“See?” he says, his voice like velvet. “You're a natural.”
I open my mouth to respond, but the words catch in my throat, silenced by the way he looks at me, as if he could devour me whole and the worst part is that I want him to.Every last bite.
Chapter 22
Daed’s hands drift lower, fingers grazing the curve of my hips as we continue to sway. My breath catches in my throat, and every nerve in my body lights up in response to his touch. His fingers press gently, exploring the line of my waist, teasing the edge of my dress as though testing how much further he can go.
I can feel my pulse quickening, heat building beneath my skin, and I tilt my head back slightly, the cool night air kissing the exposed flesh of my neck. His lips brush my temple, soft as a whisper, sending a shiver racing down my spine. My body reacts without my consent, leaning into him, drawn to the fire between us that grows with each passing second.
The sounds of Orios and Solena laughing fade, but their presence lingers in the distant, haunting moans that rise from the garden. I try not to listen, try not to imagine what they’re doing beneath the moon, but the berries, the moonlight, and Daed’s wandering hands make it impossible to think of anything else.
His breath is warm against my ear, his lips hovering so close I can feel their ghosting touch.
“Amara,” he murmurs, his voice dark and thick with intent.
His hand drifts further, fingers sliding down the curve of my back, brushing the sensitive skin just beneath my ribs, his grip firm but still testing, still exploring. I close my eyes, a soft gasp escaping my lips as he pulls me tighter against him, the line of his body pressed flush against mine. His other hand—still holding mine—relaxes, letting our fingers slip free, only to trail along my arm, lingering at my wrist before skimming up to my shoulder.
My skin hums where he touches, the warmth of his hand spreading like wildfire. Every inch of me feels alive, attuned to his every movement, and though my mind tells me to pull away, my body betrays me, leaning closer, wanting more. His hand finds the bare skin of my shoulder, brushing against the hollow of my collarbone before sliding down to the curve of my chest. My breath stutters, caught in my throat as he cups me through the fabric, his thumb grazing the peak of my breast in a slow, deliberate motion.
I know I should say something, stop him before it goes too far, but the sensation is too much, too intoxicating. I bite down on my lip, my heart racing as a wave of desire crashes over me, the heat in my body reaching a fever pitch. His hands—strong, sure, possessive—are everywhere, and I find myself arching into his touch, a soft moan escaping my lips before I can stop it.
His lips brush my ear, and the sound of his voice sends a tremor through me. "Do you want me to stop?" he asks, his breath hot against my skin.
I can’t think. I can’t answer.
In the distance, I hear Solena’s soft cries, followed by Orios’ low, guttural moans, and my mind spins in a haze of moonlight and lust. My body is screaming at me to let go, to give in to the primal pull that’s tugging me closer to Daed, but something deeper holds me back—something I can’t quite place.
His fingers press harder, more insistent, and I draw in a shaky breath, my mind battling the sensations that flood my body.
The moon above us seems to pulse, like a heartbeat that beats in time with mine.
Daed's lips graze the shell of my ear, his breath warm and heavy. “I wonder…” he murmurs, his voice a low, seductive growl. “What would you look like wearing only moonlight?”
The words send a shiver through me, but not the kind I’ve come to enjoy. His question, the one he asked me in Baev'kalath, feels wrong here—under this moon, under its control. My body may be begging for him, but my mind revolts. This isn’t real.This isn’t us.
I pull away from him, the spell of the moonlight shattering like glass. “No,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, but he hears it. “I don’t want this… not like this.”
Daed's hand lingers, fingers tracing my arm, his eyes confused and clouded with desire. “Amara…”
“I don’t want the moon to decide how we feel about each other,” I choke out, my heart pounding as I break free from his hold completely, stumbling back. The ground feels unstable beneath my feet, the effects of the berries making the world spin.
His eyes darken with frustration, his voice low and dangerous. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t… I won’t be a prisoner to the moon, to this… this madness.” My head spins as I take another step back, and I turn on my heel, running from him before I can think twice.
“Amara, stop!” Daed’s voice chases me through the night, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop. The garden, the moon, his touch—they all blur into one overwhelming force, and I need to escape it all. I need to get away from him before I lose myself to this twisted magic.
I run toward the castle, my bare feet pounding against the stone path as I make for the staircase leading to my chambers.My pulse throbs in my ears, and I can hear Daed’s heavy footfalls close behind me, his voice calling my name, but I don’t turn back. My only thought is to get away.
I reach my room and throw myself inside, slamming the door behind me with a loud crash. My chest heaves as I fumble for the lock, my hands shaking from the dizzying effect of the berries. I twist it into place just as Daed’s hand pounds on the door.
“Amara, let me in,” he demands, his voice low and firm, but I can hear the restraint in it.
“Go away!” I shout, pressing my back against the door as if my body can reinforce the lock.
There’s a heavy pause on the other side, his breathing hard against the wood. “Amara…” His voice is softer now, almost pleading, but I’m too dizzy, too lost in the confusion to give in.
I sink to the floor, my head swimming as I clutch the fabric of my dress, the cool stone beneath me doing little to ground me. The warmth of the moon, the magic in those cursed berries—it all swirls inside me like a storm, threatening to consume my will.
