“Would you grant me the honor of a dance?” He held out his arm and smiled once more, a warning hidden in the depths of that violet gaze.
I couldn’t help but test his boundaries, just a little.
Folding my arms across my chest, I gave him a once-over. Then, in my most sultry voice, I said, “Do I have a choice?”
“No. Not unless you want me to reconsider my exception.”
“Right. The one where youdon’ttoss me to the ghouls?”
“That would be the one, yes. Though I feel compelled to tell you that tossing you to the ghouls is just one of the myriad ways in which I might decide to… deal with you. A dance would be much more pleasant. For you, at least.”
He flashed a devastating grin, and I flashed one right back, and the next thing I knew, I was allowing him to sweep me out onto the dance floor.
His scent was overpowering up close, like wild roses encased in ice, mixed with a hint of deep, dark earthiness I could only describe as… forbidden. For all the power locked away in his lean muscles, he held my hand with a delicate touch, his other hand warm and gentle on the small of my back, holding me just a little closer than what might be considered proper for polite company.
Across the ballroom, I caught sight of Jax, who watched me with a mix of concern, lust, and jealousy. I wasn’t sure which of those feelings dominated, but my demon was definitely spring-loaded and ready to pounce, should the need arise.
But I didn’t feel threatened by Keradoc. Not even with all his subtle taunts about executions and the current of dark power crackling just beneath the surface of his touch. In fact, now that I was in his arms, breathing in his heady scent and gazing into those captivating violet eyes, I felt an inexplicable connection to him. Even my magick responded to his presence, a soft hum buzzing through my veins, warm and electric.
Keradoc twirled me, then captured me in his embrace again, pulling me even closer.
“I didn’t realize you’d be so beautiful,” he murmured in my ear. “So… enchanting.”
Fighting off a shiver of pleasure, I said, “Didn’t realize? What do you mean?”
“I… I simply meant…” He faltered, then smiled once again, dazzling as ever. “When I saw you earlier this evening. I’m embarrassed to confess… I was watching you speak with another. A demon, if I’m not mistaken? With an injury to his eye?”
“Oh,thatguy?” I forced a laugh. “Some rando looking for a little company. I never even caught his name.”
He lifted his brows, amusement glinting in his eyes. “You didn’t?”
“Not everyone is worth learning something about, your… your Highness? Grace? I’m sorry. I don’t know what to call you.”
“Keradoc will do just fine. Midnight is not a monarchy, Haley.”
My name was like melted chocolate on his lips, the smoothness in his voice making me swoon. He spun me out again, then drew me back, fingers tracing slow, almost imperceptible circles on my bare back.
There was something almost… familiar about him, though I was sure we’d never met. I’d never even laid eyes on the man until he gave that speech.
Now, as one song bled into the next and Keradoc continued to waltz and twirl me across the ballroom, I felt myself falling under his spell.
Whether it was his natural charm or just another trick of the dark fae, I couldn’t say.
But one thing was certain: I needed to pull my head out of the clouds, refocus on the mission, and get this thing over with before I lost my opportunity.
Listening to the cadence of the song, I waited until I knew he was going to dip me, then I slipped my hand along my thigh, making a tiny slice with the perfectly positioned dagger just before he brought me upright.
Blood welled in the cut, just enough to coat my bloodstone ring. Under the guise of wanting to hold him closer, I rested my head on his shoulder and muttered my spell, so softly not even a vampire would’ve been able to hear it.
Blood of the realm, blood of the night
Follow the magick, follow the light
Midnight fae, I summon thee
With these words, so shall it be
By the time I glanced into those violet eyes again, my hand was already sliding into his hair. With a slight flick of my wrist, the needle pierced his skin.
