“You’re even more devastating when you smile,” she answered, still peering up at me, though Icouldn’tseem to read the look twinkling in her eyes.
I flashed her a teasing grin just for the fun of it as one song bled into the next, the melody shifting to a faster pace.
We danced for whatmight’vebeen hours, as I lost track of the number of songs that flowed between and around us. I simply let them take me anddirectme in my movements, guiding Val through every motion and step. We glided together on thedancefloorthe same way our forms moved in unison—silky smooth and without a flaw.
Together, the two of uslaughed and smiledand danced freely, the alcohol allowing us just enough relief to leave the weight of our responsibilities behind for the night. There in that tavern, there was no war, no anxiety, nocrownsor titles; it was just me and Val—twofaedancing until the end of time.
As the night went on, the crowd thinned out and the music slowed down. Once the moon could no longer be found through the thick, colorful glass overhead, the music faded out, signaling it was time to go.
As the last few notes played, I spun Valaroundso her back was pressed flush against my front. Leaning my head down so my lips lightly touched the shell of her ears as I spoke, I said genuinely, “Thank you.”
“For what?” Icouldn’tignore the chill bumps that erupted across her skin as my lips grazed her ear every time I talked.
“For pushing me to come tonight. Ididn’trealize how much I needed this.”
“You’re getting soft on me,” Val teased. As the final song ended, she stepped out of my grasp, a small smile still playing on her lips, leavingher cheeks and ears a bright pink. “Let’s get you home, Dimitri.”
I imagined I could bribe the musicians and Red to let us stay longer, but Val was already taking my hand in hers and guiding me toward the exit.
After a rough and slow flight back to the castle, and a loud, laughter-filled walk toward the royal wing—whereI’dalso allowedVala room down the hall—we finally came to a pause before the doors to my chambers.
A beat of silence followed our last bout of laughter as we caught our breath.Val was looking toward the doors of my chambers, but I only seemed to have eyes for her tonight.
It struck me as odd how quickly things couldchange.I’donce thought I would spend my life with a different female, and that I had found the love everybody seemed to spend their lives searching for. But if I thoughtI’dfelt love before, then what was I feeling tonight?
I reached toward Val, wrapping a strand of her short, chestnut hair around my finger.
She turned her face back toward me, looking up as our eyes met. Whatever she saw there made her breath come faster, and Icouldn’thelp the way my eyes lefthersmomentarily to peer down at her perfect lips.
“Dimitri…” she said, and if it sounded like a warning, Iwasn’theeding it.
Not tonight.
I let go of the strandI’dbeen holding in favor of sliding my hand fully into her hair at the base of her head, cradling her. I gently tilted her head back as my other hand found her hip, pulling her even closer. I could smell her sweet scent all around me, hear her heavy breathing, and as both of our eyes slid shut, I leaned down, ready to taste and devour and conquer.
But when my lips were a mere breath away from Val’s, a clattering sound rung out from the opposite end of the corridor, as if multiple objects had fallen.
Pulling my head back, I peered toward the source of the noise. Then, in an instant, I was backing away from Val as if touching her burned me.
“Dimitri,”Auroragasped, her voice full of disbelief that I could hear despite the distance.
“Aurora, I…” I trailed off, looking between the two females before me.
Aurora, whoI’dthoughtI’dbeen in love with for years. The femaleI’dbeen holding out for, in the hopes thatshe’dcome around to the idea of anus. And she had almost done so—right before I sent her to the South to warn Aviva months ago. Though, when thingshadn’tgone according to plan, Iwasn’tsure ifshe’dbe coming back at all.
As it turned out, it looked likeshe’dhatched a plan of her own.
And she was back.
She’dreturned, and yet when I looked at her, none of that desireI’dfelt for years was there anymore. WhatI’dfelt for Aurora paled in comparison to whatI’dfelt tonight with Val.
But Aurora had scrolls, journals, and maps at her feet—the itemsshe’ddropped. She looked likeshe’dflown straight there with all of it in hand.
And if Aurora’s heartwas what I needed to keep intact to win the war,then I could live with breaking Val’s.
At least, I wished to the Stars that I could.
Glancing at Val, she was staring at Aurora, her gaze cold—absent ofany and allheat I’d seen just seconds ago.
