Page 35

Nothing could have prepared me for the Beltane festival.I stared in disbelief from the top of the steady slope, where I could see it all laid out before me.Bright bursts of fire pricked the dark hillside, scattered as far as the eye could see as bonfires of all different sizes crackled away, spitting thousands of sparks up into the night above.The light was shifting, unreliable, and everywhere I looked fae darted in and out of it, dancing in clothes that seemed to be more of a formality than anything else.Strips of transparent cloth and body paint seemed to be the most popular, though some wore wreaths of leaves or flowers in place of any actual clothing.One slender woman nearby with cat eyes and a forked tongue that flickered like a snake’s seemed to be wearing nothing but mud.Decorative headdresses and intricate jewellery wound around limbs, bodies swayed to the music, merchants ushered people in to sample their wares, which seemed to be bunches of heavily scented flowers, strange foods or what was probably alcohol.

‘What do you think?’Ves asked with a wide grin.

‘You said it wasn’t an orgy.’

He laughed then, as if I’d caught him off guard, the sound strangely contagious, and a smile tugged at my lips in response.He led me to one of the merchants, a pot-bellied creature with a pig’s snout and a little wooden cart.The drinks displayed there were beautiful.Golden liquid that faintly glowed as bubbles raced towards the surface, a purple flower blooming at the bottom of the glass.Ves paid the man and handed a glass to me.

‘What is it?’

‘You don’t have a lot of fun, do you?’Ves asked.

My mouth fell open.‘I...’As annoyed as I was, I couldn’t bring myself to deny it.The truth was, he was right.I snatched the glass with a scowl and sniffed the liquid before taking a sip.It was sweet and floral.The bubbles burst on my tongue and a warmth like sunshine slid down my throat.‘Wow,’ I said, my irritation suddenly forgotten.‘That’s really good.’

‘Of course it is,’ Ves said with a chuckle before sipping his own, looking every bit the regal prince.He drew the eye of all the women near us, and it didn’t take long for them to turn their eyes to me with assessing looks as they wondered who I was to be near him.

‘I think being next to you might actually be putting me in more danger,’ I said.

‘Shall we give them a show?’he asked, leaning in.

‘Absolutely not!’I stepped away from him as if he’d suddenly produced fangs.His eyes danced with amusement.‘What?’I demanded.

‘Is it because you don’t find me attractive or because I’m not Tarian?’he asked.

‘I—you—’ I stammered, unsure how I was even supposed to answer that question.‘Where the hell did that come from?’

‘Have you ever heard of a mate bond before?’

‘A what?’God, he was mercurial.The sudden change in the topic of conversation gave me whiplash.

‘A mate bond.It’s a very old and rare phenomenon.All fae are given a mate, someone fated for them by the gods, so the stories go.A single touch is all it takes for a fae to recognise them.’

‘Okay...so kind of like a soulmate?’I asked, still not entirely sure why we were on this particular topic.But the idea of it struck a chord with me; there was something beautiful and romantic about the thought that there was someone out there destined for you alone.

‘Something like that, yes.’

‘And you’re telling me this because...?’He looked at me expectantly.‘You’re not saying I’m yours?’I asked, my eyes growing wide.

He looked me over, amusement gleaming in his eyes.‘Clever but a little oblivious, aren’t you?’he said.

‘Well, you don’t have to be rude,’ I snapped, taking a sip of my drink.

‘You are quite adorable with that crease between your brows,’ he said, tapping my forehead.

My face went as blank as my mind as I stared at him in shock.

‘What the fuck is this?’My body stiffened at the sound of Tarian’s voice, my gaze darting about until it landed on him standing at the edge of the flickering firelight, his dark eyes fixed on me.He looked… well, murderous.

‘Ah, there you are, cousin.I wondered when you’d show.Intolerably rude to keep a lady waiting,’ Ves said, shooting me a wink.

‘Why is she here?’Tarian growled, snapping his focus to Ves, looking as though he was trying to pin him in place with his glare.

‘I thought your little bird needed to stretch her wings a bit, see how wonderful this realm can be.Although a certain surly prince is not currently proving my point.’

Tarian drew closer.‘This isn’t a joke, Vesryn.’

‘Oh, using my full name.I think I just felt a shiver down my spine.’

Tarian’s hands balled into fists, and the fire seemed to shrink behind him, the flames retreating down like they were being sucked into a vacuum.