“What do you mean?” I asked softly.
“In the country of my birth, they used to tell tales of humans who got caught in a fairy circle, made to dance or play until they dropped dead from exhaustion.”
My gaze went back to the humans playing with frenetic energy.I’d thought they were simply caught up in the moment. After Liam’s words, I had to wonder if there was more to it.
“But they wouldn’t do that here, right?”
We weren’t in Fairy. They wouldn’t be so bold as to kill humans through compulsion here, would they?
Neither Liam nor Thomas looked particularly hopeful.
“Shouldn’t we do something?” I asked.
Liam shook his head.“There’s not much we can do. Tonight belongs to the Fae.”
I didn’t like that answer, and I was tempted to try something. Liam took my hand and drew me after him, tucking me in close as he shadowed Thomas.
We were all dressed similarly, the men in dark pants and leather jackets. It was the mostI’d seen them embrace the vampire stereotype. All of them were armed under those jackets.I’d seen more than one enforcer add a few blades to their arsenal, and even a gun or two.
My room in the mansion had evidently come equipped with clothes that fit right in. Pants that had to cost hundreds of dollars, given the nice things they did for my ass, and a jacket with leather soft as butter. It was the real deal and probably cost more than the pants and silk dress shirt under it.
Once upon a time,I’d had a thing for leather jackets in all shapes, sizes and colors, so I knew a thing or two about how much something like this ran. This was nicer than anythingI’d ever dreamed of back in those days.
The best thing about the outfit was the lack of high heels. This time, I was in motorcycle boots that were infinitely more comfortable. I don’t care what anybody said, walking in heels was a perishable skill.I’d take the boots over those any day.
Liam prowled next to me. He surveyed the spooks around us, watching for any signs of danger.
His enforcers had spread into the crowd, but the two of us were stuck looking after Thomas for the next hour.
The spooks around us writhed and raged in time to the music, its beat picking them up and carrying them off. I felt the notes humming through my blood. Magic was in the air, potent and powerful and difficult to ignore.
There was an almost wild look in the men’s faces, the magic setting their instincts firing. It seemed the Fae weren’t the only ones affected.
We stood on the edge of the crowd observing, for which I was grateful. Already the magic had raised hairs on the backs of my arms and set my blood pumping. It was like standing on a precipice, the anticipation coursing through your blood, and the knowledge that you were just seconds away from death making you feel more alive than you had any right to be.
“Remind me again why we’re here. What if they try another attack?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“As the master of the region, Thomas has no choice. To not attend would imply insult and make him look weak,” Liam murmured.
“And me?”
“You’re here for appearances. As the master’s yearling, you affect his image. For the same reason he couldn’t miss it, neither can you. I had your witch friend increase the wards against their magic. It should be safe.”
Should, maybe, could. I didn’t have a lot of faith in such words, especially when dealing with the Fae.
A Fae man stumbled into our path. He leered at me as he struggled to focus.“It’s the dancing vampire. Sing for us, pretty vampire.”
I was going to kill Caroline when I next saw her.
“Move along or else you’ll be the one singing,” Liam said, the threat in his voice clear.
The Fae held up his hands.“Alright, jeez. I just wanted to hear her sing again.”
I narrowed my eyes at him as he slid back into the crowd.
There was a choked sound beside me and I swung my glare to Liam as he fought to keep his expression neutral.
“Don’t start,” I warned.
