“And perhaps drink something other than wine?” he added with a deep chuckle before stepping to my side and turning his gaze to me. “I think your friend has had a little too much this evening.”
“Maybe,” I mumbled, watching the back of Raena’s coral skirts as she shuffled back to her siblings. “That was odd.”
“Like I said, too much wine.” Lukas shrugged. “And speaking of,” he steered us out of the alcove and back towards the dance floor, “would you like another glass or shall we dance first?”
“I thought you wanted to leave?”
“Leave?” He huffed out a laugh, stopping on the dance floor to pull me closer and wrap his arms around my waist. “Naria, it is our last night here,” he purred. “Let me show the entirety of Ryntook exactly how much you mean to me,” tone deepening, he stroked my back, “exactlywhohas your heart.”
My throat felt like it’d been coated in honey, so sticky no words could come out. Only a short gasp as Lukas grippedthe sides of my waist and spun me in his arms to the music.
“Dancing it is then.” He grinned, and for some odd reason, I couldn’t help but smile with him. The headache that once pounded against my skull melted away, leaving a growing warmth in my chest. And when my hands found his shoulders, my fingers teasing the back of his neck, I didn’t let go for far too long.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured after we’d been dancing for what must’ve been hours. My feet throbbed, but despite the pain, I found myself not wanting to let go of him. As if this were all some magic spell that would break the minute I pulled away.
“You’re beautiful,” I sighed back, brushing the side of his cheek.
Closing his eyes, he shuddered against my touch. But when his eyes opened again, sadness lurked inside them.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered. The dancing crowds around us were beginning to thin as guests returned to their chambers, the music quietening. “Lukas, what is it—”
“Shh.” His finger found my lips. “Will you just kiss me?”
“Kiss you?” I echoed, laughing at the fact he felt he needed to ask. “Of course.” But then an odd feeling twinged in my stomach. I wanted to ignore it, throw my arms around his neck and kiss him like he’d kissed me just hours ago. But the longer my gaze stayed locked onto his, the more there seemed something off about the glint in his smoky eyes.
“Is something wrong?” I whispered. “You look—” His lips crashed against mine before I could say the rest.
Gasping, I arched my back. It was like I had caught fire. Without thinking, my arms looped around his neck,and I pulled him against me as if his lips were the only thing stopping me from burning out. But there was something else, too. The odd feeling in my chest had grown to become an awful rocking in my stomach.
This felt wrong. Thiswaswrong.
Why was it wrong?
Frowning, I pulled away from his touch. But my lips immediately felt cold without his pressed against them.
“What is it?” A nervous laugh rolled off him. “Come back, my love. Please.” He stepped towards me, desperation ravaging his features. “Please, human.”
My heart froze.
“I need this,” he pleaded. “You know we both do.”
Horror clawed up my throat. It all made sense now. The odd feeling in my chest. The way he compelled Raena to leave us. Had he been Lukas for the entire ball? My palms felt sticky.No. The kiss in front of Marigold was real. Not whateverthatwas.
“Stay back, Arenn.” I held my hands out, drawing away from him. By now, the late night crowds were thin enough that I could put a good distance between us on the dance floor. “How could you do this? You tricked me! You made me kiss you!”
Tears blurred my vision as his jaw tensed. “I didn’t make you,” he grumbled. “I asked—”
“And I only said yes because I thought you werehim!” Around us, dancers began to glance awkwardly in our direction until Arenn, still glamoured as Lukas, charged forward and took my hand.
“Let go of me,” I hissed.
“You’re making a scene, darling.” Pulling me along, he dragged me off the dance floor until we reached the empty buffet tables. There were far less people over here. And the music was still loud enough that no one would hear me if I cried out…
My heart lurched.
“Listen to me,” Arenn said, pushing me against a table so I was caged in place by his two arms. “If you only want him,” he spoke as if the words hurt, “then I can look like this forever. There’s a ritual I can do and I’ll even let you call me by his name.” He swallowed, his voice turning rough. “We can pretend, Naria.”
“This is madness,” I sobbed. “Please stop this.”
