“I didn’t know her for long, but I liked her a lot,” I admit truthfully.
“It’s tragic, really, the loss of a life so young. The responsible party will be found and dealt with. I give you my word.” His voice reeks of false promise. “I hope tonight can offer you a small diversion, if only temporary.”
“It’s off to a promising start.” I flash him a million-dollar smile as Jace whirs past with Sorscha, neither of them looking too thrilled behind their masks. I can sense his watchful eyes on me.
“I was wondering if I may call on you tomorrow. Take you into the city for a bit of fun.”
“Tomorrow? I’m booked,” I say dramatically with a loud sigh.
“Is that right?” He pulls me tighter to him, a hound on the scent of challenge.
“It is,” I purr.
“The day after then.”
“I’ll check my schedule.”
He chuckles as the dance comes to an end and tips my chin up—something urgent bubbling beneath the soft touch.
“Busy female.” He shakes his head, his eyes roaming over my face. “Let me spoil you.”
“Sounds tempting.”
“Oftentimes, just on the other side of temptation is pleasure. A painful sort of pleasure, but pleasure nonetheless.”
“The King is a hedonist. How shocking.”
“We all have vices.” His cruel mouth twists into a devastating smile, and I truly have to struggle to keep my mind closed to him, to keep him from invading my thoughts and planting his own there.
“I’m afraid I’m about to add you to the list of mine.” His voice is a caress against my cheek.
Jace, Zadyn, and Kai stand together, off to the side, their faces tight and stances tense. Kai’s expression is a mixture of disgust and horror. Zadyn’s fists are balled at his sides, and Jace’s hand slides not so subtly to the hilt of his sword.
But I can’t bring myself to care.
Not with Kylian standing so close and smelling so good. I subtly inhale his intoxicating scent and force myself to hold his gaze without blinking.
Those sea-blue eyes drift to my mouth, and a wild thrill shoots through me. A sense of power at the thought of him wanting me. He draws closer, slowly lowering his lips to mine as my eyes flutter shut.
I’m no longer playing a game.
I’ve become the game, and Kylian is winning—conquering—just a hair’s breadth away from claiming his prize.
My fingers curl into the feathers of his shoulder piece, and I find my lips parting patiently for him.
The moment our lips touch, the screams erupt.
I jump, putting some distance between Kylian and me. My hand flies to my mouth as if it could erase the almost kiss.
But that’s not the biggest problem.
Because the shouts surrounding us are growing louder and more urgent. I reel toward Jace and Zadyn, who are already cutting through the masked crowd to get to me.
That’s when I see them. The beastly creatures from the maze are everywhere, clawing people down and feasting on their blood in horrifyingly gruesome displays. Their massive black forms transform the room into a nightmare instantaneously.
Kylian draws his sword and dives into action, cutting down any creature that gets within a foot of me. I snap myself out of my frozen horror, dashing for Jace and Zadyn, but I lose them in the frantic mob. My voice is swallowed by the surrounding chaos as I scream their names. I trip over dead bodies and bloody limbs, trying not to gag and praying that no one I know or love is amongst the fallen.
People push and pull in every direction, and the Stryga attack relentlessly. With the crowd this thick, using magic would do more harm than good. I won’t get a clear shot at the beasts without someone else getting hurt or worse—killed.
