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Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed several members of the Court whisper away behind the curtain. Bree’s curiosity was immediately piqued. Where were they going? She followed after them and ducked behind the curtain, finding a long dark corridor stretching out before her. The laughing fae vanished into the nearest door, but that wasn’t the thing that caught Bree’s attention. Instead, her gaze was focused on what lay beyond. The door at the very end of thehallway.
Just above the door hung a tapestry etched with a pair of bright red wings, the symbol of PrinceTaveon.
Were those his quarters? Was that where he lived and slept and spent his daysscowling?
She had to find out. Maybe there would be something in there that would help Lord Dagen. Maybe his secrets lay hiddeninside.
Of course the door was locked when she reached it, but she knew a thing or two about picking locks from her time spent in New York. She grabbed a couple of pins from her hair, jammed them in the lock, and smiled when a resounding click met herears.
And then she wasinside.
She slipped into the room and closed the door quietly behind her, her heartbeat hammering in her chest. A fire flickered in the nearest corner, illuminating the room that spread out wide on either side. It had floor-to-ceiling windows that stretched across the entire length of the furthest wall, facing the bulbous moon that glowed so brightly it took Bree’s breathaway.
Deep red carpets stretched out across the stone floors, softening the harsh features of the castle. There was a desk, covered in parchment, as well as a globe that looked suspiciously like the one for the human realm. Just beyond the desk, there was a cluster of sofas and armchairs, hunkered around the fire. Hundreds of books lined the walls. It was a beautiful room. So beautiful that it did not look like it should belong in this cold, hardplace.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” a voice slithered into Bree’s ear from behind her. She froze, breath held tight in her throat, heart thundering so loud that it drowned out the merriment of theball.
Slowly, Bree swivelled to face one of those horned fae, his face covered by a mask painted in deep crimson whorls. She swallowed hard as her gaze flicked across him. His jacket matched his mask, and a dangerously sharp sword hung from his waist, the hilt carved into a lion’s gaping jaw. The sharp teeth glittered underneath the dancingfirelight.
“Oh.” She gave him a timid smile. “I guess I got lost. I was looking for the...” What did they call it here? A restroom? Bree had a sneaking suspicion that they called it anything but that. She cleared her throat. “Bathingchambers?”
He let out a low chuckle, leaning forward to prop one hand on the wall behind her, and he leaned in close. “For a spy, you are awfully terrible at lying. And you seem to have a strangevocabulary.”
Her eyes widened just a fraction. “What are you talking about? I am Lord Dagen’s aide. I am assisting himin—”
“Spare me the half-cocked story.” His glittering smile widened. “I know Dagen well. He does not care about humans. What he cares about is that crown. And you, his supposed aide, has now been caught poking around where she shouldn’tbe.”
“Honestly, you are mistaken.” Her voice slightly trembled, something Bree desperately hoped this strange fae wouldn’tnotice.
He lifted an eyebrow. “I wonder what Prince Taveon would think, if he knew that you were in here. Do not think your little scene together escaped everyone’s notice. He is not even happy his little slave is at theball.”
Bree bristled. She hated being called a slave, even if that was what she was. She opened her mouth to bark out a retort, but voices drifted toward them. Bree recognized them immediately because she’d heard them once before. Two of Prince Taveon’s council members, though not Lord Dagen or Seath. These two were the ones who were loyal to the Prince, and they knew exactly who shewas.
And they were about to discover her snooping around in the Prince’schambers.
A strange smile flickered across the fae’s lips. “Looks like Conlan and Branok are in for ashow.”
“Please don’t,” she whispered as their footsteps grew evercloser.
But Bree didn’t have a chance to beg and plead. Instead, the strange fae male wrapped his arms around her back, pulled her close, and planted a hungry kiss on her lips. Her eyes widened in shock, her entire bodytrembling.
What the hell was hedoing?!
The strength of him held her close, though she didn’t try to push him away. She stood frozen to the spot, a million different emotions pouring through her atonce.
“Close your eyes,” he murmured against her lips. “Relax. Make itreal.”
Oh. Realization dawned in her mind, and she understood immediately. So, she followed his orders and closed her eyes. Still, it was impossible to relax, not when his corded body pressed so tightly against hers. The scent of him filled her head: a heady mixture of smoke and fire and musk. Everything about him screamed danger. Danger and delicious power. Andstrength.
His lips were softer than she would have guessed and gentle in the way they pressed against hers. They began to move against her mouth, and his tongue darted in through her parted lips. A gasp escaped her throat, and a thrill went down her spine. Nope, there was definitely no relaxing in this situation. She had a strange, terrifying fae’s kiss on her lips, and even crazier was that she actuallylikedit.
His hand found her cheek, and he caressed her chin with histhumb.
Her entire body melted from just that one touch. Bree had never been kissed like this before, even if it was all some sort of show. Even if it wasn’treal.
A throat cleared as the footsteps stopped only inches from where the two of them stood curled up in each other’s embrace. Bree pulled back, her face flushed and her breath ragged. She couldn’t bear to look at Conlan or Branok. Hell, she couldn’t bear to look atanyone.
“Fillan,” Branok’s voice was sharp, disapproving. “What are you doing in the Prince’s chambers? And withher?”
