A string of expletives runs through my mind ending withbloody iron. No matter how much I try to deny it, my feelings for Aspen run deeper than I can contain. Yet, at this very moment, he’s likely in bed with his new mate, his new Bonded, his newwife. And here I am with a gorgeous male who stirs my passion, yet all I can think of ishim.
Rage courses through me at the unfairness of it all. Aspen is certainly enjoying the pleasures of the flesh with someone new. Why shouldn’t I?
Franco’s brow furrows. “Is everything all right?”
If I close my eyes, I could pretend it’s him.
No, that’s disturbing.
“Yes.” I force my lips into a smile.
“Do you want me to stop?”
Yes, yes, yes. A million times yes. Stop this at once. “No.”
He leans in to kiss me again, but not before something catches my eye at the end of the hall. Blue-black hair. Narrowed eyes. Antlers.
As Franco’s lips meet mine, I turn my head, and his lips graze my cheek. “Aspen?” This time I say the name out loud. But the hall is empty. There’s no sign of the Autumn King, or of anyone, for that matter. Most fae are likely still at the revel. My chest heaves as I blink at the place I thought I saw him. Of course, Ihadn’ttruly seen him at all. I’m thoroughly drunk on Midnight Blush. My dreams are beginning to weave into reality.
Without me realizing it, Franco has taken a step away from me, his expression wounded when I meet his eyes. An embarrassed flush heats my cheeks. I put a hand to my forehead as I lean against my door. “I’m sorry,” I say breathlessly. “I’m clearly not in the right state of mind.”
Franco’s face shifts into a smile, but his eyes retain the hurt I caused with my outburst. “I should let you get some sleep.” He offers me a low bow, which gives me a chance to better compose myself. When he rises, he studies my face for a moment before reaching a hand to my cheek. He gives my skin a soft brush of his fingers, then leaves.
I hurry into my room and strip off my dress, not even bothering to toss on a nightgown. All I want to do is disappear beneath my covers, and I do just that. My mind reels from the events of the night, from the beauty of the dance, to the ecstasy of the wine. To the unfathomable fact that I danced alongside unseelie fae and never once feared for my life. Perhaps my chaperone was to thank for that, or maybe it was the Midnight Blush. Whatever the case, I truly enjoyed myself. That is, until that strange kiss. I mean, the kiss itself was delightful. But how it ended...
Thoughts of Aspen threaten to sober me further, but I refuse to let it happen. In the morning I know my sorrow will return, but until then I seek the beat of the drum, still heavy in my veins. I let it rock me, soothe me, and pull me into the deepest, dreamless sleep.
20
In the morning, the drums continue to pound, but it isn’t the beat of the revel that carries the thrum. It’s a pulsing headache that has me wincing against the morning light. Even with the muted quality of the Lunar Court’s daylight filtered through the single glass window in the ceiling, it’s too much. I groan, realizing I can’t have slept longer than four hours.
I should have known better. Of course drinking that much fae wine—or any wine—would leave me with a hangover. At least it isn’t nearly as bad as I felt after eating honey pyrus. And at least it was the very distraction I needed to get through the night.
Even if it ended in such an odd manner.
I pull myself out of bed, surprised to find I’m naked before I recall the haste in which I’d gone to bed last night. My black dress is a crumpled heap by the wardrobe. I obviously couldn’t be bothered to hang it up last night. With a shake of my head at my former intoxicated self, I hang the dress in the wardrobe and slip into my velvet robe. Every movement sends a shard of glass through my skull, but I manage to make my way to the dressing table where a pitcher of water sits. I down one glass, then another, until my throat no longer feels like sand. Only then does the pounding in my head begin to lessen.
My thoughts then turn to Lorelei; if I feel this awful, she can’t be faring much better. Then again, being full-fae could be in her favor. Still, she was quite indisposed.
I straighten my robe, pulling the sash tight around my waist to hopefully conceal all traces of my nudity underneath, and leave my room. When I reach Lorelei’s door, I’m surprised to find it open. Animated voices come from within. One of the voices sounds like...
I rush inside. “Foxglove?”
He grins when he faces me, then pulls me into an embrace. When we separate, he studies me, his smile shifting to a grimace. “Evelyn, dear, what in the name of oak and ivy have you been doing with your hair? It looks terrible.”
I run my hand over it, finding tangles. If I’d been expecting to find anyone but Lorelei next door, I would have brushed it. However, that is the least of my concerns. “Foxglove, what are you doing here?” I look from him to Lorelei.
Lorelei seems to be in full health, seated on the arm of her couch with bright eyes and a glowing smile. She’s obviously thrilled to see her friend, but when her eyes meet mine, there’s trepidation in them. She bites her lower lip. “We were just talking about that.”
“We arrived before dawn,” Foxglove says. “It’s been a whirlwind, I tell you. I haven’t slept a wink.”
“We,” I echo. “Who’swe?”
“Aspen and I, of course. And a few of his soldiers.”
“Aspen’s here?”
“Yes,” Foxglove says.
