Page 129 of The Night Firm

"Disobeying my brothers, of course. And providing you with unnecessary backup. I couldn't resist the chance to see you in this gown, now could I?"

A clatter behind us pulls our attention to the table the mermaid was standing at. She drops her shrimp and flees the room with tears in her eyes, while the man grins broadly and no one steps in to do or say anything.

"He'll keep at it," Cole says. "No one will stop him."

I narrow my eyes. "Challenge accepted."

Cole grins and crosses his arms over his chest as I feel my power rise up in me. The wrath I feel, coupled with the fear and helplessness being grabbed brought up in me, makes it harder to access my power.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, centering myself, then try again. This time, I am calm. I am cold. I am justice.

I call to the elements, and air floats up, but it brings with it the darkness, and when I dip into it, I get both elements in equal measure.

Each element I try to access also brings with it the darkness, and I know there's no way around it, I have to let that power out, at least a little.

I open my eyes and watch as the man grabs a glass of something red to drink. I focus and flick my finger. The man's eyes widen as he stumbles, spilling the drink all over his suit. With another flick, I send him into a caged aquarium of piranhas. Or at least, sharp-tooth fish that look like piranhas. He breaks the tank as he falls, and fish latch on to him, drawing blood instantly as he screams for help.

Silence falls on the room as the rest of the guests just stand and stare. No one goes to his aid until the butler hurries in and helps escort the man out of the ballroom while other staff come in to contain the remaining fish and clean up the mess. Conversation resumes, the guests acting as if nothing has happened, and Cole gives me a sly wink and a subtle clap of admiration for my revenge. I must admit I feel pretty good about it, too.

As the musicians resume playing, Cole holds a hand out and offers me a charming grin. "Would the lady do me the honor of a dance?"

I'm tempted to say no, but I can't bring myself to do it. I want it too badly. So, I take his hand and let him guide me to the center of the dance floor.

The music changes tempo as if on cue, and Cole leads me in a passionate routine of complex steps that I've never done before. I'm convinced I'll fall flat on my face, but as he spins me and dips me and synchronizes his steps with mine, I find myself matching him step for step, as if we had practiced this hundreds of times. Our bodies move in time to each other, like planets orbiting one another. His body's pulse drives me, guides me, and it is as if no one exists but us. I can't feel anyone else in the room as he holds my lower back, pulling me against him, his lips brushing against my cheek.

Black tendrils of smoke seem to rise from him, and I feel his magick, his power, wrapping around me, touching and guiding me.

When the song ends, he pulls me into an embrace and dips me deeply.

That's when I realize the dance floor cleared for us, and then the crowd breaks into applause at our performance. I flush scarlet as Cole leads me away, his arm wrapped around my waist.

"How did you do that?" I ask, as we pause at a food table that tempts me with succulent roasted chicken, pasta salad, fruit platters, and pastries.

"We all have our talents," Cole says, in an answer that really isn't an answer at all.

We both fill a plate and get drinks, then move to the balcony to catch some fresh air. Unlike his brothers, the dark Druid is no vampire. He tastes like I taste. Feels like I feel.

"I’m glad you’re here," I say, taking a bite of a chocolate covered strawberry.

We eat in silence for a few minutes, watching the Dragon's Breath float in the sky. Finally, I reluctantly pull away from him. "I have to go back in. I won't learn anything out here with you," I remind him.

He takes a step forward, his head dipping closer to mine, our lips inches apart. "Oh, you would learn plenty,mon coeur. I can promise you that."

"No doubt," I whisper, my voice thick. "But nothing about the egg." I'm desperately trying to hold onto my purpose for attending this event. Liam. I have to save Liam. But damn, Cole makes it hard to think sometimes.

"Then by all means, go collect clues. I'll be here when you're ready."

His words are layered with too many meanings for me to effectively unpack right now, so I turn and step back into the ballroom, and I walk right into someone I wasn't expecting to see, though it makes perfect sense that she would be here.

Lilith smiles at me, her teeth so white, her pale skin luminescent, her silky black hair falling down her back like a waterfall. She's wearing a pure white gown with a long trail, and a white feathered mask that flares up on the ends like cat eyes. Her lips are as red as mine and she looks enchanted. Beautiful. Dangerous.

"Can it be possible that you are here alone? Unaccompanied by the Night brothers?" she teases, handing me a glass of a foamy white drink with red sparkles in it.

I sip the drink and enjoy the frothy sweetness, but I know to be careful with supernatural alcohol. The magick packs a punch, so I drink slowly and cautiously. "They don't have me on a leash," I say, a little snippy.

"You must give those boys quite a run for their money," she says, grinning. "How marvelous." She links arms with me, and we move through the room. "What brings you here, then? You didn't strike me as the type to attend balls. Particularly alone."

I debate about how much to tell her. Our relationship—if one can call it that—is complicated. "Liam is being accused of conspiring to steal the dragon egg by starting the explosion at the Midwinter Festival. I'm here hoping to find anyone who might know something about what really happened," I say.