Page 14

We did as we were instructed. The moment my calloused palm came in contact with her smooth skin, an electric jolt shot up my arm.

Ember must have felt something similar, for her body gave a delicious shiver.

Ayauna approached, making slight adjustments to our hand placements, then stepped back and gave a satisfied nod.

“Now, circle one another with slow, calculated steps—as if you were sizing one another up.”

Ember and I circled each other, our bodies so close, the swell of her breasts brushed against my torso.

I felt my breath hitch inside my lungs. The slender column of Ember’s throat flexed as she swallowed.

My incisors lengthened, priming for the bite that would anchor us to each other as mates.

My heart beat so loudly inside my chest that the thrumming rang in my ears.

I hardly picked up Ember’s voice as she whispered to me.

“Is it me, or is the dance instructor a bit…stuffy?”

“That’s the understatement of the millennium,” I groused, keeping my voice to a murmur. Allowing a dark smirk to toy with my lips, I replied, “She’s had a stick shoved up her ass ever since I was a babe. I’m amazed she’s able to walk straight.”

Ember giggled.

“Focus!” Ayauna snapped.

Ember and I shared a knowing look. Next, the dance instructor asked me to draw away from Ember and let my hand run down her opposite arm until our fingers interlocked. She told Ember to mirror my movements. I swear, as our skin brushed each other’s, there were sparklers that danced across our arms.

Her eyes widened slightly as her gaze dropped to our hands—palms kissing each other. Following Ayauna’s instructions, we began an intricate dance involving many sensual caresses that left my blood blazing. I spun Ember out, and then she twirled into my arms, her back against my front.

From there, she lowered her stance slightly, her arms rising to bracket my neck as she swayed her hips before grinding her ass into my groin. I stifled a guttural groan that crawled up my throat.

I’m going to kill my father for this .

I met her bottom with each thrust of my pelvis, sliding my hands down the sides of her body to grip her hips.

My fingers dug into the smooth porcelain skin.

That was not part of Ayauna’s instructions, but Ember didn’t seem to mind.

In fact, she threw her head back against my shoulder and pushed into me harder as she became lost in the rhythm.

My cock rose to greet her, slipping along her ass.

I was seconds away from saying ‘screw it’ and dragging Ember out of the ballroom. Laying her pretty ass on my bed and taking her long and hard.

I gripped her hips firmly, spinning Ember around to face me, before I dipped her backward.

Her auburn hair cascaded across the floor like a crimson cape.

Her eyes widened in surprise as I let my hand slide down her thigh and hug the back of her knee.

I then angled her leg to hook over mine.

Her hand shot out to wrap around the nape of my neck for purchase.

A wicked grin curled my lips. Ember’s chest heaved with labored breaths.

“You’re good at this,” Ember panted. “Why…am I not surprised?”

“Oh, I have much more to show you that would surprise you a great deal…” I said, my voice dropping to a seductive purr.

A soft gasp broke past Ember’s lips, and she blinked slowly up at me. Clapping arose from Ayauna. I straightened, pulling Ember up with me and releasing my hold on her leg, allowing her to stand.

“Well done,” Ayana said as she ceased clapping; she clasped her hands together. A gleeful grin etched across her face. “Not bad for your first dance. Not bad at all. ”

Ember only had eyes for me. The amber of her eyes bled through the blue swallowing, her pupils blown wide.

My fingers tightened in response, digging into the soft flesh of her hips.

She let out a low, seductive growl. It was as if she was beckoning me to take her then and there on the floor.

And I would be more than happy to oblige her.

A soft cough from Ayauna. “Well, now, let’s?—”

Then I heard it.

A short inhale came from the entrance to the ballroom. My head whipped to the side as my gaze landed on a female shadow fae with cascading waves of chocolate brown hair. Her silver eyes were blown wide with disbelief, tears quickly brimming in them.

Rosalana.

Shit!

Dread fell like a stone in my gut. Ember followed my gaze. Her eyes narrowed on Rosalana, her fangs lengthening as she bared her teeth at her. Ember’s fingers dug into the muscles of my back, and I felt the kiss of her claws.

I watched, my heart heavy, as Rosalana backed up a few steps. She shook her head to and fro slowly. Her lower lip trembled as she shot me a hateful glare, then spun on her heel and raced away.

“Rosalana!” I called, my leg muscles tensed to bolt after her. I loosened my grip on Ember and turned away from her, only to feel a hand clap onto my wrist—staying me. I glanced over my shoulder. Ember stared up at me, her eyes pleading.

“Drake,” she said, her voice laced with distress. “Don’t go to her. Please. ”

At that moment, I felt as if I stood on a moutain in the middle of a barren wasteland. A cavernous expanse existed on both sides. On one plateau stood Ember; on the other—Rosalana.

I had to choose. I knew in my heart I couldn’t keep both in my life. Rosalana or Ember. My promise or my heart? The answer should have been so simple. Yet, I gritted my teeth, jaw aching, as indecision roiled through me, lighting up my insides.

“I…I…,” I swallowed thickly. “Give me one moment, Ember.” Pain flickered in her gaze.

Then, I slipped my wrist free of her grasp.

Tearing away from the werewolf female, I raced out of the ballroom ignoring the cries from our dance instructor.

I raced down the corridor past servants and guards stationed at each exit point, letting my nose chase after her scent.

I saw a flash of movement beyond the windows—a figure streaking across the gardens under the dusky sky.

I raced to the doors leading into the garden and flung them open, barreling past. Rosalana’s cries touched my ears—a wild thing filled with sobs.

She was heading toward the short wall and planned on escaping.

“Rosalana!” I yelled after her.

My long legs easily ate up the small distance between us. Before she reached the wall, I lunged. I wrapped my arms around her middle and hauled her against my chest. Immediately, the shadow fae female shrieked, kicking out blindly. Her fists swung as she tried to strike anywhere she could hit me.

“Rosalana, stop it!” I tucked her arms beneath my hold.

“You liar,” she screamed at me. “You Stars Damn Cheater! ”

“Listen to me, for stars' sake!” I whirled her around to face me. “I have never cheated on you!”

She let out a scornful laugh. “Not in the correct terminology,” she sneered.

“But emotionally, you have!” Her lower lips trembled.

“I saw you in there with her. Holding her in your arms. Having dry sex with her!” I saw the tears forming in her eyes.

They spilled down her cheeks. “You love her!” She slammed her eyelids shut and gave way to the tears, her shoulders shaking with her cries.

“Rosalana, please listen to reason! I shook her shoulders slightly. “It was simply a dance. That’s all. My father ordered the Shahar between us. It was not my choice!”

Lies. A dark voice whispered inside my mind. You enjoyed every second of it. Every moment with her… I chased the thought away.

“You,” Rosalana gasped between sobs. “You swore you would find a way to call off this engagement. Yet, I don’t even see you trying!

” She sniffled. “You’re going along with your father's whims. You’ll perform the dance with her, and that will seal your union before the eyes of the court—the whole fae empire! ”

I shook my head, desperate to reassure her, to rid those tears from her eyes.

Take care of my sister, Gallux’s voice rang inside my head—with enough clarity as if he were in the gardens with me.

“Rosalana, look at me,” I said, my voice hoarse.

She slammed her eyelids shut and tossed her head to the side. I grasped her chin in a gentle hold and angled her head toward me. Her eyelids fluttered open, her silver eyes sparkling like twin diamonds .

With her attention on me, I began, “I have tried to break off the engagement,” I said earnestly.

“My father won’t hear of it—not now. You have to know that I can’t call things off and jeopardize our people just to fulfill our desires.

You know that would ignite a war between our people and the werewolves.

I cannot allow that to happen.” I slammed my eyelids shut.

“I just have to figure out a way to call things off without there being any backlash or consequences to our people—to my kingdom.”

A short gasp arose from behind, causing ice daggers to pierce my core. Just then, the breeze picked up behind me, bringing with it the scent of vanilla and honeysuckle that belonged solely to one female.

Stars, no… I slowly turned and faced who I knew would be standing there.

Ember.