Page 8 of Of Night and Blood: Special Edition

I looked away, easing some of the growing tension. Bellamy’s stare continued to set my skin ablaze, as if he enjoyed the tension, wanted to bring it to a breaking point. My cheeks heated, a blush forming. I murmured an awkward thank you, twiddling my fingers and trying to recall a time when I had been this flustered.

Though there were also very few who thought to talk with me this deeply, to understand me beyond my body or my power. I felt Bellamy’s finger slide under my chin, guiding my face back in his direction. When I peered up at him once more, I could have sworn black mist swirled in his eyes. A blink and it was gone, a figment of my imagination perhaps.

“I mean it,” he whispered.

We held eye contact. Whatever the connection was that sparked between us seemed to peak, because without a second thought, I crashed my lips to his. There was no hesitation as he moved his hand into my loose hair, gripping the thick, brown locks and pulling me impossibly close. His other hand released the flame and went to my back, warming me. I reached up, dropping the rose, and put both of my hands on either side of his face, grazing my tongue across his lips. He let out a raspy moan and opened his mouth for me.

The kiss was electric and fiery and all consuming. My breath quickly sped up when he tugged me onto his lap. My legs moved to either side of his thighs, and I felt him harden beneath me. Everywhere our skin touched left a trail of goosebumps. When the tips of his fingers slid under my gown and up my calf, I nearly melted, shivering against him. He broke our kiss and looked at me, moving to hold my face with both hands. “Are you cold?” he asked, his voice somehow deeper than it was earlier.

“No. Well, yes. But I am not shivering due to the cold,” I said sheepishly.

He smiled, running his fingers down the side of my face until he reached my chin, gripping it. He was the most attractive male I had ever seen, somehow both innocently handsome and dauntingly sexy. His striking jaw and freckled cheeks were a beautiful contrast, and I realized I could do this for days without growing tired.

“Shall we continue our walk?” he asked, voice a mere whisper against my lips. I returned the smile before offering a quick peck to his mouth. Then I slid off him slowly, giggling at his sharp intake of breath. As I offered him a hand up, I watched intently when he adjusted his trousers, horribly dirty thoughts flooding my mind.

We walked through the extensive gardens, our hands grazing every so often, and Bellamy told me of his grand adventures. Swimming to the bottom of an ice-cold lake, sword fights in the desert with his best friend, sailing across miles of the sea, working on a farm and finding chickens to be rather violent creatures. Memories of riding horseback through the snow, his disastrous attempt at making fire rain when he was a youngling, the first time he ever kissed a female—who apparently had been at least a head taller than him. “I had to stand on a bucket.” He chuckled.

In turn I told him of my own, far less interesting, life. We discussed how Nicola, Jasper, Farai, and I would secretly meet in Academy, breaking the rules of fraternization. I told him of Nicola and I’s tradition of swimming nude in the lake, named my favorite books, attempted to explain how I felt when I played piano. I too shared the story of my first kiss, which ended disastrously with me accidentally grabbing hold of his mind.

“I mistakenly spoke to him within his head. Poor male ran away crying in fear,” I said, the two of us laughing.

And when we realized we had strayed well past the exit he intended to use, we faced one another. Our noses were red from the cold, lips swollen from stolen kisses along the way, and I decided that I had been right. This—being with Bellamy—was something I could do for a lifetime. He leaned in again, his hands moving to my cheeks, and I thought of how much easier it was with this stranger than it had been with Sterling.

At that I froze.

I could not be doing this. I was engaged, spoken for, even if unwillingly so. Panic swallowed the lightheaded feeling of lust, intrigue, and genuine interest.

“I should go,” I croaked, stumbling backwards. He stood there, his hands still in the air, confusion and what seemed to be hurt on his face.

Impossible, that was what we were. One night could ruin everything, could sentence so many innocents to death. If even a single soul saw the two of us out here, Sterling could find out. I could lose my chance at uniting the fae and mortals, at fighting against the demons who terrorized us all.

And Bellamy, he could lose far more—his life. If Xavier caught him with me…well I already knew what would happen then. Had experienced it. I took one last look at the Fire, memorizing a face I would likely never see again, before bolting back down the path.

The second I reached the doors I thrust them open and slammed them behind me. Breathing fast not only because of exerting myself during the short run, but also because I could still feel the tingle of Bellamy’s hands on me. Every fiber of my being urged me to go back to him, to finish what I started. Instead, I continued the walk to my chambers, praying to Eternity that I did not see Sterling or Mia on my way.

Luckily, the hallway was empty, sounds from the ballroom filling it. I imagined the party would go on for several more hours, as they usually did. I kicked off my shoes, hoping silence would aid me. My bare feet quickly went numb from the cold, but it was easy to ignore, because the unchecked and dissatisfied part of me was still uncomfortably aroused.

My dress swished against my hips and felt heavier than at the start of the night, the bodice horrifyingly tight. I was eager to get the ugly outfit off, and to be on my own. The gold gown and shoes matched the palace, which was not a particularly welcome thought. Every surface of this place was the same color, with minimal design and decoration. It was always eerie how empty the large structure was, how far it felt from a home. When I was a youngling, I could not walk the palace alone without having a breakdown. I did not have that problem any longer, but was still in a hurry to get out of the now silent hall.

Halfway to my destination, I felt something. Someone.

Terror shot through me at the sudden and distinct inkling of being watched. The hair on my arms prickled and rose. I willed my legs to go faster, reaching my power out as a precaution. Nothing—no one—nearby. Still, I maintained a quick pace.

By the time I made it to my chambers I was convinced that I had gone mad. First, I yelled at Sterling. Next, I kissed a stranger who was most definitely not my fiancé. Then, I convinced myself I was being stalked by…I did not even know what. Was the full moon playing tricks on me? I slammed my doors shut and locked them with the hopes of a night spent alone, not needing any further chances to make a fool of myself. Hands pressed firmly against the cool wood, I took a deep breath. Or I tried to take a deep breath. The bodice truly was ridiculously tight.

I slowly turned towards the bed, untying the form-fitting top. My room was just as bare as the rest of the palace. It housed only the necessities such as a bed, small tables on either side to hold lanterns, a wardrobe, a small desk with a chair, and then a door leading to my adjoining bath chamber. The large four-poster bed took up most of the room, and every surface was gold.

It had looked the same for nearly two centuries. Decorating never seemed a priority when I preferred to be in the library, or the market, or the music hall, or really anywhere else. Anywhere that I did not have to stare at the uneven paint on the floor in the center of the room. Anywhere that I did not have to force back the memory of screams.

With that dark thought I finished undressing, letting the layers of fabric hit the floor with a small thud. I walked to my bath, noting that it was filled to the brim. Mia must have sent someone up recently, because the water inside was blissfully hot as I slipped in. I submerged myself, enjoying the way I felt weightless for once, as if the world did not sit atop my shoulders. The heat flooded my system and brought my mind back to the feeling of Bellamy’s flame in front of me.

Awareness of my surroundings was not at the top of my priority list just then, so it was quite the surprise when I heard the low bass of Xavier’s voice. I shot up, water sloshing in the tub and over the edge, drenching the tile. Rubbing at my eyes with the heels of my palms, I finally blinked away enough of the water and soap to see the king’s angry expression.

He offered me a towel, scratchy and golden, without a word. I nodded, taking it to wrap around myself as I stepped out of the tub. Hot fury radiated from him, blazing through my head and making me wince. I had known what I did tonight would come back to bite me, but was not expecting it immediately. When I had grabbed a robe and tied it around my waist, Xavier finally spoke.

“You disappointed me tonight, Ash. Your recklessness and disobedience put the future of this realm at risk, and you know it,” he said, voice smooth but face a deep red.

I nodded, walking up to him and bowing my head. He sighed, placing a thumb under my chin to raise my face. I looked up at him, at the only father I had ever known, and watched as his face relaxed. His skin faded to pink, then back to his pale tone.

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