Page 29

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

The light flickering from the lanterns inside was dim, further adding to the atmosphere.

It felt as if this was a place that had withstood the tests of time, all the while maintaining a mysteriousness and charm.

Musicians were set off to the back left side of the room, while on the right side, there was a dance floor.

A few couples and friends were dancing to an upbeat song while the rest of the crowd stood at tabletops or barrels used as tables for the night.

I didn’t recognize the song being played, but I was tapping my foot along to the rhythm.

The crowd was alive, full of the hopefuls from Azmeer in addition to the locals of the town surrounding the blush stone gates.

I found myself entranced by them.

Never had I seen such an array of people, outside of the palace itself.

While university had been a change, it had been made up of locals, humans, and the only times I’d ventured from the library had been when Kadian dragged me out.

“Your drinks, miss.” I thanked the barkeep and brought the drinks back to Oz and Kadian.

“Here’s to…” Oz paused, “ feeling good, ” he elongated his words, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Kadian's complexion appeared healthier than it had in a week as he took a sip. A hint of color graced his cheeks, though it was difficult to determine if that was from the ale or the crowd growing inside.

Over the next couple of hours, we shared stories. We learned of when Oz and Tamra got separated from their parents in Samina, a town near Hadash while visiting the Eternal Court.

“I didn’t think they were ever going to find us. One second, we were in the middle of this market,” I knew he was starting to feel the effects of his drink because his gestures had become bigger with each story he told. “And then all of a sudden, this sheet was pulled back from the cart, and there they were! It was crazy.”

“It wasn’t that crazy,” Tamra said as she arrived and put her hand on her brother's shoulder.

“Somebody thought it would be funny to try to get our parents' attention by making them think that they lost us when in reality, we hid in a merchant cart next to where they were standing,” she raised her eyebrows at her brother, “not one of your better ideas.”

“I didn’t hear you offering anything better at the time,” he looked back at her as if she had ruined the story.

“Well, how about I offer something now, a round on me?” She smiled at us. The guys cheered, and I mouthed to her that I was good with the one I had.

The noise continued to escalate, with the music adopting a more sensual tone to complement the flow of conversation. All while smoke billowed from the corners of the room, adding to the haziness of the atmosphere.

“It’s pucchia,” Tamra told us when she arrived with our drinks. Her arrival without Isidra didn't go unnoticed by anyone. When prodded about it, her response was curt. “I didn't ask her, nor is it any of your business, Osforth.”

“You wound me, sister,” he exclaimed, placing his hand over his heart, feigning a dramatic fall.

“What’s pucchia?” I asked, trying to switch the conversation from Tamra.

“It’s a plant that grows just outside the walls of Azmeer; it helps… relax you.” She smiled.

“Have you tried it before?”

She nodded and made her way closer to me while the boys compared notes on which of the ales they liked best thus far. “I’ve found it helpful during trying times in my life. Not to say that my parents haven’t always been supportive, because they have, but…” she took a sip of her drink, “sometimes we’re hardest on ourselves.”

I laid my hand over hers and gave it a squeeze. Her eyes found mine, and for a moment, we understood each other.

Tamra and I became swept up in stories of where we grew up. I loved getting to know her more. Despite her and Oz being twins, the two of them couldn’t have been more different. It wasn’t that Oz wasn’t thoughtful and well-meaning, he was. He was also offbeat and charming. Tamra was more grounded, a bit more serious, but still warm.

By the time the boys had gone on to their fifth round of drinks, they’d forgotten about my earlier statement as I continued to sip my very first one. Despite only having one drink, I was feeling lighter and warm. I couldn’t tell if it was due to the number of people that had found themselves inside, if it was the drink I had been sipping on, or something else, but I was beginning to feel flushed.

“I’m going to get another drink,” I said to the group. Their faces appeared pleased at this notion. However, they didn’t know that I intended to ask for shaved ice in an attempt to cool down. I made my way to the bar, hearing snippets of conversations along the way.

“It’s all those kids from up at the palace. Seems like they let them out,” a man grumbled to a woman that I assumed was his date.

“I invited him, but who knows if he’ll show,” I thought I heard Iona say as one of her friends handed her some pucchia. She’d glared at me when I entered, but I pretended not to notice. Whatever her issue with me was, I had no desire to uncover it. It was easier, safer, to keep my distance.

The song changed, the tempo more upbeat, this was one Kadian and I were familiar with. Locking eyes across the room, I inclined my head toward the dance floor. He flashed a tight-lipped smile, persuading Oz and Tamra to join us and ushered them toward the back of the room.

I finished my drink, and twirled myself, arms in the air as I walked to join them. Gods, it felt so good to just get lost in rhythm and feeling. Nothing mattered but the beat of the song and how we all came together to enjoy the music. The first song, we all danced together. Everyone clasping hands at one point or another, spinning the other, immersing themselves in the experience. It felt as if a smile had permanently etched itself on my face. Laughing filled my ears, and for a moment, I thought of Lil and how much she would have loved this.

By the third song, the musicians had continued to play with an upbeat tempo but had encouraged everyone to find a partner. Tamra was joined by a slender woman with black hair who had been watching her from the bar.

“It’s time to determine once and for all which of the ales is superior.” Kadian smacked Oz on the back as they exited the floor.

I chose to stay by myself, continuing to sway to the music. The haze of smoke made it rather difficult to see, and to the majority of the people in the room, it looked as if I’d found someone to join me. I knew this ballad and the beat of the drums had always been one of my favorites. It would be soft for a three-count and then crescendo. When with a partner, it was the perfect song to time the movement of one's hips and just get lost in the feel of the song and each other.

I closed my eyes and allowed myself to be transported.

The bar smelled of ale when we arrived but it now smelled of smoke with cinnamon.

With each breath I took, it felt as if the stressors of the past few days had begun to erase themselves from my mind.

Gods, I felt like I was floating in the middle of the room.

The lights grew dimmer as the evening progressed, and with the smoke and the ever-growing crowd, it had become dark inside.

You could hardly make out someone's face unless they were close enough to stand within arm's reach.

I savored this time alone, relishing the rare chance to feel free.

I saw Tamra and the woman she’d been dancing with exit the dance floor.

She was leading Tamra to one of the back corners.

It was only then I noticed it seemed that the darkness was moving, it was not steady or solid.

Moments later, it appeared as if it began to slither and creep along floorboards before stopping at my feet.

Shadows swirled and rose around me, as if following the cadence of the song.

I leaned out and touched it, drawn to it in a way I couldn’t explain.

I could’ve sworn I heard the shadows laugh.

The thrumming in my body only grew as the smell of smoke permeated my senses.

I continued to spin in circles, letting the music consume me, captivated by its melody so much that I didn’t care when I became encircled in darkness.

I stood still for a moment in my cocoon of shadow.

It was an odd sensation, but I was unafraid, knowing it wouldn’t harm me.

It was silent. I somehow managed to forget that mere feet from me, music continued to blare, and I was surrounded by blissfully drunk dancing fools.

None of that mattered; all that mattered was what had enshrouded itself around me.

As if from nowhere, two glimmering eyes appeared in the darkness, reminding me of the shadow figure during the trial.

They looked me up and down before a man emerged from the shadow.

Dainan. I wondered if he’d been watching me from the shadows in the corner and, if so, for how long.

Was he the one Iona had invited?

Was that why he was here?

“Do you often dance alone?” His voice was sultry, like molten honey, as if every word dripped directly into my ear, teasing my senses.

His arms folded across his chest, and I was acutely aware of every line and ripple of muscle beneath his sleeveless tunic.

It was as if he had been sculpted by the gods themselves, a masterpiece of strength and beauty.

The space between us seemed to shrink with every heartbeat.

His scent—smoke and citrus—overwhelmed any rational thought.

My body responded without hesitation, a silent hum of anticipation buzzing through my veins.

I wanted to move closer, to close the inches that separated us, and feel the press of his skin against mine.

Words barely formed on my lips as I fought the pull of his gaze, but it was futile.

I couldn’t resist.

“Not always,” I managed, my voice a breathy whisper, taking a step toward him.

The air between us crackled with tension, our bodies nearly touching.

A flicker of surprise lit his eyes, his body going rigid for a moment before softening into something more primal—curiosity, excitement, desire.

His gaze traveled the length of me as if considering how far I’d take this.

I reached out, placing my hand on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beneath my fingers.

My palm slid down his torso, tracing the hard planes of his stomach before halting just above the waistband of his pants.

“Do you dance, Lord of Shadows?” My voice was bold, dripping with challenge, despite the storm of emotion building inside me.

His grin turned wicked, a predator's smile. In one swift movement, he was behind me, his breath hot against my neck, lips grazing the sensitive skin there. “Only when I find a worthy partner,” he purred, his words vibrating through me, igniting a fire deep within my core. His hands slid around my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us, his body pressing against mine.

“Will you dance with me, Ilia?” His voice, so close, sent shivers down my spine as his fingers brushed the curve of my abdomen, teasing, waiting for my permission.

“Yes,” the word left my lips in a moan, my body arching into him, already pliant, already surrendering to the sensation of his touch. His right hand tightened its grip around my waist, his strength palpable, while his left hand explored the lines of my body with slow, deliberate strokes as if savoring every inch.

The shadows fell away from us, revealing other dancers lost in the rhythm of the music, but they were nothing more than a blur in my peripheral vision. All that existed was him. His hips moved with mine, grinding, swaying in perfect harmony. We fit together effortlessly, our bodies speaking a language more ancient than words.

Dainan’s breath was at my neck again, his lips grazing the tender spot below my ear. Each exhale sent electric waves through me. Gods , I thought, the warmth of him unbearable, the need overwhelming.

“Is this how you like it, Ilia?” His question was a tease, his lips moving against my skin, leaving me breathless.

I couldn’t answer, couldn’t think beyond the feel of his hands on my body. My hand pressed against his, guiding it lower, urging him on, and when he let his fingers brush the top of my pants, I gasped, arching into his touch, craving more.

I slid down his body as the tempo of the music slowed, the feel of him hard and unyielding against my back. As I rose again, my hips pressed into him, dragging slowly upward, I stole a glance over my shoulder. His expression was predatory, eyes dark and heavy with want.

“If you do that again, Ilia,” he growled, his voice rough, “I can’t promise I’ll behave.”

“No one’s asking you to,” I whispered, heat surging through me as I lost myself in the rhythm again, my body moving with his. Every thought, every worry melted away, leaving only the sensation of him behind me, his hands on my skin, the music wrapping around us.

I turned to face him, the space between us vanishing. My hand slipped behind his neck, pulling his face closer to mine. His touch was fire, each brush of his fingers down my spine sending sparks through my veins, igniting something primal. His control was slipping, I could feel it in the way his eyes blazed red and gold, like a fire barely contained.

“Stop toying with me,” I murmured, my breath mingling with his, lips so close I could almost taste him.

His gaze locked onto mine, dark, intense. “How am I toying with you ?”

“You know very well, my prince,” I whispered, my voice thick with need as I guided his hand lower. He grabbed me, pulling me hard against him, and I gasped at the feel of his body pressed to mine, every inch of him taut with restraint.

Our mouths hovered, lips brushing as if testing the limit of self-control. I felt his breath on my lips, my heart pounding in my chest. He was holding back, but I could feel his desire in every line of his body.

His lips were so close, a hair’s breadth away from mine, and the tension between us was unbearable. Every breath we shared felt like a spark, and my heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing my need for him.

“Bring the shadows up,” I whispered, my voice thick with desire, but he didn’t move. Instead, he studied me, his eyes burning with restraint.

“Brida…” His voice was low, rough with need. He wanted this as much as I did—I could feel it in the way his body tensed, the way his grip on me tightened—but still, he held back.

I couldn’t wait any longer.

In one swift motion, I closed the space between us, pressing my lips to his, igniting the fire that had been simmering between us all night. The kiss was explosive, a clash of need and hunger. He pulled me against him as his mouth moved against mine, fierce and unrelenting.

It wasn’t soft, it wasn’t tentative— we had been holding back for far too long, and now, neither of us could stop. His lips devoured mine, hot and fevered, and I responded with equal fervor, pouring all of my want into the kiss.

I felt his hand slide into my hair, his fingers tangling in it as he tilted my head, deepening the kiss. His other hand gripped my waist, holding me against him as if he couldn’t bear for there to be any space between us.

The feel of him, the taste of him—salt, smoke, and something wild—sent a shiver down my spine, and I pressed myself even closer, desperate for more. My hands roamed over his chest, feeling his hard muscles, and a soft moan escaped my lips, swallowed by the heat of his kiss.

His mouth was everywhere—my lips, my jaw, the sensitive spot on my neck—and each touch ignited me further. I could feel his breath, ragged and shallow, against my skin, and it only fueled my desire. I kissed him back with an urgency I had never known, giving in completely to the moment, to him.

“Gods,” I whispered against his lips, my voice breathless, my heart racing.

Dainan growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating through me, and before I could react, he spun me around and slammed me against the wall. His hands were on either side of me, caging me in, and I was completely at his mercy.

His lips moved down my neck, and I gasped, my body arching into him as his mouth left a trail of heat along my skin. His shadows danced around us, curling and swirling in time with the frenzy of our kiss, sealing us off from the rest of the world.

There was nothing else but him. Nothing else but this moment.

I cupped his face, bringing his lips back to mine, the kiss now slower, more deliberate, but still filled with the same urgency. Every movement was a promise, a wordless declaration of desire.

“I want you,” I whispered against his lips, my voice trembling with need.

His eyes, dark and filled with longing, met mine for a brief second before his lips crashed back down, sealing my words with another kiss that left me dizzy and breathless.

“Fuck,” he hissed as I moved against him, the friction between us exquisite, unbearable. His control was hanging by a thread, and the sound of his groan made me smile, knowing I was driving him to the edge.

“This is not what you want, Ilia , ” I heard him say in a pained voice.

He’s out of his mind ; this is the only thing I want.

“This is exactly what I want. What I need ,” I breathed, leaning in to lick the nape of his neck, tasting salt and smoke on his skin. The sound that escaped him was a low, guttural groan, raw with pleasure.

But then, his voice cut through the haze. “Ilia, as much as I wish to believe that you want this, want me,” he gestured between us, his voice steadying. “It’s the pucchia. It’s making you feel this way.”

The pucchia? I blinked, the fog in my mind clearing just a little. What? Tamra had mentioned it, but…I hadn’t been smoking. I hadn’t touched the stuff.

But the smoke.

It hit me all at once. The smoke in the room, the heat of the dancing, the drinks. My head swam, and suddenly, I was stumbling, the weight of the realization crashing down on me.

A flash of horror crossed my face. I hadn’t been thinking straight. Everything I had been feeling—the overwhelming desire, the need to touch him, to claim him—the pucchia had amplified it. And he had known.

Oh gods.

“When you decide you do want me,” he said, his voice low and full of that same wicked charm, “and you will ,” he pulled me just a little closer, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “I want you to be in your right mind. And not be concerned with…another.”

With another? My heart sank. Marsh.

My mind raced. I pulled my hand from his, feeling the heat drain from my body. The dance floor was empty now, just the two of us alone in the fading shadows.

As we stepped back into the light, my eyes fell on them—Kadian, Oz, both staring, mouths open. And there, by the bar.

Marsh.

My stomach dropped. Oh gods. What is he doing here? What had he seen? His eyes were locked on me, dark, angry, seething with something that cut through the air between us like a blade.

I felt the blood drain from my face. How much had he seen? The kiss? Me licking Dainan’s neck? Had I done that?

Before I could move, before I could even breathe, Dainan’s arm wrapped around me again, pulling me close. “Take a breath,” he whispered, his voice smooth, dangerous. And then, darkness. Shadows wrapped around us, suffocating me in their grip. I tried to speak, to pull away, but I couldn’t. It was like being swallowed whole, every sense dulled by the swirling blackness.

When the world reappeared, I was coughing, doubled over in front of my bedroom door.

“Did you just—” I sputtered between coughs. “Did you shadow-step us here?”

“I did,” he said as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

The anger hit me like a bolt of lightning, sudden and blinding. “Why did you do that?”

“We had a nice time,” he said, his voice laced with amusement. “I only thought it appropriate to see you home.” His lips curled into that infuriatingly calm smile.

“That’s a lie,” I growled, stepping toward him, my hands trembling with fury. “You did it because you saw Marsh. You didn’t want him taking me home. What kind of game is this to you?”

His expression darkened, his voice dropping low. “This is no game.”

I could barely comprehend the words. “You’re angry ? After what you just did?” I laughed, but it was hollow, full of disbelief.

“I didn’t do anything, Ilia,” he snapped, his voice sharper. “If anything, I was the one with self-control. ” He paused, his eyes raking over me. “It’s a good thing, too, because you would have done anything I asked of you on that dance floor.”

“You felt threatened because of Marsh? What are you, some kind of animal, claiming territory?”

Dainan’s smirk returned. “Pucchia doesn’t lie, Ilia. It reveals what’s already there. Your desires. Your true desires, Ilia. I could smell those desires on you tonight.”

His words cut deep, a mixture of truth and cruelty that made my blood boil.

“Don’t call me that,” It angered me that he was right. I’d wanted him, and somehow, he’d been able to smell it on me. Betrayed by my own body. Lovely .

He smirked and closed the distance between us with another step. We were inches apart, and the scent of him was just as alluring without the pucchia in the air.

Fuck .

I heard a low chuckle rumble in his chest as if he knew what I was thinking. “I think you may need to spend some time reflecting on what exactly it is you want, Ilia. When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting.”

“Why did you come out tonight?” I demanded, but before I knew it, my back was pressed against the wall with Dainan looming over me.

“An intriguing question, indeed,” he murmured, pressing his lips to the nape of my neck once more. “As I said, I'll be waiting.”

And just like that, the shadows enshrouded him once more, and he vanished.