“Unlikely.” I hiss. I glance at my palm and see some thorns are buried in my skin. His eyes, along with those of everyone in the room, follow mine.
His hand clamps around mine, holding it midair.You just did exactly as I wanted, husband. Thank you.
Our eyes clash, and suddenly, he is not the husband trying to woo me with fuck-you-banter; he is the king judging me. The music stops, so does the chatter. Every breath can be captured, held, and heard.
“Why did the music stop?” His tone is so heavy that it causes the onlookers to edge back. The musicians resume playing their instruments. The first note is offbeat, like hammers hitting glass; it pains the ears.
“One misstep can ruin everything, don’t you think, husband?”One small gesture, granting me my vengeance, could have stopped your downfall. One small gesture to show me you valued me and respected my heart. One small gesture, Galen.
“Dance,” he orders the crowd.
Bodies spin behind us, and we remain locked and forced onto the center of the dance floor. My large green eyes work in my favor. I force them to widen like a child who has done something naughty. “I know how much you love the roses,” I say softly. “I just wanted to give you something you loved. I never want my husband to feel the ache of betrayal.”
You want to play, I’ll play.That’s what his grin says. “The only gift I require from you is your heart, my queen.”
My lips press into a flat line like an un-beating heart. “You could have it,”—I hold my chin high—“in time.”Call this off!
His left hand presses against my lower back. I hiss when he forces our hips together. I’ll need a peeler knife to scrape off a thin layer of my flesh after this dance. “That’s all I ask for.”It’s happening. Suck it up like a queen must do.
But I’m not just a queen. I was once a sister to a brother.
His grip on my palm tightens, his eyes leaving mine to look at my blood.
He raises my palm, and as it ascends each inch, my heart beats faster. “You don’t have to,” I test him. I want him to hurt as much as I do tonight.
His eyes darken, his mouth parts, and then he kisses and licks away the small droplets. When his lips meet a thorn, he rips it from my flesh using his teeth. Our eyes lock as he swallows the thorn rather than spitting it out.
Sick bastard!
He continues to clutch my hand as he interlaces our fingers and begins to lead us into a dance.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, “I didn’t mean to.”Oh, but I did.Fae blood is toxic to vampires, and if drunk in a high enough dose, it could kill one.
“You should be more careful,” he replies as he licks his lips with distaste. “I might need to assign you a personal guard.” His eyes turn hard, but he’s still eager to play this game with me.
I whisper in his ear, “I’d hate to see you lose more men.” A personal guard? Absolutely not.
He catches my chin. “Do not test me, Selene. I like pain,” he hisses before he presses a long, slow kiss to my unopened lips.
“You like pain with pleasure, which you will not be getting from me tonight.”
What did he expect of me, to drink to the man who killed my brother?
Galen knew I would act out; thus, the fancy new necklace. “Was that what my brother’s life was worth? Gold and rubies?” I challenge.
He looks away. At least he’s remorseful. “I did not mean the gift to resemble that. I…” His jaw clenches. “I’m trying to make you happy, but it is you who needs to remember I was not the one who killed him, Selene.”
“No, you’re the one who praises the killer.”
“This is politics. You were raised in this, so I’m warning you, my beautiful wife, to tread carefully. We are still learning how many buttons we can push, but I will not be tested in front of my court again.”
“I’ll watch where I step, knowing that if I fall, you’ll catch me like any good husband would.” I hold my breath, heart pounding as my face reddens. I look back at his handsome face and watch my threat sink in.
Isn’t that right, husband? I’m your queen, after all, and my life is tied to a fragile, newly signed peace treaty.I hold his stare.
He holds mine with a firmness that resembles a hook in my cheek.What are you up to?
I’ll never tell.
