Chapter 11 #2
“Very. But it’s not my fault that the court mamas see you as a potential match for their daughters.” I stride with confidence to the square table, surrounded by fellow sisters wearing their best gowns. “Magic is a big draw.”
“Too bad she’s not my type.”
Shrugging, I plop into my chair, making sure my collar stays high. “They don’t know that. Maybe promising fake engagements will secure more allies?”
Shaking his head, Tay flips me off. “Such diplomacy, Max. Promise love and steal their resources? You’d make a great leader.”
“Good thing I’m not,” I say, winking. “Can you imagine?”
He shudders. “The world wouldn’t know what hit it.”
Settling beside me, I let my gaze scan the room as Tay leans back. The tables are covered in sky blue linen and crystal chalices. It’s more reserved than the jovial mood of last night with groups congregating together, gossip spilling from lips.
Thankfully, my head is a dulled and my magic sleeps.
Amber eyes find mine in the swarming ball, surrounded by jet black locks and cheekbones sharp enough to cut. Dressed in a tailored black suit with red thread woven into his lapels and cuffs, the heir looks like a dark prince in a court of light.
Raising one glass in a mock salute, he smirks from his chair and I fight the urge to flip him off. It wouldn’t do good to antagonize the one person who could ruin my cover here.
Tay stands and I tear my gaze from the heir. “Where are you going?”
He furrows his brow. “That brew Cully gave you must be strong. I just told you Griffin arrived and is waving me over. I think he’s hoping to facilitate a better trade agreement between our people.”
“Well, now that you’ve given the Dark Fae a valuable commodity that all Humans want, he probably feels left out.”
“Maybe.” Tay shrugs, patting my hand. “Regardless, I can’t exactly deny a king. Come get me at the end of the song. I don’t think Griffin will let me go so easily.”
Nodding, I sit back, wine glass to my lips. He only goes two steps, before turning back to me. “Try not to talk to anyone. You’ve already blown your cover at the meeting.”
Wincing, I smile. “Sorry about that. How mad was he?”
“Actually, he was happy. He approved of your points. Just don’t make it a habit of fighting with the Dark Fae before we have their signatures.”
I watch Tay weave through the crowd over to Griffin’s grand table, piled high with glasses and food. Various lords, who sits around the king grin at the Witch, begging for his input. When Griffin sees my friend approach, he smiles wider.
The king likes Tay. Maybe that’s why he didn’t mind my lie. It’s not the first time being friends with Tay has saved me from harsh punishments.
It’s why I’m still allowed in the Coven though the elders want to expel me.
Taking another glass from a servant, I enjoy the dullness behind my ears and watch Tay tell an animated story. The lords lap it up, the king nodding along. A pang of envy hits my heart.
I’m not jealous of Taylay—he’s kind and likable. His presence here will help the Coven. But I’m envious of his ability to make friends wherever we go, of how he seems to be accepted so easily. It’s something I’ve never had.
Glancing to my left, I notice the Coven sisters have left the table without a word to me. Rejection sours my gut, the wine dry on my tongue. It shouldn’t hurt, but it does. These sister know who I am and though they choose to keep my secret, they don’t associate with me.
To them, I’m not part of the Blackwoods Coven, just someone to keep at arm’s length, an outsider among a crowd. I hate it.
A finger draws down my exposed spine leaving a burning trail of heat in its wake. My body starts, shoulders tensing at the intrusion.
“You seemed lonely.”
The heir drops into Tay’s empty chair, and I lean back, thighs pressed together to stop the ache blooming at his closeness. I don’t trust this Fae but it doesn’t mean my body understands.
“I am alone. Not lonely. There’s a difference.”
There’s a quick flash of amusement before it’s hidden away. That damned arrogant mask is firmly in place. “Then my mistake. Perhaps I should leave you be?”
“Perhaps you should.”
“Except,” he drawls, tapping the glass “I don’t much feel like doing so.”
My eyes narrow, flush covering my cheeks. Absently, my fingers drift to my neck, nervously tugging the collar higher. “Why?”
“So suspicious.”
“Of you? Absolutely.” I cross my legs, trying to keep from touching his leg. “Now, why are you here?”
“Because you fascinate me.” He sips his wine, dropping the glass to the table with a quiet clink.
“Out of everyone here, I didn’t expect an advisor to a ruler’s brother, to intrigue me so much.
” His amber eyes harden and I see the calculating mind behind this false charm.
“I saw what you did. How is it, someone so small, was able to subdue someone so much bigger? And with no weapon?” He looks me over, clinically. “What are you, kitten?”
I can’t tell if he’s goading me or if he honestly doesn’t know what I am. “I may be smaller, but I am not weak. My Matriarch Nafre taught me to fight.”
Taught me to fight, to weaken my body, to tire my mind so as to ignore the magic? Yes. Enough to survive in a battle? Not so much.
He frowns, tasting my deceit. Grabbing my wrist, he pulls me close, inspecting my fingers.
I try pulling away, his burn scorching me, but his grip is unrelenting like steel. He tsks. “No, no. Let me see those bloody fingers.”
Any hope I have for someone to interrupt is squashed as soon I think it. We’re in the back corner, shadows thick around us. No one is coming to my aid.
It was stupid not to bring my dagger. I need to plan better.
Holding my hand to his face, he peers at my pale tips. “They’re not bloody.”
“I see that,” he snaps out. “Then what are you? What power does such a small kitten posses?”
My cheeks heat as I glare at the heir. “I am not a kitten. I am the advisor to the Blackwoods Coven—”
“Yes, yes,” he dismisses. “A powerful title that means nothing here as you are a woman. Now. How did you do it?”
“Do, what?” I ask, innocently, face hot. He leans close, his breath rustling against my lips and I tense. He’s too close and yet not close enough.
What is wrong with me? I push him, dare him to fight me and can’t seem to move away. It’s as if I’m drawn to him, an invisible need to be close.
Smiling arrogantly into my face, the heir wraps a finger around my silken strand, playing with the end as if this is normal.
My body trembles.
“Fine. Don’t tell me.” His finger brushes my chin and I exhale, warmth rising from my core. “Maybe I’ll just share what I saw with the King?”
Jutting out my chin, I narrow my eyes, coldness quelling the rising flames of desire. If he tells the king, who knows how he’ll react?
“Is that a threat?”
He tilts his head, assessing me. “More like a promise.”
Finally, I jerk my hand away, fed up with his bold advances. He doesn’t get to threaten me and think I won’t respond.
“Remove yourself,” I demand, scowling.
He leans close, lapping up my fury, fangs glinting in the darkness. I refuse to budge.
“Use your powers and make me.”
I try to call on my magic, but it barely stirs. It wants to attack but it won’t attack him.
Convenient.
“What do you want to know?”
Now, his smile edges into something wicked, primal. Inhaling, his nose ghosts my jaw, scenting me. “Tell me, kitten. What are you? You smell like a Witch but I sense—” he breaks off, unsure. “You have magic. Powerful, dark, magic.”
Gulping, I keep my eyes trained over his shoulder. He doesn’t know how right he is. How dangerous I am.
But by admitting it, I’ll give him more power. He’s already seen me, I can’t tell him what I am too. “I’m only an advisor,” I bite out, throat dry. “That’s all.”
“Oh, kitten.” He chuckles, looking up at me. At this angle, my heart constricts at the beauty on his deadly face. “You are so much more than that.”
“Everything alright?” Tay interrupts, body highlighted against the flickering flames of the ballroom.
Relief, sudden and sweet, washes over me. Thank the Gods.
The heir doesn’t bother to look at Taylay, keeping his eyes trained on my face, emotions closing off. “This doesn’t concern you, Witch.”
Tay scoffs at the heir, holding his out to me. “Dance with me, Max.”
Jumping to my feet, I knock into the table, wineglasses toppling over. Backed in the corner, away from prying eyes, I can only imagine the sight the heir and I make.
It’s not a pleasant one and my cheeks burn.
Letting Tay lead me into the crowd, I keep from turning to stare back at the heir. Taylay spins me, my skirts flipping, placing his hand on my hip and holding the other high.
Unlike all our lessons back in the Coven, when I glance up, he isn’t grinning. His bright eyes narrow, mouth twisted into a frown.
“What happened?”