Page 23 of The Ever King

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“Glad to hear it. For I hope to dance with you again. Maybe another after that, and I would hate to make you uneasy, little bird.”

Hells, he was intense. “You don’t make me uneasy. I simply can’t place who you are.”

“I could say the same about you.”

He didn’t know me. I’d wanted to be bold, daring. With a stranger who bled power and mystery, yet did not know what title burdened my blood, I could be anything.

With a deep swallow, I pressed my body a little closer. Breasts smashed against his chest. On the intake of breath beneath his mask, his fingers drifted lower to the slope of my backside.

“So, who are you, little bird?”

A rush of something dangerous hummed in my bones. “Yours, I suppose. For a little while.”

My shadow made a noise, a sound deep and throaty like a growl. He leaned his masked face near mine, the heat in his strange eyes burned in desire. “Speak more words like that, and I will need to keep you longer than a little while.”

He dragged the nose of his mask along the side of my throat. My skin prickled, my knees struggled to hold my weight. A pool of heat slid between my thighs, and I nearly gasped at the sensation. I’d felt an attraction to men since my girlish eyes found Stieg at age seven. Naturally, I was certain I’d take vows with the warrior someday. Until I met Hugo Nilsson in gentry lessons at the wise age of nine.

Then the secret pull to a boy forbidden to these lands. A pull I kept hidden even from Alek. But even more than my fleeting pull to Bloodsinger, my body craved the darkness of my new stranger.

I’d wanted a night to live in the throes of pleasure. A man with such an aura, doubtless, knew how to accomplish such a thing.

For two, then four, then a fifth dance, I clung to my stranger. Time didn’t seem to matter much. He spoke few words, mostly asked about me, but occasionally when we’d stumble, or my heel stepped on his toe, he’d try to keep in a laugh, until I tossed my head back and laughed for the both of us.

“You say you paint?” he said when the tune slowed again. “What do you paint?”

I was unaccustomed to anyone outside of my friends asking me about what interested me. My stranger had done that with every dance. In turn, I’d blurted out every light to my soul. Fishing with knives and spears instead of nets, blossoms and soft grass, and painting.

I cleared my throat. “It’s strange, but I started the habit for my younger brother’s entertainment when he was tiny, and never stopped. I paint windows with a thin gloss. When it dries and the sun hits the pane just so, it’s a little like stepping into a fairy tale.”

His fingers splayed over my spine, touching every divot. “Perhaps you might show me these window paintings someday.”

Gods, was I doing this? Mouth dry, blood racing, I pressed a clammy palm to his chest. “I-I’ve painted the fort windows in . . . in my chamber. If you’d like to see them.”

His fingers curved, digging into my hip. “Lead the way, little bird.”

Breathe. Focus. I took a step back. “Give me a moment to . . . to tell my friend where I’ve gone. She’ll fret needlessly.”

He dipped his chin. “I shall wait for you in the corridor.”

I spun away. Another scorching look from him, and I might convince myself it was too much. A stranger? Could I do this? A few steps without his nearness, and my heart convinced my mind,yes. I would never have a greater regret if I did not experience a bit more of that man’s hands.

“Mira.” I tapped her shoulder when I found her still arguing with Tobias over something frivolous only found among longtime childhood playmates.

“Livie.” She gripped my arm and yanked me down. Half a head shorter, I had to dip for her to whisper by my ear. “I cannot even see that man’s face, but he, unmistakably, wants to take a bite out of you.”

I grinned, taking her hand and squeezing. “Let us hope he does. I’m . . . I’m taking him to my chamber. Now.”

Mira’s lips parted. “Liv, are you certain? It’s just, you haven’t—”

“I know.” I tightened my hold on her. “I want to do this, and if I don’t, I will curse myself come morning.”

She snorted. “Do this, and you might still be cursing come morning if he does not know how to conduct himself properly.”

Mira was the best friend to keep around should you need a bolster of bravery. Never one to discourage us once our minds were made up, Mira simply stood back, ready to catch us if we fell.

“I wanted you to know in case you couldn’t find me.”