Gently, he swiped a tear from my face, his hand lingering by my jaw as he spoke. “It’ll be just like tonight. Everyone else will see me as myself, but you will see me like this.” He drew closer, pressing his forehead against mine. “No one will know how you see me. It can be our secret.”
Another wave of horror crashed into me. “You mean everyone tonight saw me dancing with you? Kissing you?” I tried to shove him back, disgusted, but his arms remained locked at my sides.
“They had to know what we are,” he said through gritted teeth. “We’re to be married soon anyway. And with Ikelos dead, there’s no reason for the faeries to stay hidden.” He drew closer, his arms tensing. “You’re mine, Naria. Everyone will know it soon enough – so why wait?”
Nausea rolled over me. “Where’s Lukas?” I panted. “If you’ve done something to him to keep him away I swear to the Ancients, Arenn—”
“I did nothing.” His bitter expression gave way to a smirk. “He saw us dancing and left,” he chuckled. “You know, I caught his eye a few times while he watched us. You should’ve seen the way he glared at me.”
Snarling, I threw both hands against his chest and shoved until he finally stumbled back. “Never touch me again!” I almost screamed.
His grin faded. “Naria, I—”
“I mean it this time.” I marched back, putting some space between us before my fists closed the distance. “You are to stay away from me. Don’t speak to me. And never do this,” a flapped my hand at his glamoured body, “ever again.”
His brow lowered. “But you don’t like me without a glamour.”
“I don’t like you full stop.” My anger boiled over into a laugh. “And it won’t matter if you change your hair or your eyes or your… entire body,” I held back a gag, “because I will nevereverwant to touch you.” Fists clenching, I shuddered. “Because. You. Are. Not.Him.”
Arenn rose to his full height as his glamour faded. Lukas vanished in a glimmering blur, and in his place, stood the dark-haired faery prince.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” he growled.
“Don’t you dare talk to me anymore.” Picking up my heavy skirts, I backed away. “And don’t even think of following me or I swear I will hate you until my grave.”
His gaze turned sinister. “You know there are ways I can make you love me.”
I didn’t let him elaborate. Swallowing down a sob, I raced towards the ballroom doors and sprinted down the darkhallway, my tired feet making the floor feel like knives.
I had to find Lukas. Had to explain that what he saw wasn’t real.
“Damn you, Arenn,” I rasped. As if I needed any more problems.
CHAPTER 25
My sore feet were screaming at me by the time I finally found him – tucked away in the same candlelit library alcove he’d hidden in after the last party. One hand hung over the back of a velvet chaise lounge while the other gripped a near-empty wine bottle. His eyes were closed, brow furrowed as he slept sprawled out against the chair. If I didn’t know any better, I might’ve assumed he’d fallen asleep after some late-night reading.
But I did know better. And I could smell the alcohol on his breath before I’d kneeled by his side.
“Lukas?” I spoke softly, brushing his shoulder.
He stirred. Scowl deepening, his lashes eased apart. “Isthis a dream?”
“No.” A relieved sigh touched my lips as I realised he’d fallen asleep instead of passing out. Well. He was still completely drunk, but at least he wouldn’t suffer too badly when tomorrow came. “How much did you have to drink tonight?”
“Not enough.” He rolled onto his back as he grumbled something I couldn’t quite hear.
Worry tugged at my brow. “What is it? Are you hurting somewhere? Did Arenn hurt you?”
His snort cut me off. “You really have to ask?” Shaking his head, he ran his fingers through his hair. “Naria, I just watched you spend an entire evening dancing with another man, and not just any man. That damned faery.” He sucked in a breath, digging his palms into his eyes. “The way you looked at him…”
“No,” I forced out. “That wasn’t real. He tricked me, Lukas. I didn’t know I was dancing with him. I had no idea at all. He looked like someone else.”
“What?” He lowered his hands, blinking up at me. “But I thought… Then who did you think you were dancing with?”
“You. I thought he was you.” As realisation crossed his brow, my grip on his shoulder tightened. “He used some kind of glamour to trick me tonight. He looked just like you, but I never would’ve touched him had I known who he really was.I swear it.”
Lukas pushed up onto his elbows. “He tricked you?” he seethed. “That absolute—” He cut himself off, throwing his legs over the side of the chaise lounge to stand. “I could murder him.”
