I’m pretty sure I’m looking at Maghelena, the mother of all Fae.
My heart slams against my ribs, threatening to escape like a rabbit trapped in a snare, and then the room spins out of control.
Ivy approaches me. “Tegwyn? Are you all right? You’re gasping…”
No shit. She smells like a dream—sweet woodland flowers, draping curtains of honeysuckle, and baked goods, and that’s when my claws unsheathe of their own volition.
I divert them towards the wall, raking them through the plaster, and I hope Bannog won’t be too pissed.
The material of her dress whispers seductively as she glides closer, and I can’t take it anymore. Any closer, and I will pounce on her and claim her neck with my teeth.
Looks like I’m about to go into a rut, so I think of something unsavory, like Stannog in the exact same dress, and that seems to do the trick. The wild beast snarls in protest as I lock him back inside his cage. My claws retreat, disappearing back inside my gloves, and all is well with the world again.
A warm hand brushes my cheek, and I flinch, finding those shining pools of sea green. They shimmer beneath the light, and I think of lush green meadows, soft and dewy after a morning rain…
“Tegwyn?”
I swallow a lump that’s stuck in the back of my throat. She shows me nothing but concern, yet here I am, thinking about ripping that dress off her hips with my teeth.
“I… I’m fine…”
She smiles sweetly, brushing her thumb over my cheek, and shame cripples me instantly. If only she knew of the sordid things that I was just thinking about doing to her body.
Finally, she steps back, clasping her hands in front of her shyly, and I stare at her, perplexed. She really has no idea that she’s the most ravishing creature in existence. It’s her reticence that makes her all the more alluring. No one is going to be able to keep their eyes off her tonight.
The males,especially.
A growl starts at the base of my throat, and I swallow it quickly, moving away from the wall.
“So, how do I look?” she asks.
I cast my eyes around the room, since I can’t quite find the right words, pointing at a mirror.
“Take a look for yourself.”
Ivy inhales deeply, approaching the looking glass. She just stares at her reflection for a while, a small smile taking over her face. “I…look beautiful…”
My mind crashes back to earth, and then the words leave my mouth, “You’ve always been—”
She squeals, spinning around, and I have no idea what I’m witnessing. But that doesn’t stop the smile slowly curving my own lips.
She rushes to my side, taking my hand, and a shock shoots straight down my spine. It almost feels like magic.
“Come, let’s join the revel!”
The revel?
I raise my brow. “The idea is to get youawayfrom the revel, princess.”
“Don’t be silly. We can stay for one dance!”
Actually, no. We can’t. I don’t dance.
“Come on!”
She drags me out of the room, and before I know it, I’m running down the stairs and right into the heart of the revel.
It’s like she’s cast a spell over me, but I let her lead the way, regardless, knowing that I will surely regret this.
