When I finally stopped shaking, he slid the stake back into the holster and got to his feet.
Then, cupping my face and lowering his mouth to mine, he whispered, “Every time you feel that stake rub against your thighs, I want you to think of my mouth. I want you to remember how hard I made you come on my tongue. And I want you to know I’ll be waiting for you to return to me, so I can do it all over again later.”
His eye blazed, but no, these weren’t just the dirty words of a hot demon looking to get laid later.
The look in that eye was fierce. Protective.
And if I didn’t know better…
Don’t be ridiculous, girl. Jax is incapable of love. Fear demon, remember? You’re seeing stars because you want to, and that’s a dangerous game you can’t afford to play right now.
“I knew it,” I said with a wink. “You totally like me.”
He grinned and swatted my ass, and then he was off, ready for us to go our separate ways and carry out the plan.
I waited a full minute before making my exit. And when I did, a new kind of magick sang through my veins. I felt strong and powerful, confident.
I can do this. I can totally fucking do this.
I slipped into the ballroom. Grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing butler. Cataloged all the exits. Located Jax across the room. Scoped out the magickal chandeliers, the gorgeous crown molding. The Midnight elite in all their finery.
And then, suddenly, there he was.
Our mark.
Keradoc.
Flanked by two heavily armed fae guards, he began a long, slow walk from the back of the ballroom to the center, the crowd parting for him as he passed. A small platform had been set up for him, and when he reached it and stepped up to the podium, the entire ballroom erupted in applause.
I was too far back to clearly make out his features, but even at that distance, I could still feel his magnetic charm. He hadn’t even said a word yet, and already I felt myself leaning closer, eager to hear it.
He waited forever before finally lifting his hands and settling the crowd, then—after a brief welcome—launched into a doozy of a patriotic speech that could’ve given every evil dictator back home a run for their money.
To hear him tell it, Midnight was and would always be theirs. He rambled on about a major show of force, the arrival of a new weapon the enemy would never be able to defeat… I mean, honestly. Had this guy even looked out a window lately? Did he not see his entire realm burning at the hands of the Darkwinter fae?
As hefinallywrapped up the monologue that sent the crowd into a full-on rapture, I made my way to the other side of the ballroom, still scanning for signs of Elian. I spotted Gem, but just as I was about to head over and grill her on Elian’s whereabouts, the air shifted behind me, and a dark wave of magick whispered across my skin.
“Normally, I execute party-crashers,” came a smooth voice, low and dangerous in my ear. “But I might be willing to make an exception for you.”
Tensing for a fight, I slid my hand to my side, fingers brushing the hilt of the dagger holstered just beneath the silk petals.
Then, I turned around to face the man who’d made the mistake of threatening me, coming face-to-face with the most entrancing violet eyes I’d ever seen.
36
HALEY
It was hard not to stare.
The warlord of Midnight was damned intimidating.
Unlike Elian, who’d incorporated enough modern touches into his personal style to help him blend in back home, this guy was pure, O.G. fae.
His long black hair shimmered with strands of silver, woven in a mix of intricate braids and loose locks. His fingernails were as black as his hair, each one filed to a sharp point. Even his clothing was black—embossed silks tailored perfectly to his lean body and an open, collarless jacket made of some kind of leather, the edges trimmed with delicate silver and violet swirls that danced in the light.
It brought out his eyes, which now had me pinned in place, completely mesmerized.
Also, if more guys wanted to start wearing black eyeliner back home? I’d fully support that endeavor.
