“Perhaps.” He whispered, raising my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand before stepping back. That familiar, arrogant smirk lingering on his lips as he turned his attention back to his men.
I crossed the ballroom with measured grace, my heart pounding far harder than it should have as I neared Rhael. He had dismissed the female courtier and now stood alone, his back pressed to the wall, arms crossed over his chest.
As soon as I was close enough his hand closed around my arm, firm and possessive. Anger lingered in his eyes, and I assumed it was for me. The way he looked me up and down, evaluating me, it was new. Something he had never done before.
“Did he ask anything of you?” he whispered, his other hand pulling me against him, as his lips lingered into my hair.
“Several things, he was handsy,” I replied, keeping my voice low. Avoiding the eyes of others who were looking at us.
“You seemed to enjoy yourself,” he mused, an underlying anger in his voice that made my own rise.
“I played the game. Just like you asked.” I hissed, my eyes narrowing. Rhael had put me in this position and if he suddenly had a problem in the way I decided to do it, then he would just have to get over it.
“I need you to tell me what he asked of you,” he said, pulling me against him disguising his questions with his lips in my hair, his hands trailing over my shoulders.
“Here?” I whispered. His hands finally settled on my waist holding my lower half against him.
“No, it is too obvious. Just stay there. I need a moment,” he whispered as I tried to look up at him, silently questioning the thin restraint in his words.
“You okay?” I asked, knowing the question was loaded. I would not have expectedan answer usually, but something about the way the Dragon King had held me made me brave.
“Fine. Just need you here for a moment. To remind him you are not up for grabs,” he sighed into my hair, his hands spreading warmth through my body in a way the Dragon King had tried to do and failed.
“I think he plans to try to take someone from you. He wants to hurt you. He told me he could make me free. He asked me what I would want from him if I let him have me.” I told him, the words the Dragon King muttered to me lingering in my brain. It was information he needed to know.
“He will not have you. You are mine,” Rhael promised, leaning his head back to look me in the eye and I felt my heart stop in my chest.
“You shouldn't call me that. This is just a game,” I whispered as one of his hands left my waist, to trail up my body before cupping my cheek. It was an odd feeling, the warmth spreading through me as I let his thumb stroke across my lip.
“What would you answer me if I asked you the same question?” He asked. My breath turned still in my chest. The way he looked at me at that moment set me on fire. His thumb stroked over my lip as he watched me. My breasts threatened to spill from the dress as I pressed closer.
“You know what I desire,” I responded, my hands playing with the detailing on his jacket. Around us I knew people were looking. Eyes narrowed as they watched the human slave claim their King as if she owned him and for just a splitsecond I thought I did.
“Freedom,” he smirked, his lip ring catching the light. I wondered what it would be like to kiss him, if he would taste like metal or if I wouldn't notice it.
“Yes.” I agreed, it was the same answer I had given months ago. However now it seemed feeble, as if it wasn't really what I wanted anymore.
“And what else?” He asked, his voice taking on a more demanding tone. His hand dropped from my lip to my neck, his thumb pressing against my pulse.
Not enough to cut off airflow, but enough to show he was in control. Once again reminding me of my place, of his expectation of me to answer him.
“Rhael,” I warned. This was not the time to be having this conversation. Especially not in front of a King who already wanted to take what Rhael wanted most.
In the back of my mind I wondered if this was why he was doing it. To make Aasim’s desire for me grow more, to get me out of his hair once and for all.
“Ah King Sorenthis. Please join me for a drink.” Aasim calls over the music. Breaking the spell, I was under, as Rhael’s hands fell from my body and he stepped away from me as if the moment had never happened.
I watched as his back straightened and his eyes lost that possessive glow, dimming back to nothing as he steps towards Aasim. That same false smile breaking out over his face once more.
I cursed under my breath, trying to calm myself down as I stood alone now, by the edge of the dance floor.
My chest ached, as if oxygen was not reaching my lungs. So instead of finding someone else to talk to, I bolted for the door. Desperate to escape the heat of the room and the relentless words in my own mind.
Escaping out of the busy hall into the cold air I braced my hands on the stone balcony. Cold air filled my lungs and stung at my skin, but I embraced it. Closing my eyes, letting my lips open as I took in slow long breaths, as I tried to work out the emotions that rolled through me.
Confusion. That was the main one. Rhael held me in that way, asking me what I wanted, it was all too much. My arms trembled and not only from the cold. I knew Rhael would never want me like that, I was a game, a plaything.
I cursed into the air as I tried to push back the tears that threatened to fall. I had spent years working on not being someone who held out hope, I was unbreakable. No one had tamed me, yet there I was. Almost crying over a fae King who had done nothing to break my spirit, but had destroyed me all the same.
