Max wiped the blood from his knuckles, and Sin felt her breath catch in her throat. The ballroom, which had been filled with gasps moments before, seemed to fade into the background, the crowd blurring around her. She watched Max approach, the rage still simmering beneath the surface of his movements. It was terrifying—and yet, she couldn’t deny the pull. A part of her wanted to run, but her feet stayed rooted as he reached for her, his gaze never leaving hers.
In a matter of seconds, Max was all that she could see. Soft green eyes revealed the prince, her mate, beneath the veneer—the true side of him that caused others to underestimate him.
How she wished for a moment that she could be the one protecting him, if only so he wouldn’t fear taking off the mask—the courtier’s mask.
Max reached his hand out to hers, the blood putting a crack in their spell.
Sin grabbed onto his hand, flipping it over to assess the damage, but his fae healing was already staunching the blood.
A heavy exhale left Sin’s lips, only to be caught in her throat as Max pulled her close.
The crowd parted as Max led her to the center of the ballroom, and before she could protest, he spun her into his arms, pulling her into a dance. Oliver was being carried away as the music swelled, filling the room once more, but all Sin couldfocus on was Max—his hand at her waist, his other hand cradling hers, guiding her effortlessly through the steps.
Max’s hand on her waist was both a promise and a command, his grip firm as he spun her into his arms. Sin felt the heat of his body, the strength in every movement as he guided her through the dance.
His eyes bore into hers, and she could see the emotions swirling within him—possession, adoration, something deeper she didn’t want to name. Each step was a battle, each twirl a test of how much she could hold herself back, even as her body betrayed her and moved with his.
She tried to focus on the steps, on the rhythm of the music, but all she could feel was the heat of his body, the strength in his hands, the possessiveness in his gaze. It was overwhelming, and yet, in that moment, she couldn’t pull away.
The dance grew faster, Max twirling her with precision, leaving no room for hesitation. Her heart pounded in time with the quickening rhythm, but it wasn’t the music that set her pulse racing—it was Max. His hand slid up her back, his fingers pressing into her skin, guiding her with an authority that was far from abhorrent, until he cradled her face in his hand.
Sin stopped breathing, body tensing for what was to come after.
Max’s hand slipped from her cheek, his fingers trailing down her arm before releasing her completely. Sin stepped back, her skin still tingling with the heat of his touch. She took in a shaky breath, her eyes darting away from him, desperate for space—for the air that seemed to vanish whenever he was too close.
The ballroom continued to move around them, the murmurs and music slowly growing again, but to her, everything felt muffled—distant. Her eyes flicked towards the door, her heart pounding as she tried to gather her composure. She needed toleave, to put distance between herself and whatever spell Max was weaving over her.
Sin
Sin turned without another word, her steps faltering as she weaved through the crowd, her hand brushing a table’s edge to steady herself. She moved towards the ballroom’s edge, urgency driving her. She needed to escape before she lost herself again.
“Sin.” Max’s voice cut through the crowd.
She froze. His voice found her in the chaos, slicing through her instinct to flee, stopping her in her tracks. She closed her eyes, shoulders tensing. A moment passed—too long, too short—and then she turned.
Whatever he saw on her face seemed to strip away his calm. His expression shifted, something dark unfurling behind his eyes. Sin swallowed, her throat dry, her gaze locked with his.
Max moved closer, his eyes burning with something fierce, something that made her insides twist with equal parts thrill and dread. They seemed to dare her to remain, to take the leap she’d always feared.
His rough hands cupped her neck and jaw, pulling her into a forceful kiss that left her gasping. As his lips crushed against hers, she felt the world tilt, a rush of magic swirling around them. The sounds of the fireplace crackling and the scent of him as her only indicators they were inside his room, not willing to break apart just yet.
The taste of him undid her. She moaned, kissing him back eagerly, her hands gripping his hair, pulling him closer. He smiled against her lips before grabbing her ass, lifting her until her legs wrapped around his waist. The moment her ankles hooked together, he slammed her against the wall. She groaned at the impact but didn’t relent, her kisses fierce, matching his intensity. His tongue battled hers, and when he bit her lower lip, the growl that followed sent heat spiraling through her core.
Glancing over his shoulder, Sin caught sight of strange leather beams in the shape of an X, with hooks—restraints, a device for torture. Fear shot through her, and she gasped.
“I don’t torture people, Sin. Not unless they beg for it,” Max whispered, his voice low, making her pulse quicken.
“Then why do you have that?”
“Would you believe me if I told you it was for pleasure?”
Her eyes widened as realization dawned. “Is that… for pain?” she asked, her voice soft, almost breathless.
Max smiled. “Sometimes.”
Her thoughts spun. She’d only read about such things in forbidden books—books burned when found in the countryside where she grew up. She swallowed, her expression a mix of curiosity and something deeper.
“I’ll never put you on there unless you ask,” Max assured her, his voice tender. “I’ll get rid of it tomorrow if you want.”
