What should I do with you, my dark little secret?
The sound of the drums matched my pounding heartbeat as I stood there, frozen, looking up at his face.
“My queen.” His playful smile was not at all what I had expected. I surrendered my hand to him without resistance and he lifted it to his lips.“You look good enough to eat.”
His courteous kiss on my knuckles surely seemed polite enough to anyone else, but I had to stifle a gasp at the soft purr in my mind and the bold way his tongue tasted my skin. It sent a visceral wave of desire through me, heating my cheeks more than the mead.
“Belekoroz! How nice of you to join us.” Thankfully, Tanez saved me from having to respond. Her smile at the most notorious of our brethren was unusually enthusiastic. My lip twitched at Belekoroz’s questioning touch to my mind.
“She wants to provoke her husband,”I sent back.
“In that case…”His amused tone warned me he would seize the opportunity to wreak chaos without remorse.
I could only stare in astonishment as he gave both Tanez and Zamani a bright smile, smoothly complimenting their appearance and making them giggle like adolescent girls. He had never been that charming toward me. I rolled my eyes at the way his shadows danced around our fellow Aurea, leaving a hint of his powers upon them—a childish provocation both M’tar and Sha’am would surely notice.
“Ladies, if you will excuse me.” Something in the crowd had caught Belekoroz’s attention. Despite chastising myself, I felt a twinge of disappointment as he sauntered off with a polite nod at us.
A moment later, I had to stifle a gasp in my drink. Something had pinched my buttocks. The laughter in my head told me who had dared.
“Don’t fret, little queen,”Belekoroz sent back to me.“I’m not finished with you yet.”
The insolence made my blood boil. Did he sense the turmoil within me, the battle between my duty and my desire? A wild, irresponsible part of me longed to tangle with him tonight. I had mastered the Flame; surely I could master one arrogant man.
“Mmm, he can be delightful if he wants to be,” Zamani remarked, her eyes following the Aurea of Darkness. “Say what you want about his usual attitude, he certainly has a few good sides.” She let out a trilling laugh. “I wouldn’t mind playing with the dark a little.”
Tanez gasped in mock scandal. “Sister, never let Sha’am hear that. He would combust.”
The Aurea of Fire shrugged unapologetically. “Oh, believe me, I know that might be the only transgression he would never forgive me. But the forbidden has its allure, doesn’t it?”
More than it should.
“There were never any rumors of him taking a lover, were there?” Zamani’s question jolted me from my thoughts.
“No,” I replied, keeping my tone disinterested. “But most of the Anima are afraid of him.” While I enjoyed Zamani’s company, I remained cautious. There was a cunning mind behind those beautiful violet eyes.
“Not all, it seems,” she said as we spotted Belekoroz at the other side of the fire, deep in conversation with tall, handsome Masir.M’tar’s second-in-command clearly did not share his master’s dislike for the Aurea of Darkness, judging by the way he threw back his head in laughter at something Belekoroz had said.
“I did not know those two were close,” Zamani added, her smile cheeky. “They are quite a sight to behold.” She raised one raven eyebrow at her sister. “Isn’t Masir your and M’tar’s little favorite?”
“That was ages ago.” Tanez handed us fresh goblets of mead. “We decided mixing pleasure and work was too complicated. You know how seriously M’tar takes his forge.” She took a sip of her drink, her green eyes on me. “Besides, the king encourages us to follow mortal customs, sharing our bed only with the one we’re bound to.”
“Order in every aspect of our existence.” Zamani hid an exaggerated yawn behind a slim, golden-brown hand. “For in Order we find purpose and in purpose we find peace. That’s what they say in the temple now, isn’t it?”
I sometimes wondered whether the king had encouraged these new teachings or if the stern-faced priests and priestesses, who had dedicated their existence to the powers of Order, had come up with them. They were all too eager to control everyone’s lives, including ours, with their many rules. Not that Aramaz seemed to mind their growing influence.
“Aramaz can be such a bore,” Zamani said, pulling me toward the dancing crowd. “Lyr, it’s just sex. I don’t envy you, Baradaz. Let’s hope you can get him to soften a little after the two of you are bonded.”
Why did I feel they were probing for something? I put my half-empty goblet on a passing tray, my head already spinning. A wise decision, since a familiar presence soon interrupted our dance.
“Baradaz, there you are.” Aramaz looked magnificent in a white tunic with golden embroidery that matched my dress. His long hairwas neatly held in place by the crown M’tar had crafted for him. The golden shards caught the light, making it seem as if the sun’s rays were upon him. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. People are waiting for us to dance.” His warm smile softened the urgency of his words as he led me to the center of the festivities.
“Then we shouldn’t keep them waiting.” I squeezed his hand, ready to let the music carry me away. Perhaps this was the reminder of my duty that I needed.
Not that we got much opportunity to enjoy our dance. Aramaz had just begun to twirl me when an Elvish chieftain dressed in flowing robes interrupted us.
“My king, pardon me,” he said with a deep bow, his voice quavering with indignation. “But the behavior of those uncouth savages is unbearable. Can you imagine what they did to the wood carving we crafted in honor of the esteemed Council? They used it as hooks for their ham. Their ham!”
I had to stifle a laugh. No doubt he was talking about the Dwarves. The Elves and M’tar’s children were famously at odds, with the Elves deeming the Dwarves uncivilized and the Dwarves considering the Elves arrogant. The Elvish chieftain wasn’t the last petitioner. Our journey across the feast grounds felt more like an audience than a dance. I smiled courteously at each dignitary, chiming in occasionally when the conversation veered into familiar topics.
