Chapter 22 - The Darkest Night
The moon had vanished, yet none of the stars across the night sky were as luminous as the stars on my dress.
I stood in the center of Annalisa’s bedroom, adjusting my breasts in the bodice of the Midnight Dream. My stomach turned over at the thought of all the nobility seeing that much of me, even though I had my crystal on my leg to keep me calm.
I parted the slit over my right leg and tightened the satin ribbon so the Nordingaard crystal was flush with the back of my thigh. I had paced around Annalisa’s room a dozen times to ensure any onlookers would only see a peek of the satin ribbon if the slit parted, but I was still worried.
After I had lost control at the last ball, I could not risk leaving the crystal behind. I had to stay completely grounded so I could keep Derrick safe from anyone sneaking him potions.
Brietta would be safe from Derrick, Derrick would be safe from his father, and everyone would be happy…at least for one night.
Once the Darkest Night was over, we would try to look for Ilsa’s vault at least.
Annalisa opened the box my costume had arrived in to fetch my gloves. She had her curls pinned on top of her head and her arms and dress were covered in paint.
She had her brush dipped in paint pots all day, finalizing touches on her sisters’ masks and brushing swirling designs on their skin.
Since Annalisa was no longer a Hyton, she did not have to attend the Darkest Night. Still, I hoped she would at least stay with me for a little while so I did not have to navigate the debauchery with Derrick alone.
“You sure you do not want to go?” I said to Annalisa as she slipped the first long, dark blue glove onto my arm. “A night of costumes and bad behavior seems perfect for you.”
She let out a snorting laugh. She adjusted the top of the glove on my arm and a thunderclap roared through my mind the instant her skin touched mine. The door between her eyes suddenly widened. My crystal glowed on the back of my leg.
Annalisa removed her hand and gave me a wry smile. “I will not go without Grigory.”
I furrowed my brows. “The whole point of the ball is to not be with the person you married.”
Annalisa reached for the other glove. “I am not a person who hides behind a mask.”
She slid the glove onto my other arm and the sound of rain crashing into a windowpane rang in my mind.
Over the rainfall, a voice hissed, “ Don’t even think about going to that damn ball while I’m gone. ”
The voice was too rough to sound like Grigory, but I did not know who else it could have been. Annalisa looked up at me and I glanced away. Her door was still wide open, but what she had unknowingly sent me felt too intimate, like I had walked in on someone naked.
Something two people should never directly address.
Annalisa turned to grab my silvery mask, commissioned to have glittering stars around the eyes. She placed the mask on my face and I caught my reflection in her dressing table mirror. Annalisa had painted my lips a berry shade and smudged my eyes in black so they looked heavy. My eyes might have been covered, but the rest of me was so…exposed.
But if Brietta had said my costume was modest, I hated to imagine what everyone else would wear.
Brietta and I entered the Darkest Night at the same time. Music with a low, pulsing beat echoed around us. Women who wore nothing but ribbons danced in the air using swaths of silk that hung from the ceiling. Masks of dogs, horses, and birds peeked out amongst the flashes of scant fabric.
Refreshment tables lined the edges of the room, holding silver platters that spilled over with clusters of Pebblebrooke’s finest grapes and small stacks of cheeses from Amberfield. Not a couch or a bed in sight—the partygoers would have to rut like animals somewhere more private.
Brietta was a glorious vision in her shimmering gold dress and peacock feathers, showing off most of her breasts and nearly her entire left leg. Her mask was blue and had a delicate golden beak over her small nose.
We both held glass goblets of maiden wine. If anyone slipped a potion in our cups when we were not looking, the crystal clear wine would reveal the trick before we took an unknowing sip.
Her lips that gleamed with a purple stain turned up into a smile. “Ready to make some choices?”
“You know exactly why I am here.” I folded my arm across my chest, covering up as much of myself as possible.
As careful as I was to stay inconspicuous, Brietta strutted about the room, beaming as everyone’s eyes roamed over her gilded bosom. She was the feature of the party, I was just the virginal guardian at her side.
But where was Derrick?
My eyes wandered from Brietta to the crowd, watching the throngs of people mix with one another. No one was doing anything normal society would consider dancing—just a fluid motion of limbs and hips in time with the heavy beat.
In the center of the crowd, a lithe girl in green was being doted on by nearby eyes and hands. She had leaves painted on her limbs and pink petals over her breasts, her golden waves shining as she danced…oh, it was Camille.
My classmate who had turned red as amaranth after mere mention of physical intimacy wore nothing but a sheer pink skirt over her hips.
I tore my eyes away as my cheeks grew hot beneath my mask. A sealed blood bond had burned all her shyness away, apparently.
“Of the many peacocks I have seen, this one is the most splendid. Would you agree, Myles?”
Brietta and I turned around to find two men—one wore a fishnet over his chest and hips and the other had fluffed up his red hair to resemble a lion’s mane.
“I would agree, Gerond,” said the lion, who was clearly Myles. “Especially paired with the lovely night sky.” His eyes slid over to me. “What are we even supposed to call you now that your marriage suddenly dissolved? Miss Hyton?”
I took a step back. “Must you defeat the point of the masks?”
Gerond rolled his eyes behind his fish scale mask. “Must you be an obvious virgin?”
I was about to call him an asshole when Brietta let out a velvety laugh. “Are you just frustrated because your little wife is getting more attention than you are?”
Gerond smirked. “Camille can have her fun. My concern is my quarrel with Myles.”
Myles tossed Gerond a sly look. “We were arguing over who would approach you first, Lady Hyton. We figured whoever you did not choose would get a foray with stardust over there, but she is clearly in a poor mood.”
My cheeks went hot. “As if I would ever consider—”
“Why should I choose?” Brietta asked wryly. “Should the future Duchess not get everything she desires?”
I could not believe what I was hearing, but then I looked up at Brietta. Her shoulders were back, her head was higher than the men’s, and her wry smile was genuine. I had seen her enrapture a lecture hall full of girls with her poetry before, and this was no different.
I looked over at Gerond and Myles, whose eyes stayed locked on her as if her curvaceous body draped in gold was poetry of its own allure.
Brietta was letting them see her exactly as she wanted to be seen. For once, she had control.
She just needed some encouragement to finally take it.
I smiled. “I think that is a splendid idea, Brietta.”
Myles pounced on the opportunity. “A few benches in the garden are unoccupied.”
Gerond stepped in front of Myles. “Better hurry, a prime spot is sure to get taken soon.”
Brietta’s peacock mask hid her expression, but concern still lined her voice as she turned to me. “But Derrick is still not here. I cannot leave you—”
“The refreshment table is calling to me. I will be fine.” My smile grew as I looked past her mask into her brown eyes. “Get drunk off that freedom, Brie.”
Brietta smiled back. She downed the rest of her maiden wine in one gulp and handed me her empty glass.
I watched as she weaved her way through the dancing crowd, Myles on one side and Gerond on the other.
Brietta might have been dressed as a bird, but no cage could contain her.
I sipped my maiden wine as my eyes swept the crowd. Even though I caught more flashes of skin than I would expect in public, embarrassment did not sting my cheeks. Maybe seeing Riyan walking around nude in the wilderness had desensitized me to human anatomy.
With his distaste for clothing, Riyan would have fit right in at the Darkest Night.
“ Nice dress, sweetheart, ” imaginary Riyan whispered into my ear. “ Looks good enough to tear off. ”
Heat spread across my cheeks and I tipped back the rest of my wine.
Despite the ballroom being packed, I had not seen Derrick anywhere. I looked down at the empty goblets in my hands. If Derrick found me at one of the refreshment tables, maybe I could persuade him to eat.
I pushed my way across the ballroom, trying to maneuver through the throngs of the masked crowd. I caught myself before I nearly ran into a man with a mask that covered his entire face.
I gasped as he grabbed my arm. “Get out of here, Litlnadr. ”
Suddenly, a laughing woman crashed into me, knocking me to the floor. I lost one of the goblets and it shattered on the tile. I pushed myself up and suddenly I was lost in the crowd. I swiveled my head, trying to find my bearings amongst the smeared paint and torn clothes.
A meaty hand grabbed my wrist. Another grabbed my skirt.
I blindly pulled away from the hands. “Stop!”
A shrieking laugh tore through the air. A low cackle followed. More and more people joined in, dressed as birds and beasts and monsters. They tugged me by the arms through the menagerie of sickening smiles.
“Look at her sparkle!”
“Is this your first time?”
“We can show her how to play!”
My heart raced. I planted my feet and pulled myself out of the greedy hands. “Leave me alone!”
“There you are.”
A large palm gripped my ass and I froze.
My captor spun me around to face him. An older man with a mask like a blackened sky with numbers painted amongst the stars towered over me. Behind the mask was a pair of unmistakable blue eyes.
Duke Hyton.
“Oh, it is just little Serafina!” Duke Hyton chuckled. “My goodness, you look exactly like your mother.”
I kept still, hoping he would leave and look for my mother, but, to my horror, he did not move. Instead, he flashed me a crooked smile. “Can you guess what my costume is?”
I timidly shook my head.
He held out his arms, showing more numbers painted on the skyscape of his dark robes. “I am time. I may not wear stars as brilliantly as you, but I did make a good attempt.”
I tried to steel my voice and give a charming smile. “Y-You did, Your Excellency.” I swallowed. “If I may ask, where is Derrick?”
His eyes gleamed. “He should be along…eventually.”
My breath stayed frozen in my throat. What had he done with Derrick?
“You know, I have not officially welcomed you into the House of Hyton.” Duke Hyton pulled a flask out of the pocket of his robes. “Let us make a toast.”
He unstoppered the flask. With a smooth flick of his wrist, he poured a thick, dark purple liquid into my empty goblet.
Cupid’s Blood—it had to be.
My heart raced as I looked at the goblet. If I acted girlishly timid, maybe he would feel too guilty to make me drink it. “Thank you, Your Excellency, but I was not going to partake tonight.”
His smile turned wolfish. “Oh, do not worry. My special drink takes the edge off the nerves. We want you to have fun, after all.”
My eyes darted around the edges of my mask. The crowd was tightening around us. Even if I could be fast enough, there was nowhere to run. Daigen could not pull me out and take me away, either.
“Yes, Serafina, they are all looking at you,” Duke Hyton said. “In fact, I see five young men just waiting for you to take that first sip.”
At once, it all clicked into place. This was not mere cruelty. Duke Hyton’s plan was not to poison Derrick, he wanted it to be me who lost control in the middle of the Darkest Night. The Barons would all see me. I would no longer be the holder of the heir’s heart and a threat to his control, but just a silly girl for everyone to play with.
Even though the Duke himself stared me down, I dared to channel my magic. My white flame blazed. The Nordingaard crystal warmed my thigh. A few tears in the air and even within my goblet activated.
I gently reached for the Duke’s mind, but no door opened between those Hyton Blue eyes. I could not silently get into his head. I could not light him on fire with all those eyes on me. What was the point of having sorcery if I kept getting backed into a damn corner?
I might have worn the cosmos on my hips, but I was no more than a rabbit in a snare.
No, I would never admit defeat. I had another way out.
The magic in my blood made me more immune to poison. I had survived faerie dust, I was a damn sorceress, and I was going to stay in control.
Duke Hyton chuckled at my hesitation. “What an anxious little lamb you are.” He flashed a sweet smile. “We will take a drink at the same time. On the count of three?”
I gripped my goblet. I was powerful. I was not going to lose myself in a lustful frenzy.
Even still, I looked for someone to save me.
“To your first time, even though my poor son will miss it.” He raised his flask. “One…”
I looked for Derrick.
“Two…”
I looked for Daigen.
“Three.”
And before the goblet touched my lips, I nearly cried out for Riyan.
The Cupid’s Blood was sweet on the tip of my tongue. It was so delicious that I could not help myself—I poured the entire contents down my throat and the sweetness coated my tongue.
Duke Hyton pulled his flask from lips and smiled. “Good girl. Now take your pick from all those handsome young men.”
The trail of sweetness down my throat suddenly turned bitter. I coughed as the aftertaste burned my tongue. I hunched forward, ready to throw up.
“Careful!” Duke Hyton rubbed my back as I coughed. “This is strong stuff, but a big girl like you can handle it.”
A low but strong voice rumbled through the air. “Leave her alone.”
I looked up and saw a tall man with light hair, a square jaw, and a red cape.
At first I thought Riyan had somehow returned…but the eyes beneath the bronze mask were too blue to be Riyan’s
General Hyton stood next to me dressed as an ancient war god, wearing a breastplate of bronze that was fitted perfectly to the contours of his muscles and a red tunic around his hips.
A single heartbeat passed before I realized the armor was not armor at all…it was bronze paint.
My mouth suddenly watered and I looked away. How was he that muscular?
“Did you forget your shirt, Ragnar?” Duke Hyton sneered.
“Did you forget your age, Anders?” General Hyton shot back with a crooked smile—Riyan’s smile. “You are old enough to be the girl’s father.”
Duke Hyton gave his brother a sly grin. “Like you would know anything about being a real father. Now back off, the young men had already formed a line for the girl.”
Out of the corner of my eye, a woman in a viper mask broke through the crowd and appeared at the Duke’s side.
Duke Hyton glared at his brother for a moment more, but the woman tugged him by the arm and he retreated through the crowd.
General Hyton grabbed me by the forearm and dragged me away from the men who shouted their protests.
My feet struggled to keep up with his pace. “Why are you pulling me around?”
“No one here gets to lay a hand on you.” His shoulder bumped into the back of a delirious man’s head, making him fall over. “I need to get you out of here.”
My heart raced even faster than my footsteps as General Hyton yanked me to the closed ballroom doors. He jerked on the handle, but the door was locked.
“Damn you, Anders!” General Hyton hissed. He looked around the ballroom. “Where are my guards?”
I pulled my glove out of his grip. Bronze paint stained the dark fabric. “I will be fine.” I had to be. I had to be. “Why would it matter anyway?”
His brows knitted and the corner of his mouth flicked up. “You have no idea how many people are eager to bed a Hyton. The noble men will harm nothing but your pride, but a few of these opportunistic servants could take advantage of your newly available womb now that you have no blood bond. Just stay with me and—”
Ragnar’s words melted before they reached my ears as I focused on his full lips.
A low burn bloomed beneath my stomach. The burn spread through my limbs like lavender honey. The hair on my arms stood on end.
How had I never noticed how handsome he was?
My lips were flush and heavy. “You look just like him. How has no one ever guessed your big secret?”
Ragnar’s eyes widened. “Serafina, keep your voice down.”
The command made my knees weak. The small growl in his words sent a shiver down my spine. “But Riy—”
He clamped his hand over my mouth and my heart leaped. Suddenly my back was against the wall. A tower of bronze was all I could see. The metallic tang of the paint on his skin filled my nose.
“I have not forgotten that you owe me.” His heartbeat pulsed in his palm as he lowered his eyes.
My breasts pushed against my bodice as my chest heaved. I was ready to tell him to take whatever he wanted when his warm breath caressed my forehead. “An answer for an answer, remember? You owe me two.”
I nodded as he removed his hand from my flushed lips. My heart was pounding. My bodice was too tight.
Candlelight glinted in his eyes. “You survived the deadly faerie dust and your blood bond has disappeared with no logical explanation.”
My thighs shifted together, the insides were slick and I needed friction between them.
“If I asked you a direct question, you could not refuse me, right?”
My vision was blurring, but I answered, “Yes.”
Anything to please him. Anything to get him to touch me.
His hand parted the slit in my skirt. The instant his fingertips caressed my skin, I threw my head back and gasped. Pleasure hit me like lightning, sending heat straight to my core. His strong hand massaged my thigh as white light flared behind my eyes.
But it was not enough. I needed more.
Ragnar withdrew his hand and it was like someone dunked my head under water. My eyes popped open and I found his handsome face smiling at me.
“So tell me, Serafina…” He held up a black satin ribbon with a blue crystal in the shape of a heart that threw fractals of firelight. “…are you a sorceress?”
A ball of pure warmth pushed up my throat. “Yes.”
“Get off of her.”
The wall of bronze moved and the sensuous smell of oak and vanilla filled my nose. Derrick stood behind his uncle, dressed in black, and his eyes were on fire behind his dark mask.
General Hyton glared at Derrick and took a breath like he was going to say something.
“What are you doing, Ragnar?”
Even though my insides were practically molten, I looked up. A tall, red-haired man folded his arms and glared at General Hyton beneath his golden mask.
General Hyton’s chiseled face smoothed and he put on a smile. “Merely playing nursemaid, Tyreon.” He tossed Derrick a look and smirked. “But now that the children found each other, we should get some refreshment.”
The red-haired man’s mouth softened and he turned, his purple robes swishing around him. The General followed closely behind.
The burning sensation spread throughout my body, pooling with white-hot intensity in my hips. My skin shivered as Derrick rested his hands on my jaw and lowered his face near mine.
Fury burned in his eyes as they flicked down to the spots of bronze on my glove. “Did he hurt you?”
I savored his breath warming my cheeks as I answered, “No.”
“Did he give you anything to drink?”
“No, Derrick.” His name tasted so good in my mouth.
“Good, I have not had anything to drink either.” He let out a relieved breath. “Father told me what was happening and let me into the ballroom.”
His shirt was open at the collar, revealing a hint of dark hair on his chest.
“I am so sorry,” he said. “I should have been here sooner.”
My fingers twitched, aching to touch him as my eyes roamed his chest. An embroidered silver star rested on each side of his collar.
Two stars. All black ensemble. His costume was suddenly obvious.
A smile pulled at my flushed lips. “But you are here now, Midnight.”
He smiled. “Midnight was always there for you. I did not want tonight to be any different.”
My mouth watered. I could not take it anymore, I needed to touch him.
I traced one of his stars with my finger. His throat bobbed as I drew a line from his neck to his chest. Heat pulsed between my legs. “Derrick, I want you.”
His chest rose and fell faster. He looked down at me and swallowed. “Serafina, I know what tonight is supposed to be and…I have always wanted you, but are you—?”
I raised on my toes and my lips crashed against his as a desperate whimper escaped my throat. Now. I needed him now.
He pulled away and his breath skated against my swollen lips. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into another kiss. He bit my lip and I nearly collapsed. My heart drummed faster and faster.
“Right here,” I breathed between kisses. I wanted him to take me on the floor. Tear off my skirt. Give me everything.
He picked me up in his arms. His body became the entire world. Dark silken curls tickled my cheek. A strong hand caressed my right breast. An aching heart beat against my own.
“Patience, darling,” he whispered onto my lips. He pulled out a brass key and held it up. “Your first time will not be in front of a crowd.”