Page 94 of Dark Captivation

Vanessa patted her lips with a napkin having thoroughly enjoyed whichever flavor she’d gotten.

The next round started as nobody had lost yet. I retrieved one of my two remaining pies. Before I could hand it over to the man on my right, Malek stopped lightly elbowing me, his eyes flickering over to the other pie with a sugar-coated crust.

I averted to the sugar crusted pie, handing that one down instead. Was that the one with dung or was he just guessing? It smelled fine to me but Malek’s nose may have been keener than mine.

I received Malek’s pie, and it was a scrumptious orange cream. A quick glance around the table told me everyone was still in the game.

Ferina, a tad too drunk, started hooting. Elias, visibly amused by the gesture, mimicked her.

It was the final round, and everyone only had one pie left. We did our exchange. I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. Eying my pie with suspicion.

Malek dug into his, completely unafraid.

“Blueberry.” He licked the filling from his lips and waited for me to dig in, revealing what was inside.

After a moment’s hesitation I took a bite.

It was sweet and sour. “Rhubarb!” I cheered.

Malek adjusted himself in his seat to face me. “You know, I lost the first time I played this. It was almost 4 hundred years ago and…”

A chilling scream rent the air, cutting Malek off mid sentence. Vanessa tossed her pie on the ground. A mixture and dung soiled the hardwood.

She scowled at me so harshly that if looks could kill, I’d be dead. Immediately I knew what had happened.

Malek had given me the dung laced pie, knowing that Vanessa would likely be left with it in the final round.

“Nobody insults my bride.” Malek leaned over to whisper in my ear, tightly clasping his hand around mine.

“I didn’t realize you noticed that.” I whispered back.

“I notice everything.”

Vanessa raced out of the room. I wished I could say I felt sorry for her but we all took the same risk when we started playing.

The orchestra began playing harmonious, bassy music and everyone took to the dance floor.

Malek held me into his chest, and we slowly danced our way through the room.

The world around us fell away as we swirled and twirled together, claiming a little circle of space, a few feet from the bar for ourselves.

He hugged me closer, his eyes warm and bright and we swayed from side to side. Even without words, I could read his emotions. Tonight was perfect. Everything was perfect, not because of all the demons, but because we were here together.

“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight? Were we alone, I wouldn’t be able to hold myself back.” His fingernails grated up my thigh, his hands greedily cupped my backside. Lust swam across his eyes. “You are the most important person in the world to me.”

“I think you made that clear when you made Vanessa eat the shit pie.”

“I won’t allow anyone to ruin this for us. Tonight is too important.” He spun me around before drawing me back into the firmness of his embrace.

We danced for what felt like seconds but had to have been close to an hour as the dancers dwindled. Most going over to eat, drink or sit down and chat. Soon, only Malek and I were left dancing.

I glided my hand up and down my side. Something in the dress had been chafing my skin since we started dancing but I wasn’t sure what it was.

“Will you come with me? I want to show you something.” He whispered, his tipsy voice light and sweet like honey.

I went with him, and we briefly spoke to the demons we passed on our way to the door.

We were almost at the ball entrance when the chaffing got more noticeable. I scratched my side near my bra as a politician’s wife greeted me, telling me how much fun she was having.

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