He slides a lazy glance my way. “I wasn’t aware you needed anyone to stroke that ego of yours.”
“I don’t. I just thought you might like to know what kind of undergarments one wears beneath a dress such as this.” I gesture to the length of my body.
“Not tonight. Excuse me,” he says disinterestedly, making to move through the crowd. I follow him, a bit concerned, as he slides into a secluded alcove with plush red velvet seats. He says nothing as I scoot in beside him.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a tiny vial no larger than a knuckle. He uncorks it and sprinkles a neat line out on the table, not even bothering to check for onlookers. I glance around at the swirling crowd, but no one is even remotely phased. Kai lowers his nose to the table and swiftly snorts the line.
“Kai?” I ask gingerly as he discreetly dusts the remnants of powder from his nostrils.
“Did you want some?” he offers, casting a quick glance in my direction as he pours out another line.
“N—no,” I stammer, horrified, as he repeats the action. He tips his head back and blinks his eyes a few times.
“Kai, are you alright? You don’t seem like yourself.” I put a hand on his shoulder, and he casually shrugs out of my touch, eyes fixed on a scantily clad fae female passing by our table. She stops mid-step and slowly turns to him, transfixed. Her hips swish as she draws closer, and I glance between them, noticing Kai’s eyes peering out from beneath his lowered lashes. I know that look because he once tried it on me. The female leans over the table and kisses him wordlessly.
He’s using his siren tricks on her, I realize. I smack his arm, appalled.
“Ow,” he blurts in annoyance. Slumping back against the cushion, he waves an idle hand, sending the girl on her way, completely unfazed.
“What is the matter with you tonight?” I shake him. He wrenches his arm away.
“Go bother someone else with your holier-than-thou act.” He sneers, two little fangs extending from his canines.
“Kai,” I start, but he’s already bounding out of his seat and darting away. I jump up to catch him, not bothering to watch where I step. That’s when I slam into a wall of rock and rebound from the force. I am steadied by two large hands around my waist. Blinking wildly, I stare up into familiar ocean eyes.
King Kylian is quite possibly the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. The face a more mature version of Kai’s, with the same black hair and ocean eyes, he stands taller, with more muscle and an air of power that rivals King Derek’s. Even in silence, there is a subtle arrogance about him. I drink in the golden crown atop his head, the light dusting of gold powder over his broad shoulders and bare chest, and the delicate body chain that skims his hard torso. His skin is luminescent, with adeep tan, as if he’d spent an ample amount of time on a beach beneath the radiant sun.
“Brother,” Kylian regards Kai without so much as a glance in his direction. If his looks weren’t proof enough of his siren lineage, his voice would be. Spun straight from the darkest bedroom fantasies, the deep rumble sends a wave of chills down my bare arms. I discreetly step out of his steadying grasp to stash them behind my back. The movement earns a sharp gaze from him, his eyes threatening to swallow me whole as they scan from my head to my toes and back up again. I try not to squirm as that gaze lays me bare.
Kai’s expression is unreadable when he pauses, turning back toward us.
“Oh, hello, asshole,” Kai says flippantly, sidling up to me. Kylian huffs an unamused laugh, finally breaking our intense eye contact to assess his younger brother.
“Miss me?” Kylian’s eyes glint sardonically.
“Not really.” Kai shrugs, his tone effusive.
“Is that any way of greeting your dear older brother? Your king?” Kylian tuts, his mesmerizing stare circling back to me. “I must apologize for my brother’s rudeness. I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.”
“Don’t worry. Your reputation precedes you,my King,” Kai pipes, brushing the underside of his nose with his fingers. Kylian takes a slow, deliberate step away from me to stand directly in front of his brother. Kai stares up at him, chin high, defiant.
“Are you high?” Kylian’s voice is a gentle caress before he abruptly takes hold of Kai’s chain necklace, wrapping it around his fist, and slams him against the wall. I gasp as his head makes contact with a loud thud, causing a small crack to spider out above him.
“You’re a disgrace. A worthless little waste of royal blood,”Kylian breathes—his tone calm, cool, and collected despite the discreetly violent display. No one seems to notice. Kai’s expression as he feebly grips his brother’s iron fist is truly heartbreaking. Shame and defeat haunt his downcast eyes. Having seen enough, I stomp forward, marching right up to Kylian.
“Hey. You.” I snap my fingers in his gorgeous face. “Don’t talk to him like that.”
The death glare he slides my way almost sends me skittering back to hide in a corner. But I hold my ground.
“Do you know who I am?” he purrs temperately.
“I don’t care if you’re the Queen of fucking Sheba.” I inch closer, both compelled and repulsed by him. A slow smirk spreads over his cruel mouth, but he releases Kai, allowing him to slump back against the wall. I briefly notice the mangled, dented chain around my friend’s neck before he discreetly slips it off and stashes it in his pocket. Kylian assesses me, siren eyes dancing.
“Brother, if you don’t marry this creature, then I will be forced to.”
“Then we’ll have a queen at last,” Kai slurs dryly. “Whoopee.”
“My lady.” Kylian reaches out slowly to take my hand. I rip it back before his fingers even brush my skin and fix him with a tight, phony smile. His answering laugh is musical.
