But then, the reed pipes become haunting, and the tempo picks up a pace.
A new figure enters the dance who has three pyramids painted on his chest. He is larger than the other dancers and spins like a whirlwind, forcing the rest to bend before his will.
My mouth tightens.
From his seat, Ruin nods at me.
I imagine pulling his spine out and using it to beat him to death.
“It’s incredible.” Freya is rocking on her heels. “What does the dance represent?”
“The Void Devils.” I turn away. “Why we worship and fear them. Ruin’s contribution to the evening.”
“That’s nice of him.”
Nice as a blade between my shoulder blades.
Freya reaches up to touch my mask. “Can I have the honor of the first dance? And my first ever dance at a ball?”
“I don’t dance.”
“Then it will be your first dance too, right? We can suck together.”
I lower my lips to graze them against Freya’s ear. “You are the only person, for whom I would allow myself to look ridiculous. So, shall we dance?”
My hair is damp with sweat.
I would rather be facing down an army of frenzied Shadow Trolls than dance in front of my court.
If my Omega wants this, however, then she shall have it.
“How about we just sway to the music?” Freya’s voice is low, bubbling with conspiratorial laughter that pulls at me inside in a way that I don’t understand. “Yeah, like that.”
I drag her closer by the waist, swaying to the harp music, which now joins the reed pipes.
The drums are beating faster, as the troop of dancers twirl wildly. I roll my eyes at Dove, who is matching them beside the altar, spinning faster than the naked dancers are.
Show off.
Yet I also glow proudly because my Blood Lover is more talented than Ruin’s dancers.
I run Freya’s long hair through my fingers.
“Before we marry and then share our first heat and rut together tomorrow on the Blood Moon,” Freya says, “we need to have a serious conversation. And when we do, you must promise to listen with no interruptions, okay? There are some things that Dove and I have to to tell you. None of it changes how much we care about you. Everything we feel for you is real.”
Panic spikes through me, along with a sick dread.
“Serious conversation?Real?” I whisper.
What’s going on? What in the name of the Void do they need to tell me?
“How sweet. You would think that you were the handsome brother between us now. Was that why you had your damn lion bite me? You wanted to take over as the seducer in the family?” A drunken voice snarls.
I take a deep breath, attempting to keep hold of my temper.
On the Night of the Shades, fighting is banned because it would disrespect the dead.
Yet it will be hard with Horus.
