“Lord Carnelian.” I greeted him with a nod.
“Ah, Lady Jacinth.” Carnelian’s ruby eyes narrowed as they glinted down at me. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten why you were here.”
“Never, Lord Carnelian,” I swore, taking a calm sip of my champagne as I imagined stabbing him repeatedly in the heart. “In fact, I’m here because it’s time to follow through. Do you have the potion?”
“I do.” He raised his brows expectantly.
“Azurill invited me to his rooms tonight,” I told him, forcing myself to keep that veil over my features and only show him what he expected to see. “It’s the perfect opportunity. I’ll stop by and get the potion after the ball. Meet me at Azurill’s rooms at midnight, and then I can slip out after it’s done, while you handle the rest.”
“Why don’t you come to my rooms after it’s done?” he asked, not looking impressed with my idea.
“Because I want to slip out right after it’s done. But it’s too risky for me to stick around with all his staff and family around.” I told him, looking around as if I was nervous. “You can raise the alarm or just take over as you please. I’ll head directly to Ruby Court to collect Ula.”
“Hmm.” Carnelian hummed, watching me carefully. “Very well. I can see your point. If you head to my castle, I’ll send word that Ula is to be healed, and you can make your way from there.”
Liar.
Was he planning to send word for them to kill me? Or was he planning to have them capture me so he can kill me himself? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t wait to end him myself before he could carry out any of his nefarious plans.
I spent the rest of the ball anxiously awaiting that chance, and as Lord Carnelian escorted me back to his rooms after, I felt like I might vibrate out of my skin. The idea that my vengeance was so close was as tantalizing as the idea that once it was done, I would have a whole new life with Azurill to live.
“Make sure you don’t get this potion on you. Mix some in his drink when he’s not looking, and you should have no issue,” Carnelian explained, as hehanded over the bottle with the swirling black, white, green, and pink potion inside it. “It will be completely undetectable once mixed with any liquid.”
My hand closed around the bottle, nodding as I met his expectant gaze. “Not quite as bloody as I hoped, but it’ll have to do.”
Carnelian smirked, shaking his head. “It’s best if no one knows exactly what happened, trust me on that.”
“Very well.” I sighed loudly, “I’ll see you at midnight then.”
“Yes, Casaan and I will come check on you, and everything will then be as it should be.” He smiled smugly, and I had to clench my free hand into a fist to keep from punching him.
I made my way back to my rooms for appearances’ sake before swiftly taking off for Azurill’s rooms. By the time I made it there, I stopped short when I realized he was only wearing a pair of grey sleep pants, his tan upper body completely exposed, and his tattoo standing out in sharp relief. My eyes couldn’t help tracking over his body, from the lines of his collarbone down his muscled abdomen to the V of his hips that led to where his pants hung low off them, teasing me with a trail of blue-green hair leading straight down.
“Look at you.” I looked up at his gravelly voice, surprised out of my admiration, and found him staring at me in turn. “In my colors, like a true Diamond Queen.”
I couldn’t help the flush that took over my skin, pleased that he enjoyed the dress as much as I did. I’d barely blinked before he was suddenly in front of me.
“When will he be here?” Azurill growled, his eyes glinting like silver fire.
“Not until midnight,” I told him, breathless as I found myself lifted off the ground. In a blur of movement, we were suddenly standing before his bed. The wide window allowed in the moonlight, which spilled over his bed, but I barely got a glimpse of a plush-looking kyanite-blue blanket and silver pillows before Azurill grabbed me by my arms to pull me into him, his mouth crashing into mine.
My hand found his chest, bracing against him as I surrendered completely to his plundering of my mouth. My tongue danced with his until I grew truly desperate for breath, and nipped his lip as I pulled back. Our eyes met, and I took a step backward; a predatory gleam sparked in his eyes and he pulled my hand, keeping me from escaping. I smirked playfully at him before I turned around, eyeing him as I gestured to my laced-up back pointedly.
A slow smirk appeared on his face to match mine, and he stepped forward, his fingers finding the laces and beginning to slowly untie them. He pulled my hair to the side, giving him space to work, but he took full advantage of the situation to kiss my neck. I moaned as he nipped the sensitive skin, kissing a path down my back as he exposed every new inch of skin to his lips.
When he reached the bottom of my laces, I let go of the hold I’d kept on the dress, letting it pool to the floor around me before turning to face Azurill. His eyes dipped down to take me in, licking his lips as he reached to grab me by the hips. I took the opportunity first, however, grabbing the edge of the pants he wore and thumbing them down over his hips, exposing him inch by inch until he was fully released.
His heavy cock jumped before me, making me smile slyly, but it was quickly wiped from my face as he pulled me into him. He kissed me hard as his hands found my breasts, squeezing and pinching and pulling moans and groans from me. Not to be outdone, I reached down to grasp his cock, letting my fingers wrap around his girth and pumping up and down. I reached down to slide my fingers through my rapidly pooling arousal before returning to his cock, using it to ease the glide of my hand around him.
He let out a tortured groan as he realized what I was doing.
“Do you object, Veri?” I teased lightly, even as his fingers chased after mine and took a swipe through my drenched folds for himself.
“Only that I didn’t get to have a taste first, Mini-Dite,” he grumbled, nipping my neck in retaliation. He brought his fingers to his mouth and sucked my arousal from them, making more pool between my thighs as his cock pulsed in my hand. “Fuck, I need you. Now.”
His kiss was wild as he grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me onto the bed. He fell between my thighs, his cock sliding through the wetness gathered there for him. I thrust my hips up against him, chasing the feeling. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about how it had felt last time. It was so different from any other experience I’d had, and I was just as desperate as he seemed to repeat it.
His hands raked through my long hair, guiding my head to his to kiss me once more, as if his lips were drawn to mine beyond his control. It was frantic and hungry, the air around us feeling electric as we came together. His cock finally notched at my entrance and pushed in slowly, my back arching as he filled me completely.
