Keira gripped her arms tightly, trying to bring herself some sense of calm. Her skin was still crawling with their touches.
Disbelief echoed through her mind. How had that just happened, and in front of everyone? Why would they? She didn’t understand. Was she overreacting?
No.
She shook the thought away. It felt wrong because it was wrong-
“There you are.” A man’s voice sounded from behind her.
Keira turned. She didn’t recognize him, but he was walking toward her purposefully.
She retreated a step.
“I didn’t get my turn for a dance.” His voice was dripping with predatory intent which made the hairs on her neck prickle.
Keira shook her head. “I-”
This couldn’t be happening.
It was though. His hands were on her shoulders, driving her back against the wall. His fingers were brushing over her skin. Laughter was playing on his lips as she pushed at his chest.
“You don’t have to fight, love. I can pay.”
What?
“My gold is just as good as Lord Northall’s and I bet that my cock is-” He pushed that very part of his anatomy against her leg. She could feel it even through the many layers of her dress, bringing the acidic taste of bile to her throat.
“Get off!” Keira finally found her voice.
“Come on, show me what you do to wrap a lord around your little fingers,” he teased. “It must be good.”
“No!” Keira beat at him with her hands in a frenzy of panic.
He grabbed her wrists, pinning them against their bodies as his lips crashed into hers. She hated his taste invading her as his tongue forced itself into her mouth. Keira caught it between her teeth and clamped down until she tasted blood instead.
He was screaming before she released him. Immediately he staggered back, putting a hand to the blood streaming from his lips. Rage flushed his expression, but Keira stared him down dauntlessly.
Long black talons unsheathed from her fingertips as behind him every one of the windows shattered. The shards glittered as an unnatural wind carried them through the hall, setting her skirts into motion around her as her hair danced wildly.
His eyes widened as he realized the gravity of his error. She didn’t understand what had happened tonight, but it no longer mattered. Fury had overcome her, instinct singing through her blood. Keira’s head cocked, a feral and predatory movement.
His cry of fright sang out to her.
He was right to be afraid.
Caspian
The dance drew to an end, but the girl in his arms was not Keira. Caspian bowed to her politely, but his eyes were scanning the hall. He saw no sign of her golden dress. She was probably just overwhelmed, he reassured himself. She’d likely looked for a quiet place. Disappointment settled in his chest that she hadn’t told him she was going. Caspian stepped away as the next song began, having little interest in joining in if she wasn’t there.
He was making his way to search for her by the cauldron of mulled wine when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
Prince Gilbert was looking at him with a serious expression. “Where’s Keira?”
Caspian’s brow tightened. “I thought she’d stepped away.”
“You should find her-”
The urgency in his tone set Caspian on guard.
