He glides his fingers along my arm, clasping my hand. The movement is sensuous, his touch awakening fire as he fits me even closer against him. I look up, and the heat in his dark gaze is almost scorching. God and darkness.
We twirl in front of the clapping crowd, the music changing as more couples join us. There’s a flash of red as my parents glide past, my mother reaching out to pat my arm. Joaquin brings my free arm around his neck, then both his hands are at my waist as he lifts me, turning so that I laugh out loud. The crowd whoops their encouragement as he does it again and again, until I feel as though I’m at the centre of a jewelled kaleidoscope. I give myself up to it, to the pure joy of the moment.
Eventually, we slow, Joaquin taking me to the edge of the dancefloor, close to the long glass doors open to the gardens.
‘Why’d you stop?’ I pout at him.
‘I thought perhaps you might like a drink? Or to dance with someone else? We’ve been dancing for a while.’ He smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling attractively.
‘We have?’ I glance outside, surprised to see how low the moon is. I’m out of breath and, now that we’ve stopped moving, my feet ache.
I blink, my hand coming to my brow. ‘Maybe Ishouldhave a drink. Or some fresh air.’
‘Your choice.’ Joaquin gestures and a blood dancer, clad in a few wisps of black satin, glitter sparkling on his muscular body, brings over a tray with several drinks.
‘Thank you.’ I take a glass filled with sparkling water, draining almost half of it.
‘And now, fresh air.’ Joaquin plucks the glass from my hand, putting it back on the tray while shepherding me towards the long windows, his hand at my waist. The cool night air feels like heaven on my heated skin, the darkness and relative stillness a relief after the crowded ballroom. But I don’t get the chance to enjoy it before I’m snatched up in a powerful grip, held tight against a muscular chest. Air rushes past me and I hastily cling to Joaquin’s neck.
‘What the hell?’
‘I’m sorry. Is this not okay?’
He skids to a stop on the gravel path, next to a long reflecting pool surrounded by topiary trees, shimmering like a silver mirror. The palace is a distant, gilded wedding cake, music drifting faintly across the gardens.
‘I would have appreciated a warning!’
Joaquin puts me down, slowly, so I have to slide against his hard body. I don’t mind that. But I’m trying to figure out my next steps. It feels as though the evening has taken a sharp turn, and now I’m somewhere I never expected to be. Jaguar’s presence at Versailles is unexpected, but it’s very fucking positive. I don’t want to screw things up.
‘Shall we walk instead, then?’ He holds out his arm, like a lord in an old tale of romance. I slip my hand into the crook of his elbow, and we stroll along the gravel path. It’s beautiful, the moon a semi-circle of light among feathery dark clouds, stars sparkling like flecks of frost.
I consider what to say next, how to make the most of this. Yet, wandering through darkened palace gardens with a handsome prince, part of me just wants to enjoy myself. Forget about politics, and the Challenge. I can see how seductive, how easy it might be to just go along with things. To take power and enjoy all the privilege and luxury it will bring for my comparatively short life. Why bother to try and change things? It’s not going to be easy. The Channel Islands project is proof of that. Laurel’s death is proof of that. Humans are food. They always will be. So why am I fighting so hard for them?
Because I’m human.
But also because I’m not. I hate that it goes back to Kyle again, to all that he showed me. He might have betrayed me, but it’s clear he also wanted me to see the world as it was. The question is, why?
You have no idea what a difference you could make.
I still remember how it felt, when he said those words. A first glimmer of the idea that I was actually worth something. That I could actuallybesomething. He took me to the Safe Zone because I asked him to, but also because it played into his plans to get me off the estate. However, I wonder whether he hoped I might escape Mistral, somehow. He gave me a night; wanted me to experience human existence. There has to be a reason for that.
I’ve only seen a fraction of the world as it is for humans, yet it’s enough for me to want to change everything. Yes, it won’t be easy, and I’ll most likely have to do it alone.
But nothing worthwhile ever is.
I need to always,always,remember who I am.WhatI am. What I saw in the Safe Zones and at the Moon Harvest. Why I want to change things.
‘What is it that makes you look so fierce?’
I start. Joaquin is watching me, his face shadowed, his eyes a dark gleam.
‘Oh, nothing.’ I don’t even know where to begin.
‘I’m sure it’s something,’ Joaquin says. ‘You are fascinating.’
‘You don’t know me.’
‘Not yet. But I know that you’re a human among vampires, yet one who has everything. Who cannot be eaten.’ His voice slides along the last word, and I blush, glad of the darkness. I feel like he’s not talking about my blood. ‘We’re more similar than you know.’
