Turning, I push through the crowd and try to sneak away out the ballroom doors as quickly as I can. I manage to head in the right direction, I think, heading up the stairs to the hallway I’m sure my room is located in. But when I reach the top of the stairs, I hear my name. Turning back, I see all four kings at the bottom of the stairs. They’re breathing hard. Still shirtless. Still covered in sweat.
“Alette,” King Ashton says again, then rushes up the stairs.
The others follow behind, and I hold perfectly still. Unable to move. Unable to tear my gaze away from theirs.
King Ashton reaches the stair right below mine. “Why did you leave?”
My face feels hot. “I wasn’t needed.”
A little smile curls his lips. “The instant you left, our magic did too. You’re needed.”
That’s how it works?
“Sorry.”
He takes another step, towering over me once more, then uses one finger to tilt my chin up. “Alette, you know all of that was for you, right?”
It’s hard to look at him. To stare into his deep brown eyes and remember how to think. “What?”
“We were trying to show you our power.”
“Why?” I truly don’t understand.
King Sylvian steps closer. “Why do you think?”
I’m suddenly sandwiched between the two men. All I can hear is my heart pounding in my ears.
“Being near you gives us access to our powers,” King Cassius says slowly, his expression unreadable. “That means we should be near you as much as possible.”
“We’ll be close enough in the labyrinth,” King Oberon mutters.
I shiver.
King Sylvian suddenly begins to rub his hands along my bare arms. “You’re frightening her.”
“I’m fine.” I lie, because I don’t really know what I’m feeling.
“How about we take you to your room?” King Sylvian offers. “You’ve had a long day, little human.”
He doesn’t wait for my answer, just puts a hand on my back and begins to lead me to my room, the others following behind. At the door, all four men gather, staring at me. Making me feel like a creature that needs watching.
“Goodnight then,” I manage.
King Ashton leans forward and gets so close that I think he’s going to kiss me. But as I hold myself perfectly still, his mouth slides closer to my ear. “Dream of me tonight.” And then he pulls back, giving me a smile that makes my whole body feel like it’s made of liquid.
“Sleep well,” King Cassius says, opening the door behind me and guiding me in, before closing the door behind me.
I stand in the entrance to my room just staring around in shock.
What the heck just happened?
11
Alette
The next morning,the sun burns its way through the windows, filling my room with heat and the soft chirp of birds outside. I roll out of bed, feet hitting the cold stone floor. The gown I wore last night is lying crumpled on the floor. I put on my own clothes: worn pants, a tunic, boots with a hole in the toe. Then I try to tie my hair back, but the fae servant girls have woven so many braids into it that I end up with a lumpy mess. I leave it, deciding that as a fae prisoner it doesn’t really matter.
Lily greets me outside my door, her eyes wide and bright, as though she’d been waiting all morning for me. “My lady, breakfast is being served in the east gardens today. The kings thought you might enjoy the fresh air.”
