Page 127 of Sold to the Dark Vampire Prince

“I can’t even imagine what that must have been like,” Finneas said gently. “Or what you’re going through now.”

The wind stirred snowflakes that had gathered on the balcony railing, sending them swirling off into the night.

“You’re missing the party.”

He studied her carefully. “I got your message earlier. You said you wanted to talk.” He tilted his head towards the glass walls of the ballroom where music was floating out onto the terrace, and extended a hand. “Shall we?”

And even though it had been nearly a month since she had allowed another person to touch her, she slid her gloved fingers into his. He led her to the center of the terrace. She tried to ignore the tingle of awareness tickling up her spine when he slid a hand to her waist.

“I didn’t think you knew our dances.”

He smiled at this. “You do know I’m two hundred years old, right? That’s time to learn rather a lot of things.”

She bit her bottom lip. There was no avoiding what she’d asked him here to discuss. Best to just come out with it.

“I need to go away for a while. Someplace Lara Cavalieri and the press her family controls can’t follow. If I’m here, it will be a distraction to everything my brother hopes to accomplish.”

“And you think you’ll be safe with me.” When she said nothing, Finneas sighed. “You’ve never lived among the fae. You might find it very isolating.”

“More isolating than being trapped in my room in a castle, afraid to touch anyone for fear I’ll kill them? More isolating than being unable to sleep at night, waiting for someone to send assassins after me?”

“No, but it would be a significant change all the same.” He reached up, tracing a tendril of hair back behind her cheek.

“Don’t.” Her breathing quickened. “I could hurt you.”

“No. I don’t think you can. And I think you know why.”

As she held her breath, Finneas gently pulled down her glove so her right wrist was exposed.

There at the base of her hand was an intricate knot of swirls. It was different from the mark that had appeared on Alex and Dani’s wrists, but even so, she’d known what it was the moment she’d seen it. Sera’s pulse picked up speed as Finneas pushed up his sleeve, revealing a matching mating mark at the base of his hand.

“I… knew it was you. Some part of me just knew. When it appeared last week—”

“Yes, your text was very cryptic.” His eyes held hers. “Instructing me to come to your brother’s wedding and to come find you after the reception, but that we couldn’t be seen together for any reason.”

Cheeks heating, she pulled her glove back down.

“We’re not… mates.” She lowered her voice just in time, whispering it like a swear. “We can’t be. It would never work.”

A smile curved his lips. “Are you flustered, lovely Serafina, because you’re sure we would drive each other mad, or because you’re secretly afraid you would enjoy it?”

“I think you would set me off, and I would shove you into every punch bowl in Thornwood.”

“Yes, well.” He took her hand, leading her slowly around the terrace again. “We keep the crystal safely locked away for the most part. And as for the day we met, that was not my finest hour.”

“You were an insufferable ass.”

Finneas twirled her. “I overheard you and that bodyguard you were sleeping with talking about me.”

“Micah?” That stopped her short. “But when—?”

“I got lost in one of the hallways. You were ranting to your lover, making no secret of the fact that you thought I would be an incompetent king. I believe your exact words were, ‘He’s a spoiled manwhore prince. His parents know perfectly well he’ll never be able to rule half the fae kingdom, and they’re too embarrassed to just give the entire thing to his sister, Niamh.’”

Her cheeks caught fire. Because of course, she had said that. She opened her mouth. “Finn, I’m sor—”

“Don’t bother apologizing. We both know you meant it.” He tilted his head. “I certainly don’t feel the least bit sorry about saying what I did later in order to get you to drop the fake niceties and admit your true feelings about our potential mating.”

“You said it to provoke me?”