“Yes.” There was barely enough room to make out the word through our crowded lips. I was still cradling his face amongst the building mania around us. A cold sweat broke out across my forehead as the pain of another cramp began to build. The pressure from my contracting muscles released more blood into my undergarments.
Rhazien’s eyes burst open, a shimmer of familiar green amongst the dark, insatiable hunger. He was in there, somewhere. And he knew I needed to leave. That even in his arms, I wouldn’t be safe.
Through gritted, blood-stained fangs, he said, “You need to retire.”
I released his face, exhaled, and calmly agreed. “I think that would be best.”
“Goodnight.” His lips pressed into mine in a kiss that couldn’t end quickly enough. The fresh, acidic tang of blood on his tongue made me wish I’d chosen the axe. “My love.”
“Majesties.” I quickly curtsied to the regents.
Eryx had joined the search for the fresh blood, but Rhazien intervened, wrapping an arm around Eryx’s broad form and focusing him on a new string of human slaves being dragged into the room.
Without hesitation, Dommik escorted me in the opposite direction as the two regents erupted into laughter over something I’m sure would have made me feel sick.
“Don’t speak. Don’t make eye contact. Just walk.” The commander’s hand claimed the curve just above my waist and ushered me to the nearest exit.
Well dressed guests side-eyed me, some glanced over a second time. Most were admiring or glaring at my companion.
Safety was a mere few feet away when a familiar face blocked our path.
“Now, where are you two off to in such a hurry?” Valta’s fan sent loose tendrils of her light pink wig flying from her angular face.
“Valta, I was hoping to see you,” Dommik cooed, offering his hand and placing his lips atop her pale knuckles. She fanned herself harder at the acknowledgement.
“I was hoping the same—” her flirtatious gaze transformed into a belittling glare as it landed on me “—but that doesn’t answer my question.”
Razor sharp fear pierced me as a trickle of liquid traced my inner thigh.
She performed an uncharacteristic, violent sniff before her eyes went wide. “You’re?—”
Valta couldn’t finish the sentence, Dommik’s lips were on hers before she could expose me.
I shifted my weight, uncomfortable at the length and depth and passion of his kiss.
I knew I shouldn’t but I couldn’t help but wonder what it was like to be on the other end of that kiss. The mounting pain of a rolling cramp stolemy attention from the guilt and jealousy that threatened to take residence in my chest.
She’d melted underneath him, and from his stance over her, he spoke into her mouth, “Now. I need to see Lady Reyva to her chambers.”
“But—” Dommik’s finger halted her protest.
“You’re going to keep this secret for me,” he purred in a way that made me want to send a stake through her heart.
Valta wrapped her lips around the finger, taking it wholly in her mouth and sucking once before releasing it and asking, “And what do I get in return for keeping yourdeliciouslittle secret?”
He bent down to her ear, side-eyeing me as he whispered, “I’ll do thatthingyou like.”
“Tonight,” she breathed in insistence. “At least twice.”
“Tonight.” Dommik stood tall, dwarfing the small, horrible, beautiful, vile woman.
She offered her hand to him. “Deal.”
He bent to kiss her knuckles a second time in as many minutes. “Thank you. And, I’m looking forward to it.”
Valta giggled from behind her fan and couldn’t seem to stop as we continued our retreat from the ball.
“Whatever your trick is must be good,” I grumbled, wondering if the hand he’d placed on my back would grow back if I chopped it off.
