by Elena Gray
“Um…” Talia bit her lip. “We can’t exactly tell you that. If you knew, you would tell.”
“Of course I would tell.” Zarina’s face reddened to the point that I thought her head might explode. “Now I can be held as an accomplice to this. You need to take her back now, or I am going to the queen. There are rumors that something is brewing, and it’s not good.”
Zarina’s gaze fell to me as her eyes softened a moment. When she looked at Talia again, anger filled them.
“That is why the prince was at the party,” Zarina said. “We have always remained neutral in things that involved humans, but now we may be forced to choose sides.”
“I haven’t heard any rumors.” Talia glanced at her sisters, who shook their heads. “What is going on?”
“Someone is trying to break the Veritis Treaty,” Zarina answered.
“Oh, no.” Talia covered her mouth as her sisters whispered to each other. “This will upset the balance on earth with humans.”
“Correct. No one knows who is behind it, not that it matters. Either way, we’ll be screwed. Can you imagine if all supernaturals had free rein over not only the human realm, but ours as well? The chaos and destruction they would cause?”
Their conversation left me confused. I just wanted to go to bed and sleep off the wine.
“I think I need to go to sleep now,” I said, not even attempting to hide my yawn. “Can someone show me to my room?”
The group of fairies huddled together, whispering while sneaking glances at me. Zarina took a step closer, her arm wrapping around my waist.
I sighed and rested my head on her shoulder. “You smell really nice. Like a bouquet of flowers and sunshine. I had no idea what sunshine smelled like, but if it had a smell, it would be you.”
“Fine. We will take the human back to the prince,” Talia announced after she and her sisters finished speaking. “But we will need to watch over her since she already drank the wine.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Zarina snapped. “You have all screwed up enough already. You will have to figure out a way to reverse the effects of the wine before anyone knows she’s already had it. You better hope she survives what you have done.”
Talia rolled her eyes. “Pfft. This one is a lot stronger than she looks.”
“Hey, I’m right here. What do you mean if I survive?” My eyes began to blur, my lids feeling too heavy to keep open. “Is that why I feel the way I do? Am I dying?”
Zarina squeezed my waist, a gentle smile forming. “You’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it.” Turning her attention back to the girls surrounding us, she said, “Which of you idiots is taking her back?”
“I will.” Talia stepped forward. “I can get her in there without anyone seeing me. But I still think she should stay here. The prince will just think she went home. Besides, Declan was trying to sink his teeth into her. That’s the reason we took her away.”
“Declan?” Zarina’s eyes widened. “Great, this keeps getting better and better. If he is fixated on her, then this poor girl doesn’t stand a chance.” Pinching the bridge of her nose, she shook her head slightly and exhaled. Then her head jerked up. “Unless the prince takes her under his protection. Then again, Declan doesn’t recognize him as royalty, so it might not even matter.”
“Which is why she should stay,” Talia reiterated. “Declan can’t reach her here.”
“Talia, no.”
Zarina’s objection made Talia stomp her foot.
“Fine,” Talia whined. “But I can’t be responsible for what happens if Declan gets his hands on her again.”
I expected Zarina to reprimand Talia for her snarky response. Instead, she handed me over to Talia, then flew back through the gates.
Placing my arm over her shoulder, Talia sighed as we followed Zarina. “You are going to feel funny for a while. The effects of the wine will eventually wear off. I’m going to have to leave you when we get back to the house. I can’t be seen with you.”
I glanced over my shoulder and waved at the fairy sisters I was leaving behind. “I don’t understand why I have to leave. You said that we were sisters now. I really like it here. It’s so pretty. Everything sparkles.”
“I want you to stay, too, but there are laws that protect humans. You don’t belong here.”
“That’s the second time someone has told me that I don’t belong. Shouldn’t I get a say in whether I stay or not?”
Talia shook her head, her wings fluttering behind her. “It doesn’t work that way.”
I might’ve been a little tipsy, but I didn’t miss the sadness in Talia’s voice. I wrapped my other arm around her and squeezed.
Another yawn hit me. “When you take me back, can you at least find a couch so I can lie down? I really don’t think I can stay up much longer. Oh, and I’ll miss you too.”
Talia stopped and faced me. I blinked a few times until only one of her stood in front of me.
“I know Zarina said that she would watch over you,” she said, “but I promise that I’ll find you again, Claire.”
“I’d like that,” I said with a smile.
“Here we are,” Talia said as we stood in the same clearing where I had arrived.
Talia shrugged and for once she looked shy. “Maybe we can even be friends. I’ve never had a human friend before. I tend to stay close to home. Zarina spends more time with humans than the rest of us do.”
“I don’t know why you keep referring to me as a human, but I’d like to be friends.”
Smiling, Talia’s grip on me tightened. “Remember to hold your breath. I wish I could stay once I have you settled, but I cannot risk it. It was nice to meet you, Claire. We will definitely meet again.”
Chapter 9
Warm lips brushed over my neck. When I felt the prick of teeth, my eyes snapped open. I was back in the library, lying on the leather sofa, with Declan crouched over me.
“Hi,” I sighed. I must have fallen asleep when Talia brought me back.
“Hello, little one,” Declan said. “I was worried I would never see you again. Imagine my surprise when I caught the faint scent of your blood.”
My blood? What a weird thing to say. Then I remembered how he had licked it off my hand. I shivered despite the fire burning in the fireplace across from me.
“I just had the most amazing time.” I spotted a blanket draped along the back of the couch and pulled it over me. “Did you know I was with the fairies?”
“Yes. Those fairies were awfully bold to take you away from me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. They said you would come after me and it was a bad thing. Should I be afraid?” I knew I was rambling, but the wine seemed to have removed my filter. I was too tired to care, anyway.
“No, little one.” Declan brushed the back of his hand across my cheek. “I would never hurt you. Why would I harm the one that fate chose to gift me?”
I thought about his words for a moment, then gave him a sleepy smile. “That sounds nice. Did you know that I’m a fairy now? They said we were sisters.”
Declan’s brows lifted. “Really?”
“Mm-hmm.” I rubbed my eyes before I continued, “They haven’t told me when I’m getting my wings, though. They wanted me to live there, but I guess it’s against the rules.” I yawned and adjusted myself on the couch, tucking my knees toward my chest. “It’s so pretty there. Everything is brighter, the air is cleaner. It’s like heaven.”
“Do you have any idea how special you are, Claire? Not in a mystical sort of way. You are technically just a human.” The intensity of his gaze warmed my body. “But it’s rare to have blood that tastes like yours. A vampire finds someone like you once in their lifetime if they are lucky. And the fact that you practically fell into my lap is no coincidence.”
“What makes my blood so special?” I was having a hard time following this conversation. While it was nice talking with Declan, I was struggling to stay awake.
“There are only one in a million people
that have blood like yours. To a doctor, it looks like everyone else’s, but to a vampire, it tastes like silk on our tongue.” He traced his fingers across the pulsing vein in my neck, his gaze growing unfocused.
“Silky? Do you mean like wine? I love wine.” Speaking of, I should have asked the fairies if I could have taken some home.
“Perhaps that’s a better analogy for you, so yes. There is a misconception that vampires enjoy the taste of blood. Granted, some people taste better than others, but most blood is thick and bitter.”
“Eww.” I curled up my nose. “That’s gross.”
Declan nodded. “We get used to it over time, but we don’t enjoy the taste. Yours is like drinking a fine wine, something that is meant to be savored.”
I still had no idea what he was saying. The effects of the fairy wine still had a hold on my mind.
“What if I don’t want you to drink my blood?” This seemed like such a weird thing to say. I knew he wouldn’t really drink it. This was all hypothetical, but it still made goosebumps spring up on my arms.
“I would never take what you didn’t want to give freely.” Declan’s hand slipped from my neck to my hair. His fingers slid through the strands as he tucked it behind my ear.
“But I didn’t give you permission before.”
“Little one, I only sampled your blood. I wouldn’t have truly drunk from you without your consent.”
“Oh. Well, I don’t want to give you my blood then.”
His expression darkened for a moment, a slight frown pinching his lips. My eyes started to drift closed when his hand shifted to the back of my head. He pulled me closer until I was only inches from his lips. Inhaling through his nose, he made a low hmm sound. A slow smile spread across his lips. “It looks like the fairies may have actually helped me out. Did you drink any wine while you were with them?”
Unable to tear my gaze away from his, I nodded.
The smile on his lips grew even more, enough that I was able to see his sharp fangs. “Do you know what it feels like to have a vampire’s lips on your neck, little one?”
I shook my head, still unable to speak. My tongue felt full and heavy in my mouth, and my eyelids beginning to droop again.
“It’s even better than the way the fairy wine made you feel. There’s no pain, only euphoria. It’s better than an orgasm. All of your senses are heightened.” He pulled down the blanket and traced the curve of my body from my breasts to my hips. “The feel of my hands will ignite a fire in your core. Your release will only come with the last pull of my lips on your neck.”
My chest rose and fell as my body betrayed my mind. “Will I die?”
Why was I even contemplating him doing this to me? It was so wrong, but the tender way that he looked at me and the way that he massaged the back of my neck had me leaning closer.
“I would never harm you, little one. I would treasure you like a fragile flower.”
Breathless, I replied, “You promise it won’t hurt?”
He let out a soft chuckle, “I promise. The pain that I feel right now at being denied you is far worse than anything you would feel. The desire will far outweigh the pain.”
My hand lifted on its own, cradling his cheek. I hated to see the sadness in his eyes as much as I hated the idea of him being in pain. If he needed this, why should I deny him?
“Okay,” my voice was so soft that I didn’t think he heard me.
His eyes widened in surprise. “Okay?”
I nodded, my gaze dropping to his chest. What had I just agreed to? I must be crazy, yet I found myself tipping my head. Exposing my neck to him.
He hesitated for so long that I thought he might have changed his mind. Then he groaned and kissed a path up my neck.
I felt a quick pinch as sparks flashed through my vision. Moans left my mouth and I squeezed my eyes shut. Each draw of blood in my neck sent fires of pleasure through my veins. I gripped his biceps and his muscles flexed when I dug my nails into him.
Declan wasn’t kidding when he’d said this was better than an orgasm. I clenched my legs tighter as an ache began to build.
“No!” a voice roared from across the room.
Declan was yanked away from me. I opened my eyes in time to see his body slam against the bookshelf. Books tumbled down on top of him.
I cried out at the pain in my neck. My hand pressed over the wound as blood leaked between my fingers.
“Claire.” The masked man knelt next to me and gently pulled my hand away from my neck. As he leaned close to my ear, he whispered something that made the pain ease. Then, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a white cloth and cleaned the blood away. He skimmed his thumb over my neck before tossing the bloody cloth into the wastebasket.
I felt around on my neck for the bite mark and only felt smooth skin. Weird. I could have sworn that Declan had bitten me. And what about all of the blood? Where had that come from?
The masked man lifted me from the couch. When I stumbled against him, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, steadying me.
The masked man glared at Declan, who was storming toward us. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Declan stopped and crossed his arms over his chest, a cocky smile on his face. With a shrug, he said, “Isn’t that obvious?”
The masked man flinched. For a moment, I thought I heard him growl. “You aren’t supposed to feed off those that are unwilling.”
Declan motioned to me. “Does she look unwilling?”
My face flushed with heat when the mysterious man’s eyes met mine. “I know that I was supposed to leave,” I said, “but I got a little sidetracked. A lot has happened since you last saw me.”
“What did you do to her, Declan? She’s acting like she’s drunk.”
“I gave her nothing but a good time. You can blame the fairies for the wine.”
“Fuck.” He turned to me, his emerald eyes flashing through the slits in his mask. Between the tone of his voice and the freaky mask he wore, I shivered. “Did you drink anything the fairies gave you?”
“Yes. It was really good.”
We stared at each other for what seemed like forever before Declan cleared his throat.
“So now that we have that cleared up,” Declan said, “how about you find your way out and let me pick up where I left off.”
The masked man dropped his arm from my shoulder and stepped in front of me. “I don’t think so. She leaves with me.”
Declan hissed, exposing his fangs. “I don’t answer to anyone but my own king, and even that is debatable.”
“What king?” I asked, poking my head around the masked guy’s shoulder. “Like in chess? I don’t know how to play chess.”
Both guys looked at me in confusion.
Walking around the masked guy, I placed my hands on his chest. I almost forgot what I was going to say when I felt the hard muscles underneath my palms. Luckily, I remembered before I embarrassed myself further. “If I’m leaving with you, does that mean I’m in trouble?”
“You will be if you don’t come now. Trouble seems to follow you everywhere.” He glanced at Declan, then at me again.
“Not on purpose,” I replied. “I just don’t know the rules of the games. You should let the hosts know to explain them for new guests.”
While the mask had frightened me earlier, now it seemed kind of sexy. I wished he would remove it and allow me to see his face. He had a really nice voice. It wasn’t as hypnotic as Declan’s, but it left butterflies in my stomach every time he spoke.
“Will you please take off your mask? I want to see if your face is as nice as your body.” I dipped my head and giggled. “Oops. Did I say that out loud?”
“Yes, you did, little one,” Declan answered. I had forgotten he was still in the room. The masked man had become an easy distraction.
A hand wrapped around my arm. I glanced over my shoulder and found Decan right behind me.
“You need to come with me,” Declan said, trying to p
ull me away.
The masked guy tugged me close until our chests were touching. My forehead smacked into the bottom edge of his mask.
“Ow,” I said, rubbing the sore spot.
“I told you she’s leaving with me,” the masked guy said.
“And I told you that I don’t take orders from you,” Declan snarled. “This one is mine. Aren’t you, little one?”
The guy in the mask squeezed me harder, his eyes never leaving Declan. I could feel his muscles tightening under my hands. His heart thundered in his chest. What was he so worked up about? I said I would leave with him.
I opened my mouth to tell him that, but the masked guy spoke first. “She’s not yours. She’s mine.”
What on earth? How could I be his? He was the security guard who was supposed to escort me out of here. I didn’t remember agreeing to go on a date with him. Damn. Could it have been after I drank the fairy wine?
Declan pointed at my hand. “I don’t see a ring on her finger. She can’t be that committed to you. Besides, she doesn't know what you look like. If she was yours, wouldn’t she know what you look like?”
The guy’s emerald gaze dropped to study me. I wished he would take that stupid mask off so I could see more. Instead of removing it, he shifted me in his arms and reached into his pocket.
“The reason she doesn’t know what I look like,” my new boyfriend explained, “is because she was betrothed to me before she was born. We just united this evening.”
When he held out his hand and opened his fist, he revealed a ring with a giant stone that matched the color of his eyes. I gasped at how beautiful it was.
“Here is her ring. She dropped it earlier. I haven’t had a chance to give it back to her.”
“Isn’t it amazing?” I asked.
I had never owned anything so beautiful. And here I thought my phone was the only thing I’d lost tonight. How could I not remember losing this?
