Page 67 of How Does It Feel?

He turned and walked into the dimly lit ballroom.

I debated trying to run, but I had no doubt that the smoke chain around my neck, an extension of Prince Mendax himself, would love nothing more than to choke me to death should I try.

After a few minutes had passed, a thunderous rumble and cheer came from the ballroom just before the guard pulled me forward.

Dozens of black chandeliers hung from a ceiling that seemed to be an exact replica of the night sky, complete with bright, clear stars. A well-timed breeze blew the hair free from my neck and shoulders, leaving a faint scent of pine and crisp open air. It was unbelievable.

The rumble of voices fell silent. Only the sound of a few clangs of glasses could be heard as we walked into the center of the room.

Hundreds of finely dressed Fae gaped at me, sending a cold sweat across my skin. I could feel some of their hunger just from their gaze. The guard that held my leash tugged theatrically as he guided me down a grand staircase that I hadn’t even noticed was in the room yesterday. The guard’s chest seemed to puff out proudly as he paraded me down like he himself were my owner.

A second wave of crowd amazement flourished when we descended the grand stairs. Fae stopped mid-sentence to turn and gawk at me. A few of the women seemed to squint their eyes in hate and disgust as I passed, while I saw several of the men track every curve of my body. Several nostrils flared and eyes darkened. That seemed like a bad sign.

I fell ungracefully to the ground as I stared at a particularly grotesque-looking man licking his lips. Yet again, the man who led me tugged on my leash, only this time it was too rough, too harsh. The horrible collar bit into my neck and pulled me to the dark marbled floor, cracking my knees against it like a hammer. Gasps and laughter rang out from the crowd. A few nearby women pointed and jeered.

How foolish of them to think they could possibly make me feel worse than I already had.

“Get up, bitch,” hissed the blue-haired guard that gripped my leash.

Giggles erupted to my left from a group of young women dressed in frilly ballgowns. A few winged men clanked amber-filled glasses together as they watched me on my hands and knees.

I really was going to die tonight.

I had been lucky before. The fox saving my life, Alistair, the forest bog, Walter. I had been so lucky up until now.

The white silk of my dress chilled to match the cold ground under my legs, but that wasn’t what elicited the shiver from me. I honestly felt my defeat for the first time.

Whatever was left of me wasn’t going to make it out of here alive tonight. If I ran, an entire room of much faster, clawed predators would be at my throat before I even made it to the end of the hall. There was no way out.

My hands and knees burned along with my eyes as tears of defeat tore away any mask of confidence I so falsely wore.

My eyes caught sight of the queen in the corner, near the back of the room. She covered her mouth as her lavishly dressed friends chuckled and mocked me. My eyes fell to the floor briefly before I felt the magnet of another set pulling at mine.

Prince Mendax sat on a black throne of long inky vines and thorns. The throne was seated in the back of the grand room on a dais at the top of four stairs.

His blue eyes held mine with an expressionless face, like we were the only two in the entire room. His dark gaze only seemed to match the harshness of his foreboding black throne. He spread wide in the large chair, looking bored as four beautiful women pawed at him.

Even I could understand their appeal to him as he sat like a king on the throne. He was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen. Muscles and sharp lines sculpted together with wisps of danger and power.

He ignored the women completely; their body language seemed eager for the attention he didn’t give. Suddenly his expression darkened as he cracked his knuckles.

“The floor is no place for a beautiful woman, pet or not. Please allow me to help you up.”

The tall stranger stepped into my view, startling me as he grabbed my arms and gently lifted me up.

I immediately shrank back from the man’s touch. Like the other Fae, the stranger was beautiful in an ethereal sense. Tall with brown hair and green eyes, his crimson-lined wings were out on full display. He had the kindest eyes I’d ever seen, and I instantly shifted toward him.

“Thank you,” I said softly.

“No need to thank me, it’s my pleasure. We aren’t all wishing you harm.” He smiled an unbelievably friendly smile as he leaned in closer. “Though I’m afraid most of them are.”

His soft lyrical voice trailed over the shell of my ear, and for a moment, it almost brought me comfort.

The stranger’s red wings pulsed briefly as their span widened slightly. He absolutely beamed, and I couldn’t help but smile in return.

“Find your own pet, Andrey.” The rough words rumbled against my skin, forcing the hair on my arms to stand on end.

The umbra’s presence was like a knife held to my throat. Excitement and fear roiled through me as everything stilled.