“On Friday night,” he finally continues, “there is a masked ball. It is the largest party of the year, when we celebrate the Night of the Shades.”
Unease curls in my stomach.
This is unplanned.
On Saturday, I already have my wedding to Lanlin and Daire, followed by the Blood Moon rituals.
Why do I feel like an unexpected Shadow Vampire masked ball the night before is a risk that we shouldn’t take?
What if everything goes wrong at the last minute?
Daire and I have hidden our identities so far. We’ve survived this court by keeping as low a profile as possible. Yet we do have enemies after what happened in the throne room to Horus and during the Blood Lover’s Hunt.
“Night of the Shades,” Daire says, carefully, and I can tell that he’s remembering something that Maximinus made him learn for this mission but doesn’t want to show his hand to Lanlin. “Shades meaning your dead, aye? Are you sure that you want us there for that? I mean, I’m a fae. Won’t your people see me as responsible for some of those dead? I’d rather your court can mourn in peace, then my arse won’t be kicked.”
Lanlin’s jaw clenches. “We remember the dead both new and ancient. Every year, I have had to attend alone, while remembering all those ghosts of my family who are missing. It will be the first time that I will be lucky enough to have someone attending any party on my arm. But if you both don’t wish to…”
“We do,” I rush to say. “You’re not alone anymore.”
It’s a risk. But I made a promise to Lanlin.
I won’t break it after he returned my wolf side to me.
Lanlin’s shoulders relax.
“Will we have time?” Daire replies more warily. “Our wedding is the next day.”
Lanlin waves away his concern. “Horus plans the Night of the Shades. The House of Crocodile oversees these types of entertainment. The wedding preparations have been underway from the moment that I received the letter about the peace treaty, which was laced with your sweet scented blood.”
“Did you know as soon as you received the letter that you were going to accept?” I demand.
Lanlin gave up so much for the politically arranged marriage with me.
“Why would I not, when I finally…finally…had a chance to bond with the Omega who has haunted my dreams?” Lanlin’sintense gaze meets mine. I shiver, desperate to be wrapped in his arms. His dominant pheromones flood the cave. “By the Void, what else do I need to do to prove that my love is true? Take your Night Sky Blade and stab my heart; I would bleed out as a sacrifice for our love.”
This is too close to the betrayal that Aurelius wants me to do to him.
My heart feels like it is shattering.
“My darkness,” I whisper, “what do you want from me?”
“To let me meet all your needs before you voice them, offer you a new home where you reign rather than are ruled, and become your family, as you are mine.” Lanlin twists to hover over Daire and me, pinning us both in place with his commanding look. “I want your eyes to search for me in every room. Your heart to beat faster, as it is now, at just the thought of me. For you to purr, when you nuzzle my neck. For my scent to cling to your skin. I want you to reach for me every time you wake and need my knot to sleep. I want your bravery, fierceness, loyalty,and surrender. I want your scars and your soul.”
I am breathless.
Unable to look away from him.
Now, that’s a love confession.
“You don’t want much then,” I force out.
My cheeks are flushed.
I have never felt so seen.And I want the same as he does so fucking much.
“I want everything,” Lanlin admits. “But I want to give you everything as well.”
Daire’s eyes narrow. “Easy to say, bat. But what ifeverythingis…?”
