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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

T he moment had enraptured Tavia so much that she hadn't even thought about the repercussions of kissing Lucius.

Her body moved on its own, drawn to the dashing fae in front of her.

Any doubt, any worry, had disappeared two songs ago.

They had been dancing, lost in the music. His lips were as soft as she imagined, and when his mouth opened, and his tongue touched hers, her world alighted into something new.

In all the ways she had imagined her first kiss, she never thought it would be like this: dressed in the finest gown she would probably ever own, in a beautiful ballroom filled with lights and music, and a handsome fae at her side.

Both of Lucius’ hands were now at her waist as he kissed her deeply. Tavia hadn’t known what to expect from a kiss but never thought she'd want more. This kiss seemed not to be enough for her, and how she wished Lucius would end the heist and sweep her away into the night.

He continued kissing her, lost in the moment with her. Her hands went to his neck, playing with the curls of silver hair near his ears. He pulled away, breathing heavily, and she didn’t want him to stop anymore.

“We’re calling this off,” he said heavily, his breath warm against her skin.

“Would that be such a bad thing?” she whispered back.

He chuckled softly. “No. Should we?”

She thought about it, but they were halfway through. “What’s so important about this artifact?” she whispered.

Lucius swayed, keeping his mouth close to her ear while continuing to dance. “It’s sentimental, but it has a power that’s unique. ”

“Really?”

“Yes. It has the power to heal any ailment.”

Tavia’s ears perked at that. She had never heard of an object being able to heal any ailment. “Heal?”

“Supposedly.”

She stopped an idea forming in her head. “What if it can heal you?”

He paused as if he had never even considered the possibility.

She grabbed the sides of his face and looked at him. “What if it can heal you?” she said again.

She knew he missed the simple things, like enjoying a piece of chocolate.

His expression furrowed. “That would be too great a hope to wish for.”

And suddenly, the heist became more critical. She wanted him to be happy. She wanted this curse removed. If there was any possibility that the artifact could do that, they had to try.

“Then we stick to the plan,” she said, holding his face in her hands.

He shook his head, placing one of his hands on top of hers. “I don’t care anymore. We can go. I’ll return with you. I’ll go wherever you go. We’ll check on your home. We’ll—”

“No,” she said.

“Tavia,” his voice deepened. “It’s not worth the risk anymore.”

There was a deep ache in his voice, and he leaned back over her, kissing her again as if they weren’t in the middle of a dance floor surrounded by people. He kissed her deeply, urgently. This time, she pulled away, his mouth moving to the side of her face, kissing her cheek.

“I won’t risk you,” he said. “I don’t care.”

She knew why he suddenly didn’t care—she could feel the tether between them as if that one kiss had sealed something profound. She knew after that kiss that she would never kiss anyone else, and somehow, she sensed he could feel it, too. Their meeting was more than destiny.

Somehow, she had been searching for him.

He looked into her gaze, and she could feel the emotion radiating from him in waves. Part of this plan required him to be cruel to her and for her to leave with another male.

“I can’t do it,” he said, gripping her sides.

“We have to,” she said, “because what is the alternative?”

His brow furrowed, and she hoped he understood.

He was immortal, and if this tether between them was real—if he felt everything she was feeling now—then Tavia’s death would be the most unbearable pain he would ever experience.

“We’re going through with it,” she said firmly. “Now focus because if we do this right, we can have what we both want.”

She didn’t want to say her true feelings.

She wasn’t sure if he felt everything she did or if this was just because she had never kissed anyone before. But she had to believe there was something deeper between them, growing over the days they’d spent together.

He groaned. “All right. I’m going to search for the guard. Go find something to eat or drink and keep yourself busy. Be polite, but don’t engage in conversation with anyone. I’ll be back.”

He kissed her softly on the lips and then disappeared into the crowd.

Tavia looked around her, but nobody seemed interested in their interaction. Everyone was too enthralled with their own companion or the ball itself.

Grabbing her dress, she hurried off the dance floor to one of the tables adorned with cheeses, meats, and fruits.

She found a table with various chocolates and desserts.

She picked up a sugar cookie with purple dusting and a purple flower embedded into it.

She took a bite, tasting a hint of lavender.

While she adored chocolate, these lavender sugar cookies were delightful. She grabbed another one and ate it, taking in the scene around her.

A beautiful fae in a red flowing dress, draped in white fur like a fox, with hair like onyx flowing down her back and a red fox mask covering her face, approached the table.

“Those are some of my favorites too,” she said, pointing to the lavender cookies before reaching for a handful of chocolates.

“They’re very good,” Tavia said. “Enjoy the night.”

The female bowed and continued on, disappearing into the crowd .

Tavia went to another table, needing a strong drink.

Her emotions were frayed, and her mind couldn’t stop thinking about Lucius’s kiss.

She wanted tonight to be over so they could return to his tiny home.

After checking on her parents, she wondered what would happen with her and Lucius.

But somehow, she knew their life would just start beginning if they survived tonight.

She turned and found two wine fountains, one with red wine and one with white wine. Not wanting to ruin her dress, she went to the white fountain and filled a crystal goblet with wine, drinking it and letting the warmth ease her thoughts.

Someone stepped behind her, and she flinched before she recognized the scent.

“Are you here alone, madame?”

She smiled.

“No, I’m here with my husband,” she said, teasing him.

“And he left you alone.” Lucius’s mouth went to her ear, and his breath tickled her neck.

“Yes, he’s foolish, isn’t he? ”

“He’s very foolish. I would never leave a pretty dove like you alone.”

He kissed her neck, and she shivered under his touch.

“What did you find?” she asked.

“Our target is over to the left with a few other guards. We’ll have to argue over there. At the south end of the room, there’s a hallway. There are a few drawing rooms and a parlor. There are no guards, so just find one that’s empty. I’ll be watching.”

“How are we going to start a fight?”

Lucius hugged her.

“Just follow my lead. Don’t be angry with me for anything I say—it’s all an act. And I’m going to remind you that I was fully committed to whisking you out of here and forgetting this whole idea.”

She turned around, put the glass down, and placed a hand on his cheek, her fingertips touching his fox mask.

“I know, but I think it’s worth it. Don’t you?”

“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “I don’t like the idea of yelling at you and having another male comfort you. It’s going to be very difficult to not want to dip my fangs into his neck. ”

Tavia stepped onto her toes and kissed him lightly on the lips.

“Not too much,” she said, pulling back.

He groaned and placed his forehead against hers. “All right. Follow my lead.”

He stepped back and grabbed her hand, leading her through the ballroom.

Her heart raced because it seemed incredibly impossible to want to start a fight with him. How could she after everything that had happened since the moment they walked through those doors?

But this was happening now, and she had to put on the act, just like he reminded her.

They stopped at the edge of the dance floor. A bunch of guards stood around a high table, drinking. She had no idea which guard she was supposed to take to a room.

“I cannot believe you,” Lucius said, tugging her away from the crowd.

The rough gesture made her stumble a bit, and she just caught the gaze of the guard closest to her. His friends laughed and were talking, but his gaze suddenly shifted to Lucius .

“Ow,” Tavia said.

Lucius turned on her, and his hand slid to her wrist, squeezing it.

“How dare you?” he said, venom dripping in his voice.

“What are you talking about?” Tavia said, trying to pull out of his grip.

“I pay for your gown, your jewels, and this is how you repay me.”

She tried to tug away from his grip. “Let me go. You’re hurting me.”

“Oh, this is just the beginning of what I plan on doing to you,” the anger in his voice made Tavia tremble. The pressure he applied to her wrist was actually hurting.

“Stop,” she said. “You’re hurting my arm.”

She tried to tug away, but he yanked on her, pulling her forward, and she stumbled to the floor, banging her knee on the marble.

This was more than just an act. Why did he need to be so cruel?

“You’re disgusting,” he said. “Stay on the floor where you belong.”

The human male stepped in front of her.

“That’s enough of that,” he said.

“Don’t get in between us,” Lucius said.

“I’m not going to stand here and allow you to berate this female,” the guard said.

Tavia looked up, trembling. There was a disgusted sneer on Lucius’s face.

“That female is nothing but garbage. I picked her off the street, adorned her. Everything she has on is mine. She belongs to me, and I will treat her as I see fit.”

Lucius stepped forward, reaching down to grab Tavia, and Tavia scampered back, tears in her eyes.

Was this how he truly felt about her?

Because somehow, there was a truth to those words. Tears she wasn’t faking were streaming down her face. There was no concern in Lucius’s gaze.

“If those tears are for me, keep them. There’s only one thing that I’ll take from you,” he said.

As Lucius moved to grab her again, the guard stepped in front of her and pushed him aside .

“You need to leave now.” The other guards at the table stopped drinking but made no move to intervene.

“Now,” the guard ordered.

Lucius looked at Tavia.

“Fine. Have her. She’s not worth much anyway,” he said.

Lucius turned and stormed off.

Tavia couldn’t believe how cruel he had been. He was an awfully good actor, if that was what it was.

She trembled, everything she wore was bought by him.

“Are you all right?” the guard leaned over, holding out his hand, and she took it. Tears she didn’t need to hold back streamed down her face.

“I . . . I need a moment,” she said.

He nodded. “Okay, come with me.”

He held her hand gently and placed another hand on her back, guiding her through the ballroom and down the south hall.

“Here, this room is empty,” the guard said, allowing her in. “I’ll make sure nobody enters. Wait here. ”

Tavia nodded.

Someone had left a tray of champagne flutes on one of the tables.

“Please just stay with me for a moment until I’m calm,” she said.

“All right.” The guard entered and closed the door behind him.

Tavia went over to the drinks. The guard went and sat down.

“Take as long as you need,” he said.

Tavia turned her back, her body shaking with real tears.

This was where everything could go wrong. She was so frazzled by Lucius’s behavior that she couldn’t think.

It’s an act. He told you this was all part of the plan.

Calming herself, she prepared for the crucial part of the plan.

But if she made a mistake, everything would be ruined.