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“Felix,” I desperately try to get his attention. But he ignores me, sliding one large hand along my lower back and lifting the hand he has been holding. “Felix! I don’t know how to dance!” I whisper-yell at him.
“Stand on my feet.”
“What?”
“Stand on my feet,” he repeats, his lips bath my ear in a warmth that causes a shiver to race down my spine.
“I am not—”
“No one will be able to see. Your dress will cover it. Just stand on my feet and keep your eyes on me. I will guide you through this.”
Slowly, I step onto his feet without looking away from his smiling eyes. His hand on my lower back tightens, whisking me away into the crowd of swirling fabrics and over boisterous Keryth.
This has to be unheard of. What Keryth actually dances with their pet? I know what Tia and Kaelin said about the answer must always be yes, but I didn’t think it would actually happen. Is he trying to prove something? Or is he hiding something?
I search his eyes for answers, but all I find is swirling copper of laughter and heat. It is not a heat that has my walls rising to defend my heart, but a heat that pulls me in as if I have been cold my whole life and am finally feeling warmth. It beckons me forward and invites to swallow me up and destroy me. Like that tether pulling me toward those vines, Felix has somehow latched onto a piece of my soul and keeps yanking me further and further into his embrace. And now I don’t know who I will be once I finally escape it.
“Come,” he rasps, shaking me from my unsettling thoughts. He walks me to an alcove partially out of sight, with no one around it. “Stay here. I have to make an appearance before my mother and father. Remember the rules. I will be quick.” My eyes bulge as his lips lightly connect with my forehead.
“Stop that!” I hiss.
“You are so cute when you are angry. Maybe…” His dimples deepen as he leans forward and kisses me on the forehead again. I move to punch him in the gut, but he stops me and holds my arms down at my side. “Behave,” he chuckles. But then he leans forward and runs his nose up my neck to right below my ear. And to my horror, that stupid flip is back in the pit of my stomach. “If you do, I’ll reward you with something when we get back to our room,” he says playfully. Flutters gone.
“I don’t want your dick, Felix,” I growl.
His laugh is loud and deep against my neck as his arms snake around me and pull me firmly against his body. “That isn’t what I was going to say, but I am glad that you see my dick as a reward.”
“You motherf—”
“I will be right back.” He roughly lets me go and walks toward the imposing thrones on the dais.
I catch myself watching the way his thick body moves within the tight-fitting dark blue suit. He walks under the giant chandelier and the monochromatic embroidered flowers become more apparent against the fabric.
As the smell invades my senses, every muscle freezes. Breathing becomes difficult, and I can’t focus on anything in the room.
HE is here. Close. Too close.
But I don’t know his face. I can’t defend myself. I don’t know who my enemy is.
Forgetting all the rules, I carefully walk over to the closest table, scanning the contents as quickly as I can. The smell is still here. I can’t shake it like all the other times. It won’t leave me alone.
Finally! I grab the solid gold knife and hold it close to my side as I spin around to watch the blurry figures dance around the room. I slowly return to the alcove and wait patiently for something to happen.
“Nyx?” It takes everything in me not to brandish my stolen weapon at Felix. Now that I have it, I won’t be letting it go. “What happened? Did someone talk to you?” he asks softly.
“No…”
“Did someone touch you?” he asks a little more loudly this time, his anger tinting his words.
“No…” He firmly grabs my upper arms and forces me to look at him. But I can’t stop looking around for the source of the smell. He is still here. I know it! I am so close to my goal.
“Go to your room until I come and get you. Do you understand me?” I nod absentmindedly and begin walking through the crowd of people until I am out of the enormous doors, through the library, and up the massive staircase. I know he said to go to my room, but he will want me back in his bed immediately.
I quickly go inside Felix’s room and stash the knife before finally entering my room. I shut the door and slide down it, allowing the emotions to take their toll. A long time ago, I said I would never allow myself to cry over the past again. But I never thought the past would get this close before I was fully prepared for it.
Sobs wrack my body, and I let them. I let myself grieve what could have been if my parents had lived. I scream with the anger of all HE stole from me. And I hold myself tightly against all the new emotions threatening to take over.
Felix, Tia, and Kaelin are my sworn enemies; I promised to end them whenever given the chance. But why does the thought of taking their lives hurt my chest so much? I don’t remember a lot of my past, so I don’t know what it is like or what it means to have friends. And then Felix… all I know is that my heart should not pound the way it does when he is in a room. I should not feel nervous or have those annoying flutters in my stomach. But here I am…a fool for having them all.
