25. Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Lillit h
I enter the dimly lit ballroom on Prince Asher's arm, a thrill of trepidation and excitement coursing through me. The ballroom is lit only by a few flickering candles and the eerie green glow of the chandeliers, crafted from human bones and shards of jade.
Villains and rogues of all kinds fill the room, decked in elaborate costumes that flaunt their sins. A string quartet of hooded musicians plays a sinister melody in a shadowed alcove.
A thick haze of smoke hangs in the air, fragrant with opium and tobacco. Along one wall is a buffet of strange and exotic foods—platters of figs drizzled in blood, sugared violets, chocolate truffles filled with a liqueur so strong it causes hallucinations.
"Quite the motley crew, isn't it?" Asher murmurs, leaning close so only I can hear.
I nod, tightening my grip on his arm. My scarlet gown and jewels feel out of place among so many miscreants, my innocent act unraveling.
We make our way through the crowd, many villains nodding respectfully to Asher and eyeing me with interest and suspicion.
Asher procures two glasses of absinthe from a serving girl, the green liquor sloshing ominously. "To keeping up appearances," he says quietly, and we both drink deeply, wincing at the bitter taste.
"Let’s get this over with," I mutter under my breath.
Asher gazes down at me, eyes gleaming in the greenish light, a cunning smile twisting his lips. "Let's give them a show they won't forget." He bows and offers his hand. "May I have this dance?"
I curtsy, slipping seamlessly into my role though my heart pounds. "You may."
I place my gloved hand in his, and Asher whirls me into the sea of villains, our act beginning in earnest. Little do I know the danger and treachery the night holds in store or how fiercely Asher will fight to protect me from it.
We begin dancing stiffly, but as the music swells, a dark and passionate tango, I find myself swept away. Asher leads me confidently across the floor, spinning and dipping me with practiced ease. Our gazes lock, and the rest of the room fades away. It is only us, caught in the rhythm of the dance .
My scarlet skirts swish and spin, feet flying over the floor. The music is sultry and mesmerizing, played by unseen musicians in a shadowed alcove. How strange that I once thought I belonged in this world, I think, heart pounding as Asher dips me low, when I feel so out of place now.
Asher pulls me upright and draws me close, our bodies nearly touching. "You're enchanting tonight," he murmurs in my ear. His breath is warm, his arm sure around my waist.
I feel dizzy with the rush of the dance and his nearness.
This is all part of the act, I remind myself. I am playing a role, but as I gaze into Asher's eyes, for a moment, I can believe this deception we play is real. I see a fire in his eyes that seems to hint at hidden depths of feeling.
The music reaches a crescendo, and Asher bends me back in a deep, dramatic dip, surely stealing the breath of any who watch. As the final notes sound, he draws me up slowly until our faces are inches apart.
My heartbeat echoes the finish of the tango. The line between my true self and this role I play is becoming blurred. Pretending to be Asher's woman is dangerous. For, in this moment, held tight in Asher's embrace, I wish for nothing more than for this dance to never end.
As the music ends, Asher gazes down at me with something like wonder. "You were exquisite," he says softly.
I feel myself blushing and glance away, suddenly shy .
Asher places a finger under my chin and tilts my face back to his. "There's my Lilly," he murmurs with a smile.
My guard comes down in the wake of his tender smile and earnest gaze. It terrifies me that I enjoy letting my act fall away in his presence.
A new song begins, but we linger there, caught in a moment apart from the revelry around us. Villains and rogues spin on, oblivious to our stillness.
"Must we continue this charade all evening?" Asher asks lightly, though I glimpse a flash of longing in his eyes.
My own heartbeat quickens at the unspoken suggestion in his words.
But I sigh, grasping for my role once more like a cloak. "You know as well as I the danger we'd court by revealing the truth." I glance pointedly at those around us, a sea of potential threats.
Asher's eyes darken. "Then, let’s continue the performance, my villainous lady," he says, slipping back into the act.
He spins me into another dramatic dance, leading me through practiced steps, though I feel the change in him—the subtle tension in his shoulders, the way his smile doesn't quite reach his eyes.
I follow his lead across the floor once more, donning my role, but my thoughts are in a whirl. The charade had fallen away in that tender moment, and I saw Asher's true feelings as clearly as he saw mine. The game we play is altering into something else entirely, and there will be no going back.
But do I really want it to go back?
We dance for what feels like hours, caught in a whirl of music and movement, never once dropping our act. When a waltz fades, we leave the floor, I feel utterly breathless and lightheaded.
Asher grasps my hand and bows. "I'll fetch us some drinks." He brushes his lips across my knuckles before disappearing into the crowd.
Alone, I sigh, relishing a moment's rest from the charade.
Internally, I laugh a bit. When I went here, I was too young to go to these events, and it was all I wanted to do. Now here I am, in disguise, hoping no one will recognize me.
"Well, if it isn't Amethyst Eyes," a voice says softly in my ear.
I spin around to find Silviana behind me, a sly smile upon her lips. I give a sharp intake of breath, and my heart clenches at the old nickname... and at her cunning. After so many years, she finally caught me unawares.
Silviana's smile only widens at my sharp intake of breath. "Did you think I wouldn't recognize you, Lillith? No matter how many times you denied it in the hall, I would never not recognize my old friend. "
My true name slips from her lips softly as a shadow, laced with secrets from long ago.
I grasp her hands, pulse racing. "Silviana, please. It's too dangerous for this deception to be unwoven now."
She arches an eyebrow, gazing down at me with eyes which miss little. "Dangerous? Or are you simply not yet ready for your charming young prince to know the truth about his villainous lover?"
I shake my head, hoping my alarm isn't written plainly on my face. Silviana has always been able to read my thoughts as easily as words upon a page.
"Promise me you'll keep this secret, for now at least." I squeeze her hands, pleading. "Like old times?"
Silviana studies me. I glimpse a flicker of our past friendship behind her eyes, softening her resolve.
She sighs. "For now, your secret remains concealed." She leans close to murmur, "But be cautious, Amethyst Eyes. The higher the climb, the more perilous the fall, and you, my dear, have climbed to the peak."
I embrace her in thanks, relieved to feel her arms around me as they had been so often in our youth. For a fleeting moment, the burden of pretense and power falls away, and we are simply two girls sharing secrets once again.
Silviana pulls back to gaze at me searchingly. "There are none in this den of trickery that can be trusted, other than myself of course." Her eyes gleam harshly. "Wear your disguise well, and keep your true self hidden, or you will find even this palace of rogues will turn against you."
"I would love to see them try, but thank you. I will refresh my glamour and keep my eyes open."
With that, Silviana turns and vanishes into the shadows, leaving me shaken. My deception remains unbroken, but Silviana's warning echoes in my mind like some refrain.
The higher I climb, the more perilous my downfall will inevitably be.
The prince has still not returned with our drinks, leaving me uncomfortably alone once more among the sea of hidden faces. Walking around the edge of the room, I mentally list off the faces I recognize and take note of the ones I don't. I idly study the intricate mural on the ceiling, depicting images of demons and destruction.
"Why waste your time with the likes of him, my pet?” The voice is smooth as silk. “You belong on the arm of someone who can truly appreciate you."
I turn to find a tall, broad-shouldered man looming over me, garbed all in black, his face obscured by an ornate raven mask. He smells of leather and spice, with an undertone of something metallic, blood perhaps. My instincts prickle warily.
"That boy can offer you nothing," the stranger continues, stepping closer. "He is but a trifle for you to toy with, unworthy of your talents." His gaze travels over me slowly. "You need a partner of your caliber, little raven, someone who knows the darkness you hide behind that pretty mask."
No name comes to mind. He must be new and unimportant in the villain world. At least for now.
I stand straighter and meet his gaze levelly, irritation rising. "You presume much, sir. My loyalties are not so easily swayed by pretty words and false promises."
The man chuckles, a low dangerous sound. He grasps my hand and lifts it to his lips, breath hot against my skin. "Loyalties change in time. When you tire of playing pretend with your lover, seek me out." He slips something small and hard into my palm—a jet-black feather etched with a raven's skull. "Ask for Raven at the Crimson Door tavern."
My temper rises, and I feel my magic tingle in my fingertips. Before I can lash out at him, however, a hand wraps around my wrist, tugging me away from the man. My gaze follows up the arm to find Prince Asher glaring at the stranger, his expression a mix of anger and protectiveness.
"I suggest you leave," he growls, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Now."
The stranger steps back and gives us both a mocking bow before turning and disappearing into the crowd.
My heart racing with fear and adrenaline, I exhale shakily and look up at Asher.
He slowly releases my wrist. "Are you all right?" he asks gruffly, eyes still searching the room for any sign of danger .
I nod mutely and hold out my hand to show that it is empty. The card with Raven's name is gone.