He slowly straightened. Brown eyes shifted into pits of inky black. Spikes poked through his clothes. My mouth went dry. What was he?
I propelled an ice dagger toward him. He darted to the side, the blade only nicking him. He maintained his arrogant smile as blood beaded along his jaw. “You can’t kill me. I’m too vital for the queen. You would have to add her to the list of people tracking you down.”
“Perhaps you’re right. For now,” I rasped, voice still compromised. I cuffed his wrists in burning ice. The chains wound downward from his shackles toward the floor, but Oster moved faster than my magicked links could form.
His movements blurred as he lunged at me in a potent rage. He fisted my hair and yanked it backward, forcing me to the floor.
“You should have died for what you did, but Nolan saved you, and this is how you repay him? Did you think we wouldn’t find you? You’re worthless without him.”
The Glint vial popped as he uncorked it, and I bit down a silent scream. I tried to twist out of his grip, but I couldn’t move with my head at his mercy and his spikes oozing poison.
He snarled down at me. “We have eyes and ears everywhere. An enemy to the King is as good as dead, but the Good King has unique plans for you.”
Strands of hair blew into my face as the door swung open. The doorway seemed to shrink in the shadow of Dom’s imposing form. His rings were already flying when I met his wrathful gaze.
They spun toward Oster, impaling him. Around us, copper and iron and gold began vibrating, then melting. The metals pulsed with Dom’s rage, scaling up Oster’s body in a shroud. I spun out of his grip, snagging the vial of Glint from his hand.
Retribution burned through me as I forced it down his throat. He sputtered and cursed, involuntarily swallowing its contents. His magic slipped and I regained my voice. “Let Nolan know I fight back,” I seethed.
Instead of securing his wrists with iced manacles, I cuffed his dick instead. He blanched as I tightened it. The concentration of Glint would likely knock him out, if the burning in his crotch didn’t first. I stood, wiping the wrinkles from my gown.
I turned toward Dom. “We can’t kill him. Let’s notify a guard and they can take care of it.”
Dom stood rigid beside me. I placed my hand on his shoulder feeling the power of his magic still hovering around us. My water affinity caressed ribbons of warm water along his arms.
He slowly blinked, then took hold of my hand. “Let’s go.”
We left Oster on the floor, shutting the door firmly behind us. Dom pulled me to his chest, clutching me as if I’d dissolve in his grip.
“I’m okay.”
His clenched jaw was the only response.
Dom ushered me into the shadow of the hall. I barely kept up with him. He caged me in his arms with my back pressed against the stone wall. “You knew. You knew who he was and you didn’t tell me. He could have killed you.” He grabbed my hand and placed it over his heart, eyes shut in a bid to gather himself. He flattened my fingers firmly against him as if I had the power to calm.
I could feel the erratic beat hammering in his chest. He took a shuddering breath. I kept my hand pressed against him, our breaths syncing. Slowly, his pulse steadied.
I gazed into gold-flecked eyes, my hand holding firm. His anger should have frightened me. But his eyes were kind. “You came for me,” I whispered.
He exhaled, dropping his forehead to my own. We stood there, sharing breath, a hundred words left unsaid between us.
“I’ll always come for you.” His words were a salve to my tattered edges. I realized then, in the space between breaths, that a part of me was healing. Some long-distant, forgotten piece of me felt a little stronger when I accepted his strength. And maybe my strength fortified him in return.
And that distant piece dared to believe his declaration.
He eased away from me then, raking his hands through his hair. We needed to return to the dinner. He straightened his jacket while I smoothed down my dress.
The sounds of revelry were caustic in the wake of our return. It was too bright, too loud. The harpist had resumed playing and dessert replaced the meal. Fluffy clouds of whipped cream dotted small tarts and pink squares of cake. A piano and stringed instruments emerged, their accompanying musicians appearing behind them. The music turned lively, the guests swaying in the reverie.
He led me to a small space near the harpist, where other couples already waltzed. “One dance, then we leave.”
I took his hand.
Dom towered over me, my heels adding scant height. He pulled me close; I momentarily tensed as one large hand rested open on my exposed back. The satin ribbons did little to shield me from his touch. His other hand encased one of mine.
This dance was different than the last time. At the festival, we had been strangers to each other. I saw him more clearly now, even if I still wasn’t sure I could trust him. But I was willing to try.
I may as well have floated as he led me around the marble floor. The chandelier above us shimmered down shards of color as light flowed through the crystal prisms. The lilac gems in my gown glittered out of the corner of my eye with Dom directing my steps. I was struck by the luminosity of his amber eyes.
