Dancing with the Devil
“My eyes must be deceiving me because that can’t be your necklace around that whore’s throat,” Lord Gustafson whispered near Luka’s ear.
“Your eyes are working perfectly.”
“You gave it to her? You might as well put a ring on her finger and a crown on her head.”
“I can assure you I didn’t give it to her. The little minx stole it,” Luka growled, clenching his chalice.
Ezra leaned in closer. “Say the word, and I’ll vanquish her.”
“Leave her and her childish games be. I’ll retrieve it from her later. I’m sure.”
“Hmph. I’m sure of it,” Ezra replied skeptically.
“Lord Gustafson, I have a unique mission for you while we’re in Moonshire.”
“You do?”
“I do. And only you can do it. Come closer.”
Ezra leaned further and waited for his instructions.
“Find a nice-looking man and get laid. Can you do that for me? Or will that be too difficult a task?”
Ezra cleared his throat before addressing his king. “I have never in my two centuries of living have wished ill on you until this very moment.”
“Is that right?” Luka asked, nearly chuckling from his advisor’s indignation.
“That’s correct. I wish you and the huntress nothing but the very best. I look forward to seeing your abominations running around the castle grounds being absolute terrors.”
“Aw. You should be nice to the abominations because, abomination or not, they will outrank you.”
Ezra couldn’t bother to hide his laugh. “She has poisoned you. You cannot deny it. I officially wave my white flag in defeat. Keep the huntress as your plaything, but you still must find a queen. The huntress cannot take the throne, or you’ll lose yours in the process.”
Luka returned his attention to Matilda, who briefly locked eyes with him before snaring them away.
“Ah! This must be the huntress my beta is willing to risk his life for,” Prince Lykaon exclaimed.
Luka ignored the polite exchange, opting instead to admire the huntress in her burgundy dress.
He would’ve mistaken her for royalty if he hadn’t known any better.
As Ezra had stated, all she was missing was a gold tiara nestled in her curly hair.
He couldn’t discern if her sepia skin glowed naturally or from the flickering candles.
Perhaps she stole some of the moonlight when I flew her to the sky, he reasoned to himself.
His eyes traveled to her bare shoulders that his fangs ached to sink into.
The sleeves of tulle rested around her biceps, and Luka wondered what the point of them was.
The bodice was a beaded corset that shoved her luscious breasts in the air and outlined the dips of her waist. He knew her hips flared underneath the tulle skirt that dragged across the floor in a modest train.
The back of the gown was Luka’s ultimate undoing.
He had to find the designer and seamstress who conspired to make the dress and dispose of them.
It was, indeed, a calculated attempt to provoke him and leave him ill-prepared for the challenge come morning.
The back of the gown was cut to her mid-back with a flimsy piece of lace crisscrossing to hold it together.
He could easily disrobe her with a simple tug.
Luka jolted when he felt a kick beneath the table.
“My King, Prince Lykaon is speaking to you. He wants to know if you find the huntress as stunning as he does.”
“Thank you,” Luka whispered back.
“I apologize for my lack of response. I was taken aback by your question. I do not find my attempted assassin stunning.”
“Is that so?” Prince Lykaon challenged.
“That is so.”
“Forgive me, but I’m slightly confused because I recognize the necklace around her neck.
If memory serves, you wore the exact same necklace the last time we met.
You also spent several minutes regaling me with how it was a gift from your fallen queen.
Surely you wouldn’t have gifted something so precious to a woman you don’t even consider stunning. ”
“Not only is she a killer of my people, but a thief as well.”
“Thief? How dare you tarnish my name with such allegations. I may be many things, but a thief is certainly not one of them. You came to my chambers and offered it to me to wear tonight, claiming it would match my dress.”
King Alesi snorted. “Add fibber to the list.”
“No matter. How are you enjoying Moonshire?” Prince Lykaon asked Matilda.
“I’m in awe. I had no idea Moonshire flourished so well. You’ve done wonders with the land and the people. I’m ashamed to say it, but Moonshire nearly rivals Night Falls.”
“Nearly? What can I do to make Moonshire surpass Night Falls?”
“There’s nothing you can do. My pride in Night Falls and its human population is unwavering. You’ll have to settle on being second-best.”
Prince Lykaon chuckled and tore the meat off a rib with menacing teeth.
“The human population, huh? No kind words for the vampires of Night Falls?” he pressed.
Luka narrowed his eyes when Matilda’s met his.
“Why would I waste kind words on beings without souls?”
“That’s very bold of you, woman. I have immense faith my beta will win tomorrow’s challenge; however, if he falls, I imagine you’ll be in for a rude awakening.”
“I appreciate your concern, Prince Lykaon. I too have immense faith in Beta David,” she proclaimed, locking eyes with Luka. “I’ve already started thinking of names for our future children.”
Matilda giggled into her chalice when a low-rumbling growl came from Luka. And while she enjoyed torturing the king, Prince Lykaon was deep in telepathic conversation with David.
Prince Lykaon: Bow out of the challenge.
Beta David: I will not.
Prince Lykaon: She does not want you. You’re simply a pawn.
Beta David: You don’t know this.
Prince Lykaon: They’re flirting, and if you believe King Alesi’s bullshit excuse about challenging you so that she doesn’t escape punishment, then you’re a fool!
Beta David: I’m not forfeiting.
Prince Lykaon: David… he will tear you apart for her. I’d rather not lose you. Look at them. Truly, look at them. She pilfered his necklace from his deceased queen he’s been wailing about for a century, and she still has blood pumping through her veins. What does that tell you?
***
“I think you’ve had a little too much wine,” David said as he led Matilda across the ballroom floor.
“Maybe just a tad,” she confessed, stumbling over his feet. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I should’ve warned you. The wine in Moonshire is made a little stronger to keep werewolves drunk longer. Our metabolism burns off alcohol quicker than most.”
“Ah, that makes perfect sense. My head is starting to swim a little bit. I might turn in after a few more dances. I should be well-rested for the big day tomorrow.”
“I agree. I’m curious about something. What were the names of our children you thought of?”
Matilda pressed herself against David’s chest to hide the panicked expression on her face. She had to come up with something quick!
“I am embarrassed. I can’t believe I said that. I’d rather not.”
“Humor me.”
“As you wish. For a girl, Genevieve, and for a boy, Mathias.”
“Hmmm. Not bad, huntress. You’ll need to come up with four more names.”
Matilda cringed at his statement. The thought of birthing six werewolf pups was enough to make her almost toss her dinner.
“Excuse me. May I cut in?”
She almost sighed in relief when Luka interrupted.
“I’d prefer if you’d get lost; however, I’ll let the lady decide.”
“Perhaps… one last dance for the evening wouldn’t hurt. Thank you so much for being the perfect gentleman tonight,” she said, leaving no room for argument.
“Sleep well, Matilda,” he replied, kissing the back of both of her hands before relinquishing her to the impatient vampire.
He was nearly out of the ballroom and paused to watch the vampire and huntress on the dance floor.
He glowered at how easily she fell into his arms, how wide she smiled at him, and how enraptured the vampire king was of her.
He hated to admit it, but his alpha was right.
***
“You reek,” Luka muttered. Matilda’s head fell back, and she laughed.
“Is that so? What do I smell like?”
“Lies… deceit… gold and rubies… wolf… and lust.”
“Lust, huh? You let your imagination run freely. That can be dangerous; almost as dangerous as getting into bed with a huntress.”
“I’d rather choke on a wooden stake.”
“That can be arranged,” Matilda replied in a dreamy tone.
“You have ten seconds to convince me not to rip your throat out for stealing my necklace.”
“May I tell you what you smell like first?” she asked.
“Everyone is entitled to their last words before they go.”
She grinned and held his steely gray gaze as he guided her through the predictable steps of a courtly dance.
Luka was devastatingly handsome. His dark hair fell like silk beyond his shoulders, framing a strong face with high cheekbones and a straight, aristocratic nose.
But it was his mouth that continually enraptured her.
His lips were full and indecently soft-looking—a contrast to the fangs concealed behind them.
She knew firsthand what his fangs could do.
Unfortunately, she had begun wondering what his lips could do as well.
“I think you reek of pure desperation.” He opened his mouth to argue when she cut him off.
“Desperate to save your kingdom, desperate to move on, desperate to control yourself.” She sank her canine teeth into her bottom lip until it bled.
His eyes remained glued to the blood that pebbled to the surface.
“Look at you; you’re practically salivating. Go ahead. Have a taste.”
Luka swallowed around a ball in his throat. The scent of her blood burned his nose and scorched his insides, and he hadn’t had a taste yet. But the memory… the precious memory of her blood dripping on the splintered window edged him past control to a near frenzy. He couldn’t resist.
Matilda gasped softly when he took her bottom lip into his mouth with a powerful suck. He knicked her with his fangs. It was a small bite that wasn’t enough to leave her writhing on the ballroom floor but enough to make her consider the unthinkable.
“Do you want your necklace back, King Alesi?” she asked when they finally separated.
“I do,” he responded, husky voice making her leak.
“Then there’s only one thing left for you to do… hunt me.”