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“What did you do?” I seethed, trying to pull from his grasp, but he held fast.
His laugh was low, the sound came from deep within his chest, “Come with me. Play my game and find out.”
“Why? Why would I do that?”
Another spin, his hand found mine as he placed it on his shoulder, pulling me closer so he could whisper in my ear. “You could stay. By all means deny my request. But. . .” He glanced toward Kaston who wore a mask that promised bloodshed for being crossed. “I wouldn’t. Lest you find yourself in unwanted situations.Again.”
The Goblin King’s eyes simmered with mischief as he gazed down at me, waiting for me to rebuke. I peeked over at Kaston. In the mindset he was in, he was far too dangerous to even consider being alone with. Especially in my own home. And after his intimidation, I did not want him to touch me. Let alone hurt me again.
“And if I go with you?” I only toyed with the idea; he was not the only one who could play word games.
His smile widened, allowing me another glimpse of his canines. “Why Serra, is that a yes?”
“No. Why should I trust you? I apparently trusted you once already. Shame on me for doing so.”
“I only did what you asked of me.”
“And what was that exactly?” I could play his game. Whatever it was he took from me had to be important to him. Whatever it was, it still belonged to me.
It was mine.
He laughed again, the sound vibrated, capturing a sliver of my heart. “You’re cunning Princess. Do you accept my offer or not? I do not have all night, and by the glare of your sweetheart, neither do you.”
I saw Kaston disappear into the crowd. “He’s not my sweetheart.”
“Ah. But that was not the impression I got. And I assume, not the impression anyone else here got. The exchanged glances between brothers and the seething look of his betrothed would suggest otherwise.” The Goblin King spoke, step after step he kept in turn with the notes. Even when the music picked up another song. Throwing us into it with ease. “You’ve captured the attention of more than one man in this room, Serra.”
His expression was smoldering, even behind his mask. His lip peaked as partners changed, the conversation around us lingered slightly. More and more eyes found their way to us. He was not going to let me go until he had an answer. I caught sight of Lady Conwell, a stiff smile on her lips. Had she intended for this to happen? The humiliation I showed her as her guest, vying for both of her son’s attentions. One newly engaged and the other? Caine was known to be a bachelor, uninterested in marriage. No doubt a rumor would spread, people would talk after this. I had yet to speak to her, to give her my thanks.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to at this point.
I noticed then, Caine standing beside her. His eyes as he watched me- the tightening of his fingers, the white knuckles. His face questioning. Somehow, somewhere, I had captured the attention of Lord Caine Conwell. I had somehow regained the attention of Lord Kaston Conwell. Attention I did not want from either of them. I had a feeling that the feud would escalate if I did not leave and leave immediately. A lingering feeling of another feud caused my eyebrows to pull together. Another feud between brothers, a much older feud.
My gaze wandered around the opulent ballroom, taking in every detail- the vibrant colors of the decorations, the ornate chandeliers casting a warm glow, and the musicians playing their instruments. As my eyes met those of a few guests, I quickly averted my gaze, feeling self-conscious. But when I looked back up at the Goblin King, I couldn't help the question that formed in my mind. What was he playing at? The whole situation was so bewildering, it left me feeling disoriented and unsure.
Yet he waited.
Even after we had stopped moving, he waited for me to answer. The curious looks and hushed whispers pricked at the back of my mind. I had trusted him once- for some reason, to offersomethingto him. And he was giving me a chance to get it back. Whatever it had been, I had enough certainty then to give it to him.
I could be making a big mistake.
I could come to regret this later.
Everything in me told me not to do it, not to go with him. But as much as it screamed at me, the curiosity I had, the questions that formed would not go away if I did not go. There was only one way I could see out of this, one way to find the answers I sought.
“Okay,” I said, “I’ll play your game. As long as you return what you took.”
He did not hesitate.
His smile widened into a grin as he hugged me closer to him. Both eyes shining with devilry and satisfaction. In a rush of smoke and shadow we disappeared. The screams of terror, the sound of glass shattering and shouts for help as the room vanished, along with all the guests. Caine, Kaston, Cressida, the Conwell’s, everybody disappeared.
His body was hard, firm but warm as we whipped through space.The feeling of nausea took over my stomach. Caine had been right, I should have eaten something. I had to squeeze my eyes shut to stop the contents of my stomach from coming up.The world continued to spin, even as he spoke to me again.
“You can open your eyes.”
We were on solid ground again.
The world had stopped spinning, but my stomach had not. The urge to empty it took over as the Goblin King let me go. He stepped back from me, keeping his distance as it emptied on the ground.
