, I felt like a hypocrite. Perhaps my misery was deserved.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck prickled with an all-too-familiar energy signature. I didn't need to turn around to know Liam had entered the room. To me, his magic was as distinct as his russet eyes.

My heart skipped a beat and then pounded furiously. I’d known him nearly all my life and he still had this damned effect on me.

I watched from the corner of my eye as he wove through the crowd with grace and authority. He looked dashing in his black ensemble, his brown hair artfully tousled as always.

Forcing my attention away, I took in the growing crowd. Their chatter was a dull hum buzzing like a gnat I wanted to squash.

I wondered if anyone else felt as out of place as I did. As … unhappy.

Unbidden, my head swiveled at the sound of a deep laugh, one that haunted my dreams.

Liam was now standing with a group of fawning females hanging on his every word. His arm snaked around one and her hand went to his chest.

The V of her neckline dipped obscenely low, showcasing her enormous breasts. The shiny bright red fabric brought even more attention to her shapely figure.

This time, it wasn’t longing but a festering anger that built in the pit of my stomach. At myself. At my parents.

At Liam.

As if on cue, his dark orange eyes met mine across the throng of partygoers. For a split second, I thought I saw something flicker in those depths.

It vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the same cold mask he'd worn during our last encounter. A wicked grin curled his lips.

Liam lowered his mouth to the female’s ear. She giggled and his hand slid lower, onto the curve of her hip.

I tried to avert my gaze, but I was under some kind of twisted enchantment. Watching him laugh and flirt, parading around like there had never been a thing between us, tore at the icy barrier I’d erected around my emotions.

It wasn’t until I felt a tear threatening to spill over that I regained my wits. I would rather die than let him know how he affected me.

Turning away from the spectacle, I escaped to the bathroom. The dam was breaking as I closed myself inside the stall, trying to stem the tears.

Mindful my parents might have noticed, I delicately dabbed under my eyes, taking in deep, cleansing breaths.

I could do this. I was strong. I just needed to ignore him, find someone willing to talk or dance with me, someone to be a distraction.

Just as I was regaining my composure, the door to the bathroom opened and Liam's voice filled my ears. I couldn’t see him, but I would recognize that confident tenor anywhere.

Even in a bathroom reserved for females.

My stomach twisted into knots when I realized he wasn’t alone. He didn't even bother going into a stall, as if he had nothing to hide, as if he had not a care in the world.

The sounds that followed pierced my already shattered heart. His low moans of pleasure mingled with the female’s more high-pitched cries, echoing off the walls.

Each sound was a dagger in my chest. I slid down the cool tiles until my backside landed on the ground. I buried my face in my hands to muffle my sobs.

How could he? Had I been nothing to him? We were over, but surely, if he had ever felt something for me, he would have waited an appropriate amount of time before he started fucking others.

I pressed my back harder against the wall of the stall, willing myself to disappear into the fine grains of the woodwork. But reality was harsher than fantasy.

The truth remained that he was on the other side of the door, basking in carnal bliss with someone else while I was left to pick up the shattered pieces of my heart.

Agony and humiliation coursed through my veins as Liam let out one final grunt of satisfaction, followed by a content sigh.

Ripples of their snickering reverberated through me, sinking into my skin like icy shards. I clenched my hands into fists so tight the nails bit into my palms.

I'd known him, all of him, and this was a cruelty beyond what I could ever have fathomed from Liam. The thought there could ever have been love between us seemed an impossibility now.

Hells, there wasn’t even any respect left.

The room fell eerily silent, and I released the breath I didn't realize I’d been holding. I waited a few moments longer to ensure they were really gone before I trudged out of the stall.

Quickly, I washed my hands at the marble sink while keeping my eyes averted from the mirror. I didn't want to see what a mess I was.

A fresh wave of fury washed over me at the thought of shedding a single tear over someone so bitter, so cold-hearted.

Not one more, I vowed.

Returning to the party, a loud tittering of laughter halted my steps. Just ahead, Liam had already moved on to another group of females.

The jab was sharp, but this time I was prepared. Expecting the worst from my ex-lover helped to numb the wound.

Turning to my right, I met a pair of twinkling mismatched eyes standing at the bar. Always witty and warm-hearted, Saxon never treated me like I was less.

The male winked and gestured for me to join him. I didn’t hesitate to get my sorry ass over to the only oasis in this obnoxious desert of nobility.

As I approached, the demigod smoothly swiped a bottle of spirits and hooked an arm around my waist, leading me away from the revelry.

“Where are we going?” I asked suspiciously when we stepped out onto the veranda.

“We, my dear frostling, are going to get shitfaced away from prying eyes.”

I felt the weight of a heavy stare prickling my back. Several of them. When I started to look over my shoulder, Saxon squeezed me closer.

“Don’t look back, Raina. Don’t ever look back.”

And I didn’t. Not until much, much later.

Raina Brandenburg