“Anna,” I whispered. “You must never seduce me when my guard is down again.”
Her lips glided against my throat, making the ache for her painful.
“What makes you think I’ll let you put it back up?” she whispered.
I ground my hips against her one last time. “Make no mistake, the next time I take you there will be no restraint.”
If she kept this act up, she’d be in control of not just me, but the entirety of Falls Kingdom one day.
Chapter 43
Just Say Those Words Again
ANNA
Iarrived outside of the ballroom having told Blake to go on so I could have a moment to clean up. When I stepped through the gilded doors, contentment eased my nerves. Everyone was there. The Aurkai never failed at throwing a grand party when the opportunity presented itself.
The cast were all in their costumes, mingling with the guests. Cheer was abundant, smiling faces everywhere I looked. The ballroom was glowing in the flame of candlelit chandeliers. I touched the gold railing of the staircase, pausing to gain my balance as I fiddled with the amulet around my neck. The train of my emerald gown flowed behind me, my heels higher than I was used to—courtesy of Isabella. The pleasing sounds of a string quartet played throughout the ballroom, where many couples waltzed. Eli and Riya looked stunning together as they moved across the marble floor. I found Isabella, her mask atop her head as she laughed with Ji-Han, their joy making me smile.
At the bottom of the sweeping staircase was Blake. He was watching me, his black-collared shirt clinging tightly to his chest.
When I reached the bottom, he held out his hand. Taking it, he bent down and kissed it, sending a shiver through my body. He smiled at me when he rose, his loose hair gently falling across his forehead.
"May I have this dance?" he asked, his voice but a murmur meant only for me.
I nodded and grinned. He took my waist and I moved with him, no longer in control. Everyone else seemed to vanish. The melodic notes pulled me into a spell. I moved more gracefully than I thought possible, following Blake’s lead as he twirled me endlessly across the ballroom before guiding me into a promenade. I elegantly extended my arm, capturing the dainty mood of the whimsical music. I let my arm rest there as if I were retrieving an invisible teacup, my finger and thumb touching before Blake pulled me into a spin.
We glided across the marble floor, my dress twirling as we moved. His body would shift when he lifted me with his palms, communicating to me his every intent. I was weightless in the swirling candlelight as he returned me to the dance floor. He spun me gently before guiding me into a dip. I indulged him, matching his grin as our eyes met, and lifted my leg with my toes pointed into the air so high my dress slid up my leg. He held me there for several moments before his lips took mine. The rush made all the sound fade away, and I could taste him—his lips moved against mine with the smoothness and rich taste of fine chocolate. I’d missed that taste, uniquely Blake, as if his everi was in every look and touch he gave me.
Too soon, he pulled away from me, easing me to my feet. As my senses returned, I was startled by the entire ballroom cheering with applause and whistles around us.
As the melody faded, Blake performed a formal bow. Following his lead, I curtseyed. Applause erupted around us, followed by a loud cheer. I caught Isabella’s gaze and giggled. She was cheering so loudly I that I heard her above all the noise.
“Come on,” he said. “I think we need to get out of here before they start shouting encore.”
I laughed as he gently pulled my hand and led me to the balcony doors.
The evening air was not as biting as it had been for the Winter Ball, but it was still cool.
“There is somewhere I have been wanting to take you,” he said, “but I could not until you were awakened.”
He pulled me along with him down the stairs that led into the gardens. I held the skirts of my dress and tried to keep up with him. He took us into the woods on a part of the grounds I thought was forest, but as we followed an old trail, I saw a faint glow ahead.
“What is that light?” I asked.
“You will see,” he said.
As we neared the eerie light, I noticed the sweet scent in the air, reminiscent of honeysuckle but more fragrant. I held onto his fingertips as my heels dug into the dirt and paused, pulling them off my feet and letting them dangle in my hand.
“There,” I said, laughing, “now I can walk.”
Blake grinned and parted thick vines hanging from a tree. I gasped.
Fireflies twinkled in the air, floating like tiny orbs of light over a small lake surrounded by overhanging branches. The sweet scent filled my lungs as I took in the flowering trees which bloomed in varying hues of pink, purple, and blue. I’d never seen such trees before. They were like massive willow trees with flowering branches that stretched far, and from the branches, gorgeous bioluminescent ivy stretched down into the water.
“I had no idea this was here,” I breathed.
Blake smiled, watching me as I took in the breathtaking nature before me.
