Swallowing back the borderline insane feelings suddenly invading my every sense, I took a sip of mine. It burned in the same way most alcohol did, but there was also a fizz that came with it and a sweet aftertaste. Satisfied by the taste, I drank the rest, earning a chuckle from the snake at my side.
“That’s our only one. We need to be clear-headed. Now, time to dance.”
Again, he took charge, setting the glasses down on another servant’s tray and pulling me towards a set of double doors that were left open. Inside was a room larger than all of my family home, the floor a vibrant silver that shone and clicked against my shoes. The ceiling was tiered, with another overly large chandelier and paintings of constellations decorating it. The walls were draped with silver cloth, windowseverywhere.They remained open, showing off the night sky and the beautiful view of the stars.
People everywhere coupled up, swinging around the ballroom in time with the music provided by a group of musicians on the far end of the room. We made our way into the fray, taking the stance Altair had shown me. He immediately began, effortlessly joining the dancing bodies. All I could do was follow, letting him lead me. And lead he did.
Altair swung me around, weaving us between couples as the music built. He’d push me out and pull me in, dipping me here and there. Removing his hand from mine, he braced his palms on my mid back and spun us. Laughing, I leaned back, splaying my arms and trusting him to hold me. He laughed too, daring to dip me even lower. When he pulled me back up, whipping my body so quickly I got dizzy, he tugged me into his chest. One of his hands gripped my neck, bringing our faces together. We danced slower for a few moments, our feet still moving in a sort of box shape.
Fingers slid across my skin, his hold tightening around my neck. I sighed, leaning my head back. Only pretending, of course. I was playing my part. At least, that’s what I told myself when he groaned and dipped his head lower, kissing my exposed neck gently. A tingle began everywhere he touched, brandishing me.
“Adam! Jenna!” Altair straightened at the sound of the deep voice, his jaw flexing and eyes blazing. Then, as if it never happened, his face fell into an easy smile.
“Iblis!” Heart hammering in my chest, I peeked over my shoulder, watching as Iblis Altair approached us. His hair was still shorter than his son’s with more yellow in it, but otherwise, they were nearly identical. His eyes were the same bright grey, his jaw square and his nose pointed. His lips were thinner, but he stood at the exact same height that Altair normally did.
The General wore all black, his vest blending with shirt and trousers. The dark clothing made every silver snake, star, chain, and diamond shine and sparkle. Like his wife’s cheeks, Iblis Altair was the night sky. As he neared, the dancing crowd parted.
An abrupt wave of fury collided into me, and I suddenly wished I could rip out the general’s throat with my teeth.Murderer! Destroyer! Abuser! Useless fucking bastard!
“I’m so glad you two made it. Elise told me that she nearly ripped that dress right off of you, Jenna. And I must say, I might do it for her.” He chuckled, his fingers tucking a strand of dark hair behind my ear. Fighting back the urge to vomit, I smiled, looking down as if embarrassed. I couldn’t let my fury win. I was doing this all for my family—forCeleste.
For his part, Altair laughed along, though I felt the way his fist bunched against my back. “How are you, Iblis?”
“Oh, you know, doing my best. Good things are coming, which helps. Speaking of which, I’m meeting with the Colonels, and we’d like for a few of you more promising elites to join us.Can I steal him in about ten minutes, Jenna?” General Altair flashed a crooked smile, something that many women probably fell to his feet for. I could tell that’s what he wanted, but I was terrified to make the wrong move. To smile and then claw out his eyes. To laugh and then tear out his heart.
Instead, I nodded. Finally, I settled on, “Anything you wish, of course.”
The fuckermoaned,placing his hand on my cheek. “Adam, I’m going to borrow her for a dance really quick.”
He didn’t ask, didn’t wait forAdam’sresponse. General Altair pulled me into him, his hand holding mine and the other falling to my ass. I placed my hand on his shoulder, hating how he brought me in closer. We danced in a similar way to how Altair—stars, I needed to stop calling him that—howAzazeland I had. Strangely enough, it was that name in my head that soothed me. Relaxing into the general’s hold, I allowed him to spin me.
“You know, Jenna,” he said, his lips moving to my ear, “I’d like you to stay here tonight.”
Ill once more, I fought to smile, nodding. “Of course, Iblis.”
“Perfect.”
Again, he spun us, his grin so wide it looked like it might split his face so he could swallow me whole. That was when I realized exactly what he was doing. General Altair was slowly taking us out of the crowd, bringing us towards a single black door. Now panicked, I looked around, catching Azazel’s furious face in the distance, his shoulders shoving into people as he made his way to us.
Then I was being pushed into a dark room, my back crashing into a wall. The door slammed behind us, a large hand grabbing my arm and forcing me deeper into whatever stars-forsaken place this was. I wanted to argue. To fight. To doanything,but what? He’d realize who I was, and then I’d sentence both Altairand I to torture. So I let him drag me, my heart racing and tears prickling my eyes.
“Don’t worry, this will be a quick one, Jen. I just can’t help myself,” His liquor-soaked breath fanned across my face as he pressed me against another wall, his chuckle vibrating against my chest. “If this works, I’m going to marry you, okay? You don’t have to worry. We’ll kill Elise and Adam, then I’ll fuck you until we have a hundred more heirs running around.”
A gag crept up my throat, bile rising in my stomach.
Abruptly, his weight was gone, the sound of bone cracking so loud it made me cringe. Again and again, pounding could be heard, but there was no light. No way to see anything. Silently, I scooted down the wall, hearing as the snapping turned into fleshy thuds.
“Who’s there?” I asked. Had the general beaten whoever hit him? Or was the perpetrator winning? Would they rape me instead?
“It’s me.”
“Oh, thank the stars,” I cried out, standing and searching for Azazel with my arms.
“I wouldn’t touch my hands. Let’s go before the fucker wakes up. Take my arm instead.”
Not needing to be told twice, I reached out and grabbed his arm, letting him guide me through the maze of darkness.
“How did you know where he was taking me?”
