“Would you honor me with a dance?” he asks, suddenly the portrait of charm. This guy is a certified psychopath. Beneath that godly exterior that likely fools just about everyone, lurks a Patrick Bateman of the worst degree.
I should know. I can smell a narcissist a mile away.
Crossing my arms, I make a show of looking toward the dance floor, where the music leads the throng in primal, lusty choreography.
“I don’t think so,” I sigh, tossing him an uninterested glance.Kylian folds his hands behind his back as I wrap my arm around Kai’s elbow. His movements are slow, heavy, and lethargic, no doubt from the drugs.
“Kai, shall we?” I elbow him in an attempt to rouse him before tugging him away from his brother.
“At least honor me with your name,” Kylian says, stopping me with a possessive hand around my upper arm. I stare up at his intimidating height, the crimson shadows of the hall bathing him in a sinister red wash.
“I told your brother once, and I will tell you now. You will ask before you lay your hands on me.” My voice lashes out, cold and demanding—a voice I’ve never been able to summon despite my best efforts. It is the voice of a queen.
I don’t waste another breath on Kylian before I tow Kai through the crowd, past the patio, and down into the empty garden. We reach the fountains, and I sit him down on the stone bench beneath the alabaster likeness of Myr the Huntress. He goes limp, eyes glazing over, jaw slackening.
He's so fucked up.
“Kai.” I hold his face, trying to get him to focus. I give his cheek a gentle slap, but it doesn’t even begin to rouse him from his near-catatonic state.
“Kai, what the fuck did you take?”
God, I hope the fae aren’t capable of overdosing.
His arms dangle lifelessly at his sides as I dip my hand in the fountain to dampen his forehead. It does nothing. With a frustrated groan, I flip him onto his belly and dunk his head beneath the cool water. He seems slightly more alert when I bring him up, blinking the water from his eyes. I dunk him again. The moment I feel his resistance, I release him, and he pushes himself upright. Turning sharply, he expels the contents of his stomach onto the cobblestone beneath us, scarcely missing the fountain. He slides onto the ground, resting hischeek against the cool ledge. My hands are on his back, patting gently as relief washes over me.
“You’re okay,” I breathe, my heart rate coming back to normal.
Laughter sounds from around the corner, and I glance up in time to see our friends step into view. They stop short when they see us, eyes going wide as they take in the scene.
“Kai!” The princess breaks away from Jace and rushes forward, dropping to her knees beside him.
“What happened?” Jace comes around Kai’s other side, voice tense.
“I don’t know. I think he overdosed,” I explain. “He had a lot to drink, and then he snorted this pink stuff.”
“Stardust,” Cece supplies. Sorscha shakes her head, smoothing the dripping hair from Kai’s face.
“Let’s get him up,” Jace says, helping to ease him into a seated position. He tips his head back against the fountain and breathes heavily. Still a little out of it, he turns his head to me, eyes sleepy.
“My hero.” He smiles beatifically. I laugh in relief.
“You’re an idiot,” I chide affectionately.
“So I’ve heard,” he huffs, giving his eyes a rest. I get to my feet, noticing how drenched my own dress is as it clings heavily to me. The girls huddle around Kai as Jace and Zadyn come to stand on either side of me.
“How did he get that messed up so quickly?” Jace asks for our ears only.
“He seemed off all night, and then he started pounding drinks and snorting lines. I think it had something to do with his brother.”
I recall how Kai could barely look him in the eye. He didn’t even try to resist as Kylian tossed him against the wall. He didn’t lift a finger.
“Kylian is a sadistic bastard. It wouldn’t surprise me.” Jace’s eyes darken.
“I had the displeasure of running into him earlier.” I shake my head at the memory of his stinging cruelty. Kai is now talking more, some color returning to his pretty face. Cece and the princess help him to his feet, draping his arms over their shoulders.
Once we get Kai inside and back to his rooms, we stay long enough to order a detox brew from Gnorr and to get some food in him. When he is sound asleep, we slip out the door and disband for the evening, no longer in the mood for an afterparty.
36
