Page 24 of A Taste of Bliss

I head down the hall, seeing the familiar purple glow of a portal at the end. Through the portal I can see bits of another hallway that almost seem identical to this one. I step through, mindful of a rather large piece of azkanite jutting out from the right angle of the door, purple particles evaporating off it. On the other side, I find myself in much the same style of building, though the decor here is more ornate.

Ostentatious, really.

Classical music wafts its way to my ears and I follow it and the scent of warm, freshly cooked food. As I pass through another of the many hallways, I try to note certain things about it so I can find my way back to the portal if need be. In case Liz gets too caught up in her old work.

I pass an opening that leads down another shorter hallway and take a quick peek. I realize I should definitely keep going straight. Three males are all standing around a fae who’s propped up against the wall. Probably had too much to drink.

Fae make their drinksstrong.

I continue straight, the hallway opening up to a large banquet room. The tables set up are fancier than necessary. Gold-lined china plates and crystal stemware decorate the tables, and each centerpiece is a flower arrangement bigger than my head with lots of lavender and purple flowers of all kinds.

The buffet table is equally as fancy, with golden serving tongs and the most exquisite smelling food. My stomach growls as I approach it, picking up one of the nice plates and reminding myself over and over again not to even think about dropping one of these plates. It probably costs more than a week’s pay at my job.

Not that money is too much of an issue for me. But I still wouldn’t want to destroy such a nice thing.

I pick a few things off the buffet table, placing them gently on the plate, and turn around to scan for a place to sit quietly and eat.

“I’d steer clear of that mini quiche, if I were you,” someone to my right says. I look up and see a tall, dark-haired fae with an almost eerie set of blue eyes, with a hint of violet.

Runeless eyes.

Again.

“You’ve got your bond activated, then?” the stranger asks.

“What?”

“You’ve got the look all recently activated fae get. The prolonged eye contact as you search for runes gives you away.”

A blush ripples underneath my skin, and I look away. “Sorry,” I mutter.

“It’s hardly your fault. You’re all so eager to find your mates. I think it’s nice.”

I glance back at him. He’s smiling kindly and I feel a bit of easiness creep back into me. I let out a little laugh. “It’s a bit pathetic, though, isn’t it?”

“Maybe a little. But aren’t we all?”

My smile widens. “So no mini quiches?”

“No, they’re burnt on the inside, if you can imagine.”

I pick mine up and examine it, pulling it apart, and sure enough, the inside is somehow blackened. “Some sort of English fae delicacy?” I ask.

The stranger winks at me. He nods over to an empty spot on the wall where we can chat out of the way of the buffet table.

“I’m Bliss,” I say, extending my hand. He takes it and instead of shaking it, places a kiss on top of it.

“Dylan,” he replies, letting my hand drop.

“Have you found your bondmate?” I ask, my eyes going to his again. Fae can’t see the runes of another bonded pair, but I still look intently as if I could.

“No, I’m unfortunately not so lucky.”

I nod in agreement, but I don’t say anything about my weird bond. I don’t think I could take the pity he’d likely offer.

I’m about to ask what brought him to this party when a familiar howl of laughter pierces into me. My back goes ramrod straight, and the plate falls out of my hands, smashing to the ground. My fingers and toes have gone almost numb. Everyone’s eyes fall to me and Dylan as a cater waiter rushes forward and cleans it up.

“Very sorry, friend, she just took a bite of the mini quiche,” Dylan says to the waiter, who nods, despite wearing a baffled expression.