Chapter Twenty-Six Crown of Ash
"And thus I clothe my naked villainy... and seem a saint, when most I play the devil."
The Prince's birthday had arrived, bringing with it an unseasonably warm spring day.
A million thoughts raced through Adan's head.
But the thought of the reward of having Nox's lips on her at the end of it all honed her strength.
It centred her in a way that calmed her senses and brought her clarity.
At the end of the day, she would have all of Nox, or they would both be dead.
She accepted both scenarios without a fuss—even if one was more appealing than the other.
She bounced around in Nox's carriage as it carried them both towards the castle, and their doom. She focused hard on staring out the window because the other option was unacceptable.
Nox looked particularly devastatingly handsome in his black suit.
His hair gelled back out of his face, the tattoos curling around his neck lined his steel jaw.
His scent filled the small carriage with his woodsy sweet amber.
It made her want to crawl to him, it was intoxicating.
It threatened to break her stone hard resolve.
"Have I told you how lovely you look tonight?"
His smouldering compliment had her mis-matched eyes sliding towards his gorgeous face.
Adan tried to keep her composure, her heart racing despite herself.
She knew this was no time to lose herself in the warmth of his words, but gods, it was hard when he looked at her like that
She looked down at herself. The slimming black dress that Czandra had left for her did nothing to hide her curves.
Every dip and hollow of her body was on full display.
Even the low cut décolletage was delectably daring.
She caught Nox glancing at her more than once.
She fingered the slim straps at her shoulder, recrossing her legs, flashing a massive piece of thigh that slipped past the slit in her dress.
The slit that she had cut herself to allow movement, which would undoubtedly be beneficial later.
A strand of gold curls fell into her face, and before she could swat it away. Nox was there, with his deft fingers, pinning the falling pieces back into the chignon she had styled. A burning blush flashed down her neck and across her cheeks.
Adan swallowed hard, her body betraying her, reacting to his proximity even when she tried to remain focused.
His fingers, so skilled, brushing her hair back made her heart hammer in her chest.
It wasn't the touch itself—it was the way his touch seemed to linger on her skin, like he was claiming her without saying a word.
Like he couldn't help himself, and she couldn't either.
She met his gaze, her pulse quickening. "You're distracting me." She whispered, her voice hushed, but it still carried the weight of a warning.
Nox's lips curved into that knowing smirk, the one she loved and hated in equal measure. "Not going to tell me how lovely I look?" His devilish grin had her face burning.
"Definitely not." She smirked, his thumb brushing over the delicate skin of her temple, where the gold strands had fallen. His touch was almost too gentle, and it made her want to lean into him, to close the distance between them and lose herself in the heat of the moment.
But she couldn't. Not yet.
"We have a job to do," she said, her breath shaky but firm.
His eyes softened, and for a split second, the hardness in his gaze faded. But it was fleeting. He straightened up, pulling his hand away from her hair, and sat back. "I couldn't help myself." He smirked.
Adan, looking back out the window to try to hide her grin. "I know."
The unmistakable sound of his chuckle filled the carriage.
That laugh riled her up, burning something fierce down her spine.
So she raised her chin, and locked eyes with the devastatingly handsome devil in front of her.
She let her eyes fill with longing, let him see that heat building there and said, "but I will say this."
Batting her lashes slowly, and let the words flow from her red painted mouth.
"You better kiss me when this day is over."
His full lips parted as his eyes narrowed in on her mouth. "And every day after."
She smirked at the complete look of lust that played out on his savagely beautiful face. She decided, then and there, that there would be more than just a kiss waiting for them at the end of this day. That she would see that face again and when she did, she would drop to her knees—
The carriage came to a sudden stop and the footman knocking on the door shook her from her thoughts.
The breathy "fuck" that came from the other side of the carriage, now had her chuckling low. But the dark growl that followed and came from deep in his throat had Adan squeezing her thighs together.
Adan watched Nox drag his large hand down his face, until he managed to pull himself together. His impassive fuck-you-mask formed instantly, and Adan shivered regardless of the seasonable warm weather. Nox leaned over to get the door and got out first, and gave her his extended hand.
He angled himself so that his whole body blocked her as she took his hand and he led her out of the carriage. She was careful of the steps, holding on to his hand and in her other a chunk of her dress--to keep from tripping.
Adan smoothed out her satin fabric and straighten. She locked down a shiver when his hand fell to her bare lower back. The back of her dress pooling right before the curve of her ass. His thumb brushed soothing circles that created blooming head in their wake.
They were playing a dangerous game, they were no longer behind closed doors. They had to revert to that old dynamic.
Storm and Shadow.
Master and Slave.
Lord and Assassin.
Here, Adan was nothing more than just that.
"Careful." Adan whispered, "people might think you've grown attached to your pet." She looked around, in hopes that no one would notice just how close the head of Shadow House and the king's assassin had become.
His hand curled around her waist, pulling her into his side.
His head dropped, and his hot breath tickled her ear.
"No one here would be shocked to learn that I am possessive about what is mine, love."
His fingers dug into her skin. The way he said it, the possessive edge laced with something darker—something more intimate—made her skin tingle, and she couldn't ignore how his touch seared through the fabric of her dress, right down to her bones.
"Oh?" She smirked, her eyes twinkled with mirth. "No collar this time?" She teased.
His dark brows rose, and the grin that spread across his beautiful face was nothing short of wicked--predatory.
A hand moved to wrap around the back of her neck, and pulled her closer.
"I was under the impression that you would kill me if I even tried to suggest such a thing."
His eyes slipped from her face to here neck, and his fingers squeezed every so slightly.
Adan resisted the urge to shiver as the heavy weight of the moment pressed in on her. They weren't just playing with fire anymore. They were walking straight into it. She swallowed, knew he saw the blush on her cheeks and tracked how it spread up the neck that he held.
"I never thought you would turn down a challenge."
He growled low in his chest. "Love..." Nox's eyes locked with hers, the air between them thick with heat.
She grinned and patted his chest, "there, there, Nox... patience. Think of Faun."
His fingers tightened around her neck, but not painfully. "It's a dangerous game you're playing, love."
She winked at him, "it's the only ones I play." She fought the smile that tugged at her lips, but it was a losing battle.
It was so easy to forget the world around them, when they were locked in like this. Everything else just faded away-- leaving only them. That was what made this so dangerous.
Adan smartly stepped out of Nox's reach, she cleared her throat and steeled her spine. The small smile never once left her face, she couldn't help it--She needed to get a grip. Her mental walls were in check, but her mask was in shambles.
She distracted herself by taking in the surrounding dangers.
It seemed everyone of great importance was invited to the king's son's birthday.
Gifts and invitations were handed off to servants and sentries.
Adan held her breath as they walked the familiar corridors towards the ballroom.
Her old room not far away, though she had not been back in months—years it felt like.
Another life all together. In truth, she never wanted to step foot in this castle again, but if tonight went well, this would be the last time.
She straightened her spin, focused only on the touch of Nox's hand at her back--grounding her. The sweeping motions of his thumb and fingers that calmed her—centred her.
The sound of music fluttered over the jumbled voices of the attendees. Mixed with laughter and revelry that mimicked the bright happy faces of people around them. It seemed that only Nox and Adan wore scowls as they took in the opulence of the ballroom.
The lavishness sprawled before them, a sea of glittering jewels, and delicate fabrics.
A massively long table against the wall filled with untouched food.
The jewellery donned on the ladies of the court, the finery of the fabrics that clothed them.
The extravagance that could feed the people of the Loch for months.
It made Adan sick to her stomach—but she was used to it--numb to it.
Nox led her to the side of the ballroom, where they could have a good view and a wall at their backs. People began to notice them, and gave them both a wide berth. Adan ignored the snide remarks that were muffled as they walked by. She was used to them, too.
The King's assassin.
I thought she was excommunicated.
The butcher, on the arm of a Lord, inconceivable.
The whore and the bastard—
Adan was about to snap at the young woman for her brazen, whispered comment, but Nox was there first.
"Lady Collet, how lovely to see you again."
He towered over the woman, and it brought a smirk to Adan's mouth as she watched the shadow lord exude his dark, ominous power over her.