Page 40 of Flame and Starlight

“You’re going to need an ally in your corner, Alyssandra. You and Asher both will. I’ve always been there for him. I can be there for you, too.” She turned so that she was facing me and leaned her shoulder against the wall. Her hand reached out and touched my forearm in a comforting gesture, but the second her skin made contact with mine, I could feel her sincerity. Her affection for Asher made my heart swell.

So, I told her.

I started from the beginning, that night in the bar, and took her through my day-to-day life at his court. I explained how Emric taught me how to fight and trained me to make me stronger. I told her about the night I changed, and I even told her about Nyxa. I unloaded everything so quickly, partly thanks to the alcohol, I was sure, that I was afraid she hadn’t been able to take it all in.

When I finished, she was quiet and took a moment to digest everything I had told her. When she started to respond, her mouth snapped shut, and I felt more than heard Asher walk out of the door behind me. I knew when his eyes landed on me, and I looked at him over my shoulder.

“There you are,” he said, swinging both of his arms over my shoulders and crossing them over my chest. He was doing a good job of keeping up the plaything act.

“How dumb do you think I am?” She reached up and smacked him across the head. I snorted very loudly and turned around in his arms to see his face. It was worth it. “I know who she is. And I’m on your side, so if you need help, ask for it.” When she walked past us, Asher still speechless, and she gave me a pointed look. “Keep him in line, Lyssa.” And then she walked off in the direction of where the music was coming from.

“I’m still tipsy,” I stated matter-of-factly. “And I would like to dance.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and soaked up his warmth. He looked down at me and finally closed his mouth.

“Did she just hit me, or did I hallucinate?”

I smiled. “I like her. Now take me dancing.”

The building where the dancing was happening was a few doors down, and music and laughter poured out of it. When we walked in, low golden light and heat from all the bodies moving on the dance floor wrapped itself around me. I turned around and gave him a hard stare.

“Very funny,” I said over the music. “Complicated dancing? Looks like everyone is just grinding on each other. Did you think it was funny to watch me sweat it out?” He just laughed his warm, masculine laugh that sent shivers across my body.

It was so familiar to going dancing back home that, even though I was in a completely foreign world, I comfortably started to pull Asher with me to the middle of the floor. I grabbed a glass of champagne off a server’s tray and downed it, feeling heat rush to my face and my stomach churn with butterflies as I sat it back down.

“I like seeing you like this.” I felt his breath across my cheek.

“Like what?” I asked as I pulled him closer to the throng of Fae dancing in the dim candlelight.

“Happy.” A kiss was left on my neck. “Carefree.” And another.

“Drunk.” I cut him off with a laugh. His sudden intimacy had my legs wobbling.

“It does bring a sinful blush to your cheeks,” he said as his hand left mine and instead snaked around my waist. He pulled me close, and his shadows twined themselves snug against my skin.

I knew I was drunk then because I leaned into him too easily and began to move to the music as we finally crossed the threshold of the dance floor. The beat of the music was slow and deep. I could feel it seep into my bones and crawl across my skin. My arm bravely snaked up behind me to grab onto the back of his neck. My fingers slid through the soft ends of his hair. The alcohol made it hard to tell the difference between his emotions and my own. So I gave up and let myself just feel. I leaned my head back against his chest and moved against him while his arms prowled over my body in ways that made a warmth pool low in my stomach.

“Incoming,” he singsonged into my ear, and I opened my eyes. They landed directly on Leona, zooming in on her like she was prey. I was helpless against the sliver of darkness making its way up, vibrating through my veins. I smiled. She saw us, and her eyes went wide, but she kept coming. Had to give her credit for her massive lady balls.

“Can I have my dance now?” She batted her pretty eyelashes. Asher kept his arms wrapped around me, his shadows following suit and clinging on.

“He’s busy,” I said as I leaned even further back into him. He laughed and sat his chin on top of my head, right in the middle of my tiara. Blondie crossed her arms.

“I don’t think you speak for the High Lord of the Night Court, whore.” I felt Asher stiffen behind me. The sheer power rolling off him in waves should’ve been enough to send her running, but she acted like she couldn’t feel it. I could, though. And maybe I should’ve been scared, but I wasn’t. The darkness inside of me soaked his up like a sponge. I felt the smile creep across my face, wide enough to show my fangs.

“I assure you,” I said, low and slow, “that in this instance, I do speak for him. And I’d really hate to get blood on my dress tonight.” My power seemed disappointed that I wasn’t going to act on impulse.

“It is a beautiful dress,” Asher said.

“Thank you. You did give it to me,” I said, looking back at him over my shoulder. Our eyes met, and I got lost in the swirls of grey and blue before peeling them back onto Blondie. Her eyes took on a fierce glint as she looked back and forth between us.

“Are you going to let her speak to me like that?” Now the Fae close to us were taking notice of the little scene she was causing.

“You’re lucky I’m letting you walk away in one piece after the way you spoke to her. Do it again and you won’t.” He relaxed slightly and wrapped his arms around me tightly. “Though, I would love to see Lyssa in action.”

She backed up through the crowd of Fae and disappeared, fuming, I was sure. He spun me away from him as the music changed, and then he pulled me back into him. I hit his hard body with a thunk as he caught me and held me there, front to front. I laughed and tilted my head back, feeling my hair slide off my shoulders and down my back. My power thrummed under my skin, and I took a minute to revel in the sensation.

“I can feel your power coursing just under the surface,” he whispered in my ear as we swayed slowly to the music. His fingertips drifted slowly down my arms, causing gooseflesh to rise. “If you free that, you could light this world on fire, Alys.”

I shushed him and spun out from him again, too drunk to care about what he was saying. This time when he pulled me back, he held my back against his chest. His hand crept up my side from my hip and over my ribs, his fingertips grazing the side of my chest. My breath caught in my throat as his hand made its way over my collarbone and around my neck.

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