Page 20 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

20

LENNOX

I had to go to a ball.

I had to go to a ball with Luka.

I had to go to a ball with Luka and act like we were happily in love and engaged and not like my heart shredded further every time I was around him.

And the last time we were at a ball together—those memories alone were enough to send me into a spiral.

But this wasn’t something I could avoid. This was the first of many balls and events I’d have to attend with him by my side. I needed to get used to putting on a face while I was next to him and pretending I wasn’t dying inside.

The knock on my door told me there was no more ignoring him.

I opened the door, finding him standing in the hallway, waiting for me. He was dressed in head-to-toe black, his shirt was unbuttoned on the top and his sleeves were rolled up, exposing his corded forearms. Why did he have to be so starsdamned attractive?

He looked almost nervous. Anxious even? Emotions I wasn’t used to seeing on him.

The moment his eyes took me in, any nervous energy dissipated. He took his time looking me up and down, not even trying to hide his open perusal of my body.

“You look— wow .” He scrubbed his hand over his chin, over the thin layer of stubble coating his jaw.

“I mean, you did pick it out for me.” The dress had arrived this afternoon, with a note from Luka, insisting I let him help me make sure I was properly dressed for my first Blood Court ball. I was ready to toss out the dress, not willing to let him help me, but then I looked at it. It was a stunning black and gold dress with a low back and plunging neckline. I couldn’t resist a dress like that.

“Yeah—but seeing it on you is a whole different experience.” His eyes darkened. I knew exactly what thoughts were filtering through his mind. We had a similar conversation before, one that ended with us fucking against a wall. “I think?—”

“Don’t.” I stopped him before he could get the words out. “You can’t make comments like that anymore.”

“C’mon, Sweetheart. We’re engaged. If my fiancè looks good enough to fuck, I should be able to tell her such.”

“Keep your filthy thoughts in your head.”

“Or what? You’ll stab me?” He placed his hand dramatically on his chest as he followed me into the room.

“It’s been a long time since you stabbed me. You know how your violence turns me on. You and those daggers.” He was practically panting now.

“Thoughts. Keep them in your head,” I scolded.

“Fine. I’ll keep my thoughts about fucking you in that dress in my head.”

“You’re infuriating.”

“And that’s why you?—”

We both froze. The unsaid words hanging in the air.

“We should go.” The words were thick in my throat.

He scrubbed his hand over his neck. “Yeah.” He looked at the floor. “After you.

Luka held out his hand to me and guided me from the carriage. He linked my arm through his as the cold winter chill nipped at my skin. Forgoing a cloak was a decision I was now regretting.

He leaned in close, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “Remember, we’re supposed to be happily engaged. So you’re going to have to pretend to like me tonight.”

I swallowed, still on edge by how close his mouth was to mine. “Good thing I’m a master at putting on a mask.”

Something I couldn’t place flashed across his features before he pulled back and guided me inside the manor.

We walked through the gilded doors into a darkened entry where we were immediately passed glasses of a dark liquid in a tall glass by a masked servant.

My eyes scanned the darkened room, searching for any sign of the ball Luka had promised, but there was nothing, the room was empty besides a few masked staff. The curtains were drawn, keeping out any light from the moon. Only a few bulbs were lit, casting the room in a dim orange light.

“You won’t find anything in here.” I remained silent, taking a sip from my glass as he continued to lead me through the room until we came to a lighted path. We followed the path down the hallway until we were led to what I assumed was the ballroom.

The curtains were shut in here as well, but candles and lanterns were scattered throughout the room along with small strings of lights. The lighted path we followed into the room continued into the ballroom spreading out like lighted roots in the dim room to guide us through.

There was no room for dancing, booths, couches, and daybeds were scattered around the space instead. Fabric dividers were placed strategically throughout the room to create the illusion of privacy, but everything was still out in the open.

Partygoers were scattered around the room, the sounds of their pleasure mixing with the dark seductive music playing from musicians hiding somewhere in the dark room.

I swallowed thickly as my gaze flicked to the pair of males on the couch beside us. Our arrival did nothing to slow or stop their exploration of one another.

“Is this what you were expecting?” Luka said as he leaned in close to not disrupt the males.

“No.” My voice was rough in my throat. No. This was not what I was expecting at all.

“I’ll explain in a moment.” Luka pulled me along. “Let’s find a spot first.”

I stopped in my tracks. “A spot—I’m not finding a spot with you Luka.”

“Shhh—” he warned. “We’re happily engaged, remember? Just follow me.”

I did so hesitantly. We passed a small dance floor, where a female danced seductively for a small group of males and females who reclined against a mass of pillows and blankets.

Luka continued to weave us through the room until we came to an unoccupied day bed in the far corner of the room.

“Sit,” Luka instructed me. I didn’t argue, I sat against the pillows, and placed my empty glass on the table beside the bed.

“Explain.” Luka settled in close to me, his leg brushing against my exposed thigh. I ignored the spark that nipped at my skin from the contact.

“Blood Court parties are meant to be an opportunity to let loose. Experience your darkest inhibitions free without judgments. Couples will come here together only to spend the whole night with another and leave together at the end of the night.”

“So this party is essentially a high-class sex club?”

Luka chuckled. “Call it what you want.” He swiped a bottle of wine off a passing tray.

“I’m not judging. I’m trying to wrap my head around the concept.” He held his hand out to me and I passed him my empty glass .

“So—” I asked hesitantly as I took my refilled glass from him. “Do you typically partake in these parties?”

He pushed the hair back from his face. “Yes and no.”

A knot formed in my stomach at his non-answer.

“I never came here seeking out pleasure—but if pleasure sought out me I didn’t typically say no.”

I cursed the goddess-forsaken knot in my stomach for tightening at the thought of him here with another even before I had met him. If I hadn’t come here with him tonight, would he have turned someone away if they approached him? Even if he was technically engaged to me? He said there was no judgment for couples who sought out others at these parties—did that include royally engaged couples?

“I know what you’re thinking—and no.” With a single finger on my cheek, he turned me so I looked at him. “I may be trying to find you a way out of this marriage, Lennox, but you are mine and I am yours. You don’t need to worry about me straying—no matter the circumstance.” My heart squeezed. My stupid fucking heart. I knew by the look in his eyes he meant it. Luka always meant what he said. He opened his mouth—I thought he might say more, but instead, he let go of my face, shifting back to his seat. The place where his finger was, left a brand on my skin.

We sat in silence for a while—each of us watching the events taking place before us.

“Why did I have to be here if we are going to sit in the corner and watch everyone else?”

Luka’s brows rose. “Are you saying you want to do more than sit in a corner?”

I choked on the wine. “No—I mean. You said we were expected here. We’re not talking to anyone and I doubt anyone is paying us any attention so why are we here?” Luka chuckled.

“The duke knows we are here, he will call for us later. He’s probably giving us some time to enjoy the party first.”

“What do you mean enjoy?”

A smile crept up his face. “I think you know.”

“We’re not doing that.” Although the idea of letting Luka touch me didn’t repel me at all. It sent a small spark through my body instead.

“You said you didn’t think anyone was paying us any attention, there’s a way we can change that.”

“No.”

He laughed again. “You make it too easy to rile you up.”

My cheeks heated as I silently cursed myself. I hated how easily he could get under my skin.

“You know I’d never make you do anything you didn’t want to do.” I eased slightly. I did know that.

“But I will warn you, if anyone pays us a visit you might have to sit a little closer to me. You’re making it hard to believe we’re happy together.”

I grumbled in acceptance as I took another sip of my drink.

“Why are we here anyway?” Attending a ball together was one thing—but this party—I had a hard time wrapping my mind around why we were expected to be here. Especially if no one was paying us any attention as they were wrapped up in their own experience .

“You’ll see soon enough.”

“Luka,” I said, my tone sharp.

“Can you trust me, please?” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “The duke is in charge of the city watch. My grandfather claims there haven’t been any Vanir attacks on the city since I’ve been back, but I don’t exactly believe him. I wanted to see if I could get an answer straight from the source.”

“What makes you think he’ll give you the information you want?”

He smirked. “When someone has their hand wrapped around your cock, information slips from your lips real easily.”

“Luka,” I hissed. “I am not touching him.”

“I didn’t mean you,” his eyes darkened, “You will not be touching him. There are plenty others here that will be at his disposal, but we need to be there when it happens, while he’s distracted.”

Before I could press about it further Luka stiffened and shushed me.

“What?”

“It’s the duke.” He spoke through his teeth. “The moment he spots us he’ll surely make his way over here. Now’s the time, Sweetheart, pretend like you like me.”

I stiffened as he snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. “Anytime now.” He murmured as his lips pressed into the side of my neck. An involuntary shiver wracked my body at the feel of his lips moving across my neck, placing soft kisses wherever they traveled. I shifted so one of my legs draped across his lap, intertwining with his. I closed my eyes and exposed my neck further to him. Moaning slightly as his fangs scraped over my heated skin.

“Keep making sounds like that, Sweetheart, and I’ll think you aren’t pretending.”

“Don’t ruin it.” I panted as I gripped my hand in his shirt pulling him closer, causing the hand on my back to tighten.

Too easy, it was too easy to fall back into his arms.

“Well, isn’t it the happy couple?” A male voice interrupted the exploration of his lips. Luka bent forward, resting his forehead in the crook of my neck—breathing me in before he sat up and turned toward our visitor. The duke’s golden hair was cut similar to Luka’s, the longer pieces were mused, as if someone else had been pulling at the strands. His white shirt was unbuttoned, exposing his muscular chest.

“Caspian.” Luka gave me a hard time about the face I put on as queen, but he did the same as he addressed the duke and his companions. “I was wondering when you’d find us.”

“I’ve been previously occupied.” The male’s blue eyes glimmered as he looked at the male and female beside him before breaking out into a grin. “As I see you have been too. ”

“Yes, I don’t think you’ve been introduced.” Luka stood before giving me his hand and pulling me to stand next to him, wrapping his arm around my waist as he tucked me into his side.

“This is High Queen, Lennox Adair.”

The duke’s smile faltered for a second.

“My Queen.” He bowed. “What an honor it is to meet you and have you in my home. I’m sorry I didn’t know of your arrival sooner I would have?—”

“There is no need.” I interrupted the male. “We are all here to have fun are we not? My arrival should have no hinderance to that.”

The male opened his mouth, but Luka interrupted him. “Lennox and I are engaged. We are here so she can see what she is marrying into.”

“And are you enjoying yourself, Your Majesty?”

“Very much so.”

“I would love for you and Luka to come and join me in my suite.”

Luka’s grip on my waist tightened, but he smiled. “We would love to.”