A hush washes over the crowd. I drag Ovie to the very back of the ballroom, putting a throng of people between me and him.
Eryx—his name; my God, but it’s sexy—enters the room. Women all around me gasp quietly.
He’s ridiculously handsome with thick dark hair that’s almost as black as the tuxedo he’s wearing. The thread running through it is silver, matching the silver in the gray stone.
His icy blue eyes search the room, and I take another step into the shadows.
I’ve barely caught my breath from our last encounter.
Ovie squeezes my hand. “Chelsea, you were talking to him. Did you know he’s the Nightmare King?”
“I, uh…”
Eryx speaks, saving me from having to explain. “I’d like to welcome everyone from Castleview. I must admit, when I sent those invitations, I didn’t know if anyone would come, seeing as we’re across the barrier. I can only imagine the rumors about me—cursing whole towns, wanting to steal your dreams.”
Even though I’m hidden behind at least fifty people, I feel those icy eyes on me—touching my forehead, my cheeks. Magic stirs beneath my skin, reaching. Like it knows exactly where he is in this roomful of people.
“Rest assured,” Eryx continues, “I’m not interested in giving you nightmares or stealing them. I’m only interested in one thing.”
The crowd leans forward—everyone but me, that is—as they wait for him to continue.
He smirks. “I’m only interested in dancing.”
The crowd erupts into laughter, and appreciation washes through me. He’s funny. Very funny, and here, in this crowd, the danger I’d felt around him softens—just enough to make him devastating.
Eryx nods to the musicians, and they begin playing a slow, romantic melody that’s haunting, like this whole place.
The king makes his way down the stairs, moving like smoke over water, and enters the crowd. People move aside for him like Moses parting the Red Sea.
And they keep parting and he keeps moving until he stops directly in front of me.
The crowd fades. The music dims. There's just him—standing close enough that I can feel the cold power radiating off him, the same power that made roses grow between us.
My lungs forget how to work as those icy eyes take me in. “Care to dance?”
He extends his hand, and I swallow a knot in my throat.
Everyone's watching. My family. Ovie. Charlie. The entire ballroom holds its breath.
And all I can think is, what happens if I touch him—and this time I don’t pull away?
Eryx
Her eyes flit to my hand, and I lean forward, drop my mouth to her ear. She smells like a promise I’ve always wanted—one I was too afraid to ask for.
Everyone around us leans in as well, so I whisper just loud enough for Chelsea to hear, “No magic. I promise.”
She stiffens and the moment ripples through me, making my own back go rigid.
Then her spine softens, and she gives a slight nod.
Hell, if that’s a yes, I’ll take it.
Take it! Take it!
I pull back and offer my hand once more. She keeps her eyes on mine as she slides her palm over it.
Her skin touches mine.
