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Millie dragged me to one of the huts and chatted with the bartender while I continued to soak in every sight. Huge parrots with colors of the rainbow perched along the tops of the huts, bopping their heads to the beat. Big white cats lounged off to the side, licking paws that were bigger than my fist.
“Here.” Millie handed me a green drink with a bamboo straw. “This is one of my favorites.”
I guzzled the sweet liquid, and it warmed my belly. I couldn’t place the type of alcohol or wine, but it had a hint of coconut and mint.
“Let’s dance!” Millie grabbed my free hand and pulled me closer to the fire.
The humans and fae there didn’t pay attention to us, lost in their own rhythm, moving their bodies to the fast music.
As the sun faded, I stopped caring about tomorrow and danced for tonight. The drums echoed through the jungle, and I gazed into that wildfire and let the flames take every care away.
Millie danced around me, smiling, laughing, and twirling my hands.
The veil kept sticking to my face. I ripped off the covering and tossed it to the sand. If Millie cared, she didn’t comment. Instead, she giggled and shouted at the sky. One drink after the next, we danced until I was no longer the royal princess.
Sweat slid down the back of my neck. Millie slinked around me, pulling me around the fire, tapping her feet in unison with the fae who danced beside us. Male, female, human, saber, races blended together, melting into the heated night. While I twirled around the bonfire, I caught glimpses of bodies moving in the shadows, hedonisms rising with the rhythm of the drums.
I twirled right into somebody, slamming against their chest.
“Careful there, sweetheart.”
Looking up, I stared into a pair of sea green eyes. I recognized the fae from Lily’s. He had been standing next to Azalea.
Lark.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his hands gripping my waist.
“Dancing,” I blurted out.
His mouth curved into a grin. “I see that.”
The music thumped around us, and I hated to admit that I couldn’t take my eyes off of this exquisite male. He wore an open neck, black tunic, two swords at his hips. His skin shimmered, golden hues darkened by the sun.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
He lowered his head by my ear. “Watching.”
I wanted to ask what or who he was watching, but someone grabbed my hand, dragging me back into the circle of dancers. The golden fae slid his hand up to my arm then slowly trailed it down until he grasped my fingers with his.
“Watch yourself,” he said. “The night is just getting started.”
Millie pulled me toward her, smiling and singing. I turned back, to say goodbye to Lark, but the fae had disappeared into the crowd vanishing as quickly as he appeared.
I had wanted to ask Leon more about Azalea and the two males but he had shut the conversation down before it even started. I don’t know what had transpired between those four, but I got the sense that Leon and Azalea were not the best of friends.
Returning to the wild dance, I once again lost myself within the music.
My vision swayed with my hips, blurring with each drink. Someone slid a hand across my back, another touched my ear. Heat roared from the fire, followed by laughter and fast drums. My mouth became dry, and Millie handed me another drink, bringing it to my lips and laughing wildly.
Sweat coated my body, and I brushed the back of my hand against my forehead. A fae with a blueish skin tone stalked forward, his narrowed gaze sending my heart into a tailspin. He pointed at me, licking his lips and I froze.
Strong hands pulled me back, and I spun.
“Leon,” I gasped, both excited and nervous to see him.
His golden eyes glowed in the darkness and his silver hair was back in a ponytail, allowing his pointy ears to show. The firelight danced across his dark skin, and he growled at the male approaching.
“I told you to stay.” He tightened his grip against my waist, fingers tightening around my hips.
“I paid you to bring me here,” I said, holding his intense gaze. “You don’t own me.”
He brought his face near my ear. “Yes, I do.”
When he pressed his lips against my hot neck and nipped me, every argument I had faded. Those lips moved to mine, and I lost myself in his claiming kiss.
“Do you know how intoxicating you are? I may have to slaughter the males who keep staring at you. I’m taking you home.” He picked me up and flung me over his shoulder.
