Page 62 of Their Blood Queen

Except for three beautiful figures in the center of them all, protected by the largest men with swords. Each woman wears a glittery dress made of diamonds that flows with their movements.

Three various walls zoom in on each of them as the music thrums to life.

The women stiffen at the noise as if they can hear it.

“They’ll dance after we do,” Edward whispers in my ear as his hand snakes around my waist.

My blood-marks sting as he swoops me into a practiced move that has my spine bending to his will.

I don’t resist. My muscles move on instinct, obeying the years of training that has cultivated my body as an instrument to be played on the dance floor.

But no man has ever played my body like this.

A curious murmur of voices rolls through the crowd, but I don’t care. My entire focus is on Edward’s kind eyes that have a hint of desire in them. He’s not wearing a mask, but something seems to bleed through his skin as if he’s done a good job of suppressing things I shouldn’t be seeing.

He leads me into a swirling maneuver, making my dress fan out before I’m pressed against his chest. His nose brushes mine as he grins.

“Everyone is watching us,” I whisper when he draws me into a dip, then strokes his fingers through my hair.

The movement is distinctly sensual, and my body zings with excitement.

The screens all around us darken, and I wonder if they’ve lowered the broadcast, or perhaps the skies have gone cloudy wherever Rinhold Village is located.

“I don’t care,” Edward says, his breath hot on my ear, as he swirls me again.

He lets me go, and the notes of the music lift, making me rise up on my toes as I instinctively reach for the air.

That’s when the shadows descend and the room goes dark, but there’s still enough subtle light from all the reflective surfaces around us for me to see.

I try not to panic. My first thought is that this is part of the dance, but when screams rip through the discorded music, I realize something is terribly wrong.

When I come down from my lifted position, I find myself in the arms of someone new.

Definitely not Edward.

My breath catches in my throat as I stare up at a face that is foreign and familiar all at the same time.

Cain, the King of the Elite City, smiles at me as his grip tightens on my hips.

“Hello, Scarlett.”

CHAPTER 15

SCARLETT

The King of the Elite City knows my name…

I dumbly realize that I previously prayed to Cain. Did that mean he had actually heard me?

“H-hello…” I manage as I allow his embrace to move me closer.

I have to tilt my head up to look at him. To anyone else, he’s a beautiful man with bright blue eyes. I can see deeper, just as I always can. And I can see that he wears a mask, but it’s unlike any mask I have ever seen.

There’s something grand about Cain. A shadow seems to unfurl two feet taller than his current form, flashing in and out of existence as a low growl rumbles through my head.

The edge of my nightmares seems stronger in his gaze, but that’s to be expected.

Cain is a Dream Eater.

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