Chapter 34
DAHLIA
After spending until midmoon devouring romance novels with Blossom in the library, a servant arrives to escort me to the conservatory. Nerves flutter like butterflies with each step through the tall hallways.
I don’t know how Tauren is going to take me wanting to leave. If it goes anything like last time, I’ll be tossed over his shoulder and whisked away to his tower, except this time my rear will be as red as my blushing cheeks after he spanks me a dozen times.
Warmth stirs in my core. It’s been a few days since he last whipped me. I wouldn’t be totally opposed to him doing it again. Just once more, before I leave. Then I’ll go back to my sisters, my cream-walled bedchamber, our palace library that’s barely bigger than a parlour room…
I was thinking, while Blossom and I were choosing books in the demon library, that maybe our library isn’t so small just because Father is selective with his titles, but that perhaps it is small because he doesn’t want us to learn any more than he deems necessary.
I hadn’t even known demons were real before I came here.
What else has Father been hiding from us all these years?
My escort stops in front of a stone door and knocks twice, the sound pulling me from my thoughts.
“Enter.” His voice turns the warmth in my core to fire. The servant pushes open the door, standing aside to let me through.
I gasp at the pretty room. Glass makes up the walls and ceiling, set in huge iron-framed panes like a greenhouse. Vines creep up the walls, but they’re not like the vines at home. These vines are black and withered. From them hang little blue lanterns that light up the feast below.
And, Stars, it’s a feast.
There’s roast meats, vegetables, golden potatoes, and gravy. Beside them, a rack of cakes, biscuits, colourful fruits, cupcakes, and—
“Tell me that’s melted chocolate.” My jaw drops. On the table is a small three-tiered fountain, but it’s not spurting water like the fountains back home. This liquid is thick, chocolatey, and smells divine.
I can’t help it – I sprint.
“It’s called a chocolate fountain.” Tauren beats me to it. He’s wearing a white puffy shirt with dark breeches, looking almost as delectable as the feast as he dips a fruit skewer into the chocolate fountain. “I thought you’d like it.”
“How does it work?” Damn the skewer, I grab a spoon.
“Ah ah ah.” He catches my wrist, swiping the spoon out of my grasp. “Eat some real food first. Dessert comes at the end of the meal. That was your rule, wasn’t it?”
“I said no meal is complete without dessert.” I can’t look away from the gushing chocolate. “Doesn’t matter when I get to eat it.”
Ignoring me, he pushes me down into a seat and picks up my plate.
“The fountain uses faerie magic,” he explains, filling my plate with ‘real food’.
“It’s enchanted to keep the chocolate melted and flowing.
” He places my loaded plate in front of me.
“And you can enjoy it once you’ve finished your meal. ” He winks before patting my head.
“I’ll do anything you like if it means there’s one of them at every feast.” I dig into my food. It’s delicious as always.
“Good princesses are rewarded.” His grin makes me blush while he takes his own plate. “You know the rules.”
After filling his plate, he sits beside me and we enjoy our food together. While we eat, I tell him the story of finding my sisters in Elheart’s palace and how Blossom was able to somehow charm the guards so we could escape.
“It was like she got into their minds,” I say before swallowing a forkful of potato. “They seemed so out of it.”
“Strange.” He sips from his goblet. “And you say this started after some kind of shooting star landed in your dance circle?”
A shiver shoots up my spine, but for some reason I feel safe enough to talk about it here.
“Yes. Eden said she thinks all of us were given some kind of magic gift, but I only know about Blossom’s.
That’s if she’s even used magic at all,” I huff.
“She’s probably just good at manipulating people.
She’s pretty after all, and has nice dark eyes. That’ll be it.”
Tauren watches me. “Normally creatures are born with their magic, but it’s not unheard of for powerful beings to gift their magic to others.
” He pauses. “Your sisters all have different mothers, correct? Any possibility one of you is related to a demon or faerie and that they gifted you all with their magic?”
“I doubt it.” I think of Tamryn and her obvious demon features despite her father being human.
“None of us have horns or faerie ears. And, really, this is all quite far-fetched.” I finish my plate.
“I mean, I’m fairly certain I’d know if I was suddenly gifted magic.
And I feel no different to how I did before that night. ”
“Were you able to command wolves before then?” He arches a brow. “What about speak to horses?”
“I’ve always been good with animals.” I shake my head. “Besides, if I have a magic gift,” I sneer at the words, “I’d want it to be something useful, like breaking people’s bones with my mind or shooting fire from my hands,” I joke.
“You will not need to shoot fire while I am around, little monster.” He pats my hand. “I would not be a good husband if you did.”
Husband… Discomfort stirs in my chest. “Tauren, I—”
“I have a surprise for you,” he cuts me off, rising from his seat.
“A surprise?”
He paces over to a glass door and creaks it open. Outside, starlight spills over the twisting shrubs and bramble bushes in the castle grounds.
It’s funny. A few days ago I saw only dead plants in the gardens, but now I see there’s life in the soil, too. It’s just darker and more muted. Like a forest in winter instead of spring.
But all thoughts of spring are forgotten when Tauren shouts something into the night air, and a servant rounds the corner with the most beautiful cream-coloured horse I’ve ever seen – and have had the pleasure of riding many, many times.
“Angel!” I squeal. Bolting out of my seat, I sprint to my horse’s side, nuzzling my face against hers.
When she notices me, she stiffens before letting out a loud neigh. She whips up her head to tuck it over my shoulder and pull me against her side.
“I missed you so much!” I wrap my arms around her. “How are you even here?”
“I sent my best spies to steal her,” Tauren says over my shoulder. “You’ve spoken of her fondly. And since you’ll be living here now, it makes sense for her to move to our stables.”
My back tenses. “Tauren…”
“Don’t thank me yet.” I pull away to find him grinning. “There’s more.”
“More?” I laugh. “After Angel, what else could I possibly need?”
“You’ll see.” His eyes glitter. Taking my hands, he leads me back into the conservatory and sits me down at the table.
Before I realise what’s happening, he places a black gift box into my lap. “If these are not to your liking, please tell me and we can visit the shop together. I’m afraid I don’t know much about dancewear, but I’m eager to learn for you.”
Confused, I tug on the gold ribbon, then slowly lift the lid.
“Stars, Tauren,” I gasp. His grin is wider than the moon.
A red dance gown sits folded in the box, with a glittering tulle skirt and bodice.
The straps are edged with crimson tulle, while deep red laces decorate the front.
Neatly placed above it are a pair of ruby-red dance shoes.
My heart pounds as I lift them out of the box.
Blossom’s cobbler boyfriend could never even come close to the craftsmanship on these.
“They’re beautiful.” Tears blur my vision.
“I want you to be happy here, Dahlia.” He squeezes my thigh gently. “I know you love to dance, so I’ve cleared out one of the guest suites for you to use as a dance room. I’ve even put up a barre and mirrors on the wall. We can find you a teacher too, if you need one – and musicians.”
I grip the shoes so tight my fingers burn. “Tauren, this is all so wonderful, but—”
“But what?” he breathes. “That isn’t the only gown. There are more in your dance room, and more shoes too.”
“This isn’t about the gifts, though they’re lovely, I…” My voice strains.
“Then what is it, sweetheart?” He cups my face. “Tell me.”
My brows dip. I hear Angel whinnying outside while the gown glitters in front of me.
But then I think of Blossom and Eden, somewhere in the castle, and my other sisters, back home. I think of Amaryllis, probably on another adventure in Night Alley. And then the enchanted collar that, until a few days ago, was fastened tight around my neck.
“I can’t stay here.” The words fall out of me. “You kidnapped me, and I was your prisoner. I can’t stay with someone who did that to me. It’s not right.”
I lift my gaze to his, expecting to see anger, but there’s only sadness. “Are you not happy here?”
“I’ve only been here a few weeks,” I argue.
“And I’ve known since the night of your sister’s party that you would be mine,” he growls. “We’re married now.”
“That was hardly a wedding—”
“You’re still my wife.” He grasps my waist, pulling me closer.
The dance gown spills out from my lap as I’m pulled into his.
“Do you think I would’ve arranged a marriage between us in front of my entire court, arranged hundreds of dahlias from the faeries, if I didn’t intend to keep you here as my wife? You are mine, Princess Dahlia.”
“I won’t be your prisoner,” I snarl. “If you keep me here, I will never love you.”
A smirk touches his cheeks. “I seriously doubt that, my darling.” Standing up, he pushes me against the table, trapping me with his arms. “I think you already love me,” he murmurs. “I think you’ve wanted to be mine since the first time you threw yourself at me at your sister’s party.”
“You were the first man I saw,” I huff.
“Liar.” He draws closer to my ear, kissing it like he can’t help himself. “I felt your pussy outside when you opened your legs like the desperate whore you become around me.” My chest heaves. “You were fucking soaked, little monster.” He pulls back to meet my gaze. “Don’t forget that.”
My hands grip the edge of the table. “Let’s make a deal then.” I try to keep my voice steady, but it’s a wobbling mess. “If I still don’t want to be here by the end of your party in two nights, you’ll let me go.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “You’re going nowhere, sweetheart.”
“If you want me to ever love you, you’ll accept my deal.” My voice hardens. “I’m serious, Tauren.”
“So am I, my love.” Lifting his hand, he grips the back of my head, searing me with a kiss forceful enough to take my breath away.
After a few heartbeats, he pulls me back by my hair.
“If you insist on having a deal, I will give you one,” he offers, breathless.
“I have until the end of the party to make you admit that you need me. If you do, you will stay here by my side forever.”
“And if I don’t?” I whisper.
His gaze turns lethal. “Then, I’ll let you go.” Something about the way his hand slides around my waist says otherwise, though.
“I accept your deal.” I nod, clearing my throat. “I should go and find my sisters. I shouldn’t leave them alone here.”
But Tauren doesn’t let me go. “They’ll be fine. The guards know to keep an eye on them.” His gaze falls to my lips again, but he doesn’t kiss me. Surprisingly, he pushes away from the table and pulls out my chair again for me to sit.
“Sit down, Dahlia,” he orders. “We’re not finished here.”
I know better than to disobey him. With shaking knees, I hurry over to the seat and sit down.
His glare softens, then he smiles in a way that makes my traitorous heart flutter. “There’s my sweet girl.” Lifting a fruit skewer from the dessert table, he dips it into the chocolate fountain. “Now, open wide for me.”
I almost groan. I won’t last the night.