“You know, I have not officially welcomed you into the House of Hyton.” Duke Hyton pulled a flask out of the pocket of his robes. “Let us make a toast.”
He unstoppered the flask. With a smooth flick of his wrist, he poured a thick, dark purple liquid into my empty goblet.
Cupid’s Blood—it had to be.
My heart raced as I looked at the goblet. If I acted girlishly timid, maybe he would feel too guilty to make me drink it. “Thank you, Your Excellency, but I was not going to partake tonight.”
His smile turned wolfish. “Oh, do not worry. My special drink takes the edge off the nerves. We want you to have fun, after all.”
My eyes darted around the edges of my mask. The crowd was tightening around us. Even if I could be fast enough, there was nowhere to run. Daigen could not pull me out and take me away, either.
“Yes, Serafina, they are all looking at you,” Duke Hyton said. “In fact, I see five young men just waiting for you to take that first sip.”
At once, it all clicked into place. This was not mere cruelty. Duke Hyton’s plan was not to poison Derrick, he wanted it to bemewho lost control in the middle of the Darkest Night. The Barons would all see me. I would no longer be the holder of the heir’s heart and a threat to his control, but just a silly girl for everyone to play with.
Even though the Duke himself stared me down, I dared to channel my magic. My white flame blazed. The Nordingaard crystal warmed my thigh. A few tears in the air and even within my goblet activated.
I gently reached for the Duke’s mind, but no door opened between those Hyton Blue eyes. I could not silently get into hishead. I could not light him on fire with all those eyes on me. What was the point of having sorcery if I kept getting backed into a damn corner?
I might have worn the cosmos on my hips, but I was no more than a rabbit in a snare.
No, I would never admit defeat. I had another way out.
The magic in my blood made me more immune to poison. I had survived faerie dust, I was a damn sorceress, and I was going to stay in control.
Duke Hyton chuckled at my hesitation. “What an anxious little lamb you are.” He flashed a sweet smile. “We will take a drink at the same time. On the count of three?”
I gripped my goblet. I was powerful. I was not going to lose myself in a lustful frenzy.
Even still, I looked for someone to save me.
“To your first time, even though my poor son will miss it.” He raised his flask. “One…”
I looked for Derrick.
“Two…”
I looked for Daigen.
“Three.”
And before the goblet touched my lips, I nearly cried out for Riyan.
The Cupid’s Blood was sweet on the tip of my tongue. It was so delicious that I could not help myself—I poured the entire contents down my throat and the sweetness coated my tongue.
Duke Hyton pulled his flask from lips and smiled. “Good girl. Now take your pick from all those handsome young men.”
The trail of sweetness down my throat suddenly turned bitter. I coughed as the aftertaste burned my tongue. I hunched forward, ready to throw up.
“Careful!” Duke Hyton rubbed my back as I coughed. “This is strong stuff, but a big girl like you can handle it.”
A low but strong voice rumbled through the air. “Leave her alone.”
I looked up and saw a tall man with light hair, a square jaw, and a red cape.
At first I thought Riyan had somehow returned…but the eyes beneath the bronze mask were too blue to be Riyan’s
General Hyton stood next to me dressed as an ancient war god, wearing a breastplate of bronze that was fitted perfectly to the contours of his muscles and a red tunic around his hips.
