I dared a glance back at Devil, whose eyes were pinned on me as he followed us through the crowd.So, that’s who your master is? The faerie king himself?
I fought to suppress the nerves suddenly coiling in my stomach so I could respond. “Once again, I’m afraid I am not at liberty to say just yet.”
“Ah, well, perhaps I will learn more during our dance.”
“O-our dance?”
He took the bat mask from his belt and held it over his eyes. “It is my natural instinct to pursue the moth, is it not?”
I couldn’t help but laugh and took another sip of wine, which made me bold enough to say, “Does that mean I will end the evening speared by your talons, Captain?”
“Perhaps,” he mused, “or perhaps you will end it in my mouth.”
This exchange seemed to be a bridge too far for Devil, who strode around Antenor and planted himself in our path.
“Lord Oberon was very clear that I was to be Marina’s escort this evening,” he said, voice quiet with simmering rage, “and I know the rules of hospitality still mean something here, if not in your backwater excuse for a court. You wouldn’t want to offend, I’m sure.” Antenor looked between us, then gave a noncommittal shrug and bent to kiss my hand again.
“I do hope to see you again, lady moth. Preferably without this…abominationlurking nearby.”
Devil replied before I had a chance, his tone snide. “And Idohope you’ll find the platter of mosquitos set out specifically for your enjoyment, you blood-sucking weasel.”
Antenor’s hand flew to the sword on his belt, but Devil’s wings flared out dramatically and his eyes glowed with blinding white light as he sent sparks flying from his fingertips. They swarmed and nipped at Antenor’s exposed skin, causing him to pull back with a yelp to shake them off.
“Coward,” he snarled, spitting on the ground at Devil’s feet. “If you were even half a man, you would fight me fairly, instead of using your tricks!”
“Ifyouwere even half a worm, those tiny sparks wouldn’t prevent you from drawing your blade.” Devil stood in front of me with his wings spread wide, daring Antenor to act. All eyes nearby landed on the pair, and I looked around nervously, uncertain if I ought to intervene.
“Devil,” I said quietly, reaching through the long feathers to take hold of his wrist. “That’s enough.”
Antenor drew in a sharp breath and stepped back. “The Arden’s laws prevent me from doing violence in my cousin’s house,” he said, “but you know I will notforget this.” He stormed away, while I dragged Devil to the side of the hall, close to another alcove echoing with unspeakable sounds.
“In the name of all the gods,whatis the matter with you?” I hissed.
“Arachne told you not to trust anyone here,” he spat back. “When will you learn to listen?”
“We were just walking, and you told me I could dance with anyone I like!”
“Nothim.”
My laugh came out more like a cackle. “Oh dear, have I fed the flames of some petty feud? What is it, Devil, are his wings bigger than yours?”
Devil just scowled and backed me up against the wall of trees, using his wings to box us in together, so I could see nothing but him and his feathers. “Would it please you to be right, May? To know that seeing you on his arm made me unspeakably jealous?”
“Perhaps,” I said, leaning closer to him with a smirk. “Since I have neither wings nor magyk I can use to cause you misery, I suppose I must use my womanly wiles. Making you jealousdoesseem like a highly entertaining use of my time here.”
He laughed, loud and harsh. “Well, you shall have no such satisfaction from me. It was not jealousy you saw, only loathing. Antenor acts the part of a gentleman, but he is a snake in the grass—willing to fuck or fight anything that moves just to advance his own interests, or to spite me. If he had his way, you’d already be on your back and that gown would be trampled under his boots.” He jerked his chin at the nearest alcove, and another blush crept up my face.
“Would it be any different if you hadyourway?” I asked, the faerie wine making me much braver and stupider than usual. His breath hitched and he looked genuinely surprised, as if I had spoken a dangerous secret, but he recovered quickly.
“If I was ever privileged enough to have your attention,” he said quietly, “I would not squander it on this debased public spectacle, and Icertainlywould not share you with anyone else.” His eyes flickered over my face and down to the torque at my neck, then back up.
“Is…is that what those rooms are for?” I asked, holding his gaze. “Sharing?”
His answer came accompanied by a fiendish grin. “The children of the Arden are…notoriously promiscuous, especially during a celebration.”
I struggled to clear my throat and switched the topic back. “Very well, consider me warned. I shall only seek out dance partners who meet your very strict standards.”
“Wait,” said Devil, gently grasping my arm as I tried to leave the little cocoon he had us in, “I beg you to listen to me. There are those in this forest who wouldsee you come to harm, and I cannot allow that.” His eyes were wide and earnest, tugging at something deep inside me, so I relented.
