Page 4 of Of Night and Blood: Special Edition

Relenting, I grabbed his hand and allowed him to lead me to the dance floor. Surprising no one at all, Sterling chose the center of the ballroom. His eyes were ignited with lust, bright and blazing. I knew that this was not only for me, but for the attention and power that being with me brought him.

Mia had explicitly told me not to ever use my power on him, but I could sense the ambition pouring from him, projecting my way.

Months ago, when I was hopeful something beautiful could come of the arrangement, I resented her for taking that option from me. Normally I was against invading someone’s privacy and stealing their choice from them, but I wanted to know whether or not he was a good man, if he deserved my love. However, I found ways around it by involving my friends. Each time Sterling said something less than savory about me to them, they faithfully filled me in. Still, I often considered what I could learn about him if I had not been forbidden from his mind.

Sterling guided my hand around his neck, wrapping his left with my right. I felt his warm fingers trace from my upper back down to my hip, squeezing before he started to move us. Only the fact that we were surrounded by other dancing couples stopped me from smacking that smug smile off of his face. Or better yet, kicking him right between his legs.

The thought of him weeping on the floor, clutching his groin, had me smiling wide. This seemed to convince him I enjoyed his touch, because he pulled me all the way into him and rested his forehead on my own. I attempted to push him back gently, but he held firm.

“We are being watched, Asher, please do not make a scene,” he whispered, his hot breath fanning my face.

I backed my head away to see his eyes on my lips. I knew what he was planning before his head moved towards mine, but I had absolutely no way to stop him. As he leaned forward, I closed my eyes tight, cringing at the memory of his mouth on mine. Right when I felt his lips graze my own, someone cleared their throat, and he pulled back. I opened my eyes to see Bellamy standing beside Sterling, rage clouding his eyes and a tight smile on his lips.

“Sorry to interrupt, but may I cut in?” he asked. It did not go unnoticed by Sterling that Bellamy was directing the question at me, not him.

I felt Sterling’s other hand wrap around my back, his hold tightening. The boy prince opened his mouth to decline, or possibly argue, but I firmly gripped his hands and freed myself.

“Of course, this is my introductory ball after all. It would not be fair to only dance with Prince Sterling,” I responded, stepping towards Bellamy. Sterling looked from him to me, then back. He was seething, and I knew that this would cost me later, but did not regret it.

Anything to avoid kissing him.

Sterling stomped off to the side of the floor, and when he turned, his eyes immediately went to us as I put my hand in Bellamy’s. Smirking and radiating satisfaction, Bellamy lifted our hands, his other going to my mid back. I placed my free hand on his shoulder, and we began to dance. “Thank you.”

“You do not have to thank me Princess, no one should be touched against their will.” Again, I felt silly for thinking that his intentions were anything beyond basic decency. My skin flushed, heat rising to my cheeks. We spun in silence for only a few seconds before he spoke again. “Who is that male to you if I may ask?”

His question took me by surprise. How did he not know? Everyone seemed to be aware of the bargain the mortal king made with ours. It was why no one had asked me to dance tonight, despite this being my introductory ball. Why they allowed a mortal to hoard all of my attention. Why their parents flocked to the king and queen to sway them to pick their son instead. That, and they were all terrified of me.

“He is to be my husband,” I whispered, the words tasting like poison in my mouth. Acknowledging it in front of a stranger was more painful than only thinking it. More than that, it was reality that stung me. I was not going to get out of this marriage. There would be a day where kissing Sterling, and more, would be expected of me. Required of me.

“You do not seem to be very happy about that,” he responded, his head tilting to one side. No one but my friends had ever said that out loud, not daring to point out the fact that my union was already tense and less than ideal. It took me off guard to hear that he was paying so much attention. Which is probably why I spoke without thinking.

“I am a gift of good faith between the fae and the mortals. I had no choice in my future husband. It is hard to be excited.” My eyes grew wide and the hand I had placed on his shoulder flew to my mouth. I considered taking the memory from him then and there to avoid whatever repercussions would come from my blatant disregard towards Sterling, but before I could, Bellamy let out a quiet chuckle.

“Honesty is a brave trait to have, you do not have to fear what I will think of you.” His hand grabbed mine from my face and he said, quieter this time, “And I will not tell a soul any of the words you share with me.” He kissed my palm this time, sending sparks up my arm and to my heart, setting a ferocious beat.

My eyes slid over to the royals, who were conversing with the Prime of Trade and the Royal Air. If either of them saw this, the strange fae might not leave The Capital alive. I worried my bottom lip at the thought of being the reason yet another died. Bellamy returned my hand to his shoulder, as if he could sense the stress building up inside of me.

I looked up at him apprehensively, not fully believing in his promised discretion, though his life was the one that depended on it. Our eyes stay glued together for a moment before he continued.

“Honestly, he seems like a bit of a twat to me, but that goes without saying. You can trust me with your words, Princess.” I nodded my head with wide eyes, a chuckle escaping my mouth.

Chapter Three

“Asher,” I said after a few moments of dancing in silence. He lifted one eyebrow in question, cocking his head to the side. “My friends call me Asher. I would like for you to as well.”

His smile illuminated his face, infectious and charming. I could not help but smile back.

“Well, Asher, tell me more about…” My name sounded sweet coming from his mouth, and my eyes wandered to his lips. I quickly reminded myself that it was disrespectful to continuously be thinking inappropriate thoughts about this male. What was he saying?

“What?” I asked, knowing there was no way I would be able to recall what he said.

He chuckled, and the butterflies dipped lower. Something felt different about the way I was reacting to Bellamy. Maybe it was due to the way Sterling had just treated me, and how his words had the opposite effect.

As if thinking his name summoned him to me, Sterling placed his arm between Bellamy and I, halting our dance. It was then that I realized we had drifted so close we were sharing the same breath. I felt Sterling’s arm yank me back, separating me from Bellamy and also hurting a bit. I knew better than to react, but it was an off night.

“Sterling, I told you to keep your hands off of me!” For the second time during the ball, my hand went straight to my mouth. I felt the fear and knew what I would see if I turned around. Looking over my shoulder, I saw that Xavier and Mia were both standing, their eyes piercing me, anger filling the room.

I looked away, surprised to see that Sterling was not glaring at me, but at Bellamy.

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