Page 34

Jack

I leaned back, breathing shallowly around Hazel’s cloying perfume. “I need to talk to her.”

Hazel’s razor-sharp nail found my jaw and dug into my cheek as she pinched my face and turned it to hers.

“You can’t be seen with her in front of the regent.

In Faerie, just as on Earth, the rule is clear.

Never fall in love with a human. The way she was looking at you at dinner was enough to sign her death warrant. ”

I tore my chin out of her grip. “You said you would help me. What you did was unforgivable.”

“I’m trying to protect you. Both of you.”

I said nothing, grinding my teeth together. When she’d dragged me into this alcove, I had been seconds away from forgoing common decency and shoving her aside to find Sav and make her listen, but Hazel had said the one thing that made me pause. My actions could get Sav killed.

Hazel leaned back against the cushion, knowing her words fulfilled their purpose.

In the enormous stone ballroom, fairies of all shapes and sizes crowded the low-lit space, moving to music that tugged at my heart, making me feel a strange sort of elation even through the anger simmering after my last encounter with Sav.

It wasn’t her I was angry at, though. It was myself for considering going along with Hazel’s plan.

I searched the crowd of mingling fae for a head of auburn hair, coiled like a crown, leaving only tendrils to frame her face and trail down her back.

Seeing her in that dress had nearly been my undoing.

She was gorgeous in a dirty tee and leather skirt, but the midnight gown she’d worn tonight had been selected from my dreams, or perhaps my nightmares.

One perfectly tanned thigh was exposed almost to the hip and the back of her dress hung low, showing off perfect skin all the way to the dip of her waist.

A single tattoo ran down her spine. An arrow pointing south.

As if I needed guidance. Her perfect ass curved under the folds of velvet cinched over her hips and left very little to the imagination.

But imagine I had. It was all I could do.

And she hated me now. I’d seen it in her face when I came to explain.

My gaze halted on a lithe form moving so seductively, my slacks tented under the hard length of what was sure to be the bluest balls of my life.

The man who had been eye fucking Sav at dinner was wrapped around her, moving to the rhythm of the erotic music somehow amplified through the room.

They moved and were momentarily obscured from view by a pair of fawns, laughing and spinning drunkenly.

I sat up, tracking their progress on the circular dance floor and when they spun by again, his hand slid below the fabric of her dress and heat flared to life in my veins.

I was possessed with the urge to shove him off her; to claim her for myself.

Hazel’s palm pressed against my chest and began a slow descent down my front. It was like a bucket of ice dumped on my skin.

I grabbed her wrist. “The regent can’t see you in here. No need to play a part.” My gaze darted to hers and she huffed, lips forming a pout.

“Can’t we at least have a little fun?”

“No.” The heat in my veins was burning me alive, and I released my hold on her arm and dipped my head out of the alcove. I had to get away from her before the anger overwhelmed me. I was overreacting to the situation, I knew it, but I couldn’t seem to get these raging emotions under control.

Hazel followed my gaze to the woman sliding up another man’s body and the fire burning through me exploded into an inferno. The man’s hand slid farther below her dress, and I climbed out of the alcove.

“Hey,” Hazel called behind me.

I ignored her, weaving through scantily clad guests, halting at the edge of the dance floor.

I watched as his lips pressed against her ear and his tongue ran down the side of her neck.

If I opened my mouth, I was sure I would breathe fire.

I stepped forward, but an iron grip clamped around my biceps.

“Go out there, and it will be her death.”

I halted, turning to search Hazel’s face. “She’s going to fuck him, and it’s your fault. I never should have listened to you.”

“She won’t. I’ve known Sav a long time.”

I wrenched my arm from her hold but stood rigidly, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Come on, let’s get some air.”

“No,” I growled.

“You’ll only torture yourself if you stay.”

My hands fisted under my arms as Sav dipped again and her full cleavage was in my direct line of sight. I was torn between racing onto the dance floor to tear her from the creature’s hold and running from the room so I didn’t have to watch anymore.

“Why don’t you wait in her room? Finding you there would put an end to any fun she was planning.”

I slid my gaze reluctantly from Sav’s graceful form to Hazel.

I’d thought part of Sav’s allure must have been her fairy nature, but staring at Hazel, an attractive woman to be sure, and having seen all the other high fairies at court, I knew it was something else that drew me to her.

She wasn’t just beautiful; she was perfect.

The very image of the woman I longed for.

The one I’d imagined sharing my life with but had yet to claim.

Hazel’s fingers looped under my crossed arm and she tugged. “Come on. Let’s go before you draw too much attention.”

I glanced around at the eyes darting between me and Sav, some of my anger banking. They stared hungrily between the four of us as if hoping a fight would break out. Reluctantly, I turned, letting Hazel pull me with her.

We left the ballroom, stepping into a much cooler hall. Away from the scents of perfume and the oppressive lilt of music refracting off every surface, my head cleared a little. I’d been about to do something foolish. And why? Sav hadn’t promised me anything.

A coy smile tugged at Hazel’s blue-tinted lips. Green eyes, strange against her skin, were hooded as she appraised me. “Sav’s been around a long time. She’s been hurt by the people she cared for most. It would take a lot for her to trust someone, especially a male. Go slow with her.”

I wasn’t dumb enough to think she truly wanted me—a human with nothing to offer—but there had been something between us. I felt it, and I would let her use me in any way she wanted, just so long as those plum-colored eyes were on me instead of another man.

Not waiting for any reply, Hazel turned, hips swaying as she moved down the hall back to the ballroom.