Page 77 of Shadow Kissed

His mouth is so close to my ear, and I fight the urge to lean my head to the side and allow him better access to my neck so he can shatter me with barely-there kisses. I’m on fire everywhere.

A gasp spreads around the room as darkness plunges us into obscurity, with every curtain closing shut and blanketing the room. But it matters not, we dance on, oblivious, his fingers thrumming the beat against mine, he nibbles at my ear, and I fight the urge not to moan as he steps away and with one hand on my waist circles around me until we are facing one another again. The curtains all swing open at once as we come to the end of the song and it’s only when we stop, I realise that the roomis silent, and we are the only ones dancing. Everyone else is watching us. Applause fills the room, and I blush even more.

Master Arzhel claps his hands. “Lord Commander, you have taken a lost cause and made her passable.”

Raegal pulls his eyes from mine and glares at our dance instructor. “You should know full well that chastising and belittling is no way to teach someone.” He turns his attention back to me, a predatory smile on his lips as he takes my hand and kisses it. “Miss Lockwood.” Before he turns and strides from the room. His shadows skirt once around my feet before they chase after him. It’s only as he walks away, I wonder why the curtains all closed like they did just then? How strange!

Master Arzhel stares after Raegal, his face blood-red with embarrassment. “Let us continue! Take up your partners.” He pauses and steps my way. “Well done, Miss Lockwood.”

Shocked by his praise, I stare after him as Saveya takes my hand, and we repeat the steps. This time I complete them with ease, not missing a step, and Saveya grins at me encouragingly.

Afternoon class is history, and I am pleasantly surprised. I thought it would be rather dull, but we learn about all the reigning kings of the Shadow Realm and their length of service to their people and as I leave class, I’m excited to read more about the shadow wielding rulers. Now that all the girls are at the mansion, we no longer take dinner with Moryen. Instead, we dine in our wings with our fellow district females.

Chatter falls silent when I enter the room, and I pause and look around the table at my four roommates. “What? Have I got wrenbry’s around my mouth?” I ask, having indulged in a few I’d picked from a tree in the mansion grounds earlier.

“What was it like?” Tyria asks me, her purple eyes dancing with excitement.

“Does he smell as divine as he looks?” Alora chips in, leaning her elbows on the dining table and toying with a strand of her long, brown hair.

I bow my head and make my way to my seat. I really don’t want to talk about what happened today. About the way he strode into the room and made Arzhel eat his words about me. Nor am I ready to dissect the way it felt to be in his arms, the excitement, and the way he was so patient with me.

“It appears you have bewitched the Lord Commander, Reya,” Imrie chips in with a wink from where she sits reading her book, feet up on the dining table.

I scoff and shake my head, reaching for the steaming bowl of potatoes. “So, I bewitched him with my terrible dancing? I think not.”

Imrie arches a brow at me. “The two of you dancing was hot. He didn’t take his eyes off you even when yours were closed.”

“It’s true!” Saveya pipes up.

“You’re all ridiculous. You read too many of those silly romance books,” I reply, concentrating on filling my plate with food.

Imrie sits up and puts her book down. “Oh, you mean the silly romance books you hide inside your class books?” She waggles her brow at me and taps her nose. “Nothing gets past by me.”

“I do not!” I protest. “Why would I read such ridiculous fantasies? There are no knights in shining armour. There is no dashing, handsome prince to rescue us from a life of misery. We are nothing but brood mares, sold to the highest bidder to churn out shadow babies.”

The room falls quiet, and I gulp as I realise how vehemently I spoke.

“You know Reya, sometimes you’re so full of anger and hate,” Tyria replies, shaking her head at me. I look around the table at the now hurt faces of my fellow roommates.

“Maybe that’s because I don’t want to become nothing more than a womb to pump out babies and keep their race prospering. I want to live my life here in Asen, with my brothers and do something with my life! How can you be content with this destiny?” I stare at each one of them. “Don’t you all want more out of life than to lie on your back and pop out babies?”

Alora flinches. “You know what? I’m not hungry anymore. I think I’m going to go to bed.”

“Same,” Tyria snaps, picking up her plate and standing from her seat. “I’m going to finish this in my room.”

I watch in silence as they both exit the room. Imrie mutters something under her breath and swings her feet off the table. “You really can be a buzz kill sometimes, Reya. Do you think you’re the only one missing their family? Or the only one who is scared and uncertain about what our futures will be like? So what, we get lost in silly romance books, because it’s a distraction or because it gives us hope that maybe we can find our prince charming in the Shadow Realm.” She closes her book and heads towards her own rooms, leaving me alone with Saveya.

“Why do you push everyone away?”

Her question has me pausing mid-chew.

“I don’t.”

“You do.” She sighs. “You push all the other girls away. They try to get to know you and you just put up your walls and refuse to let anyone in.”

I stare across at my sweet friend. “Not everyone is good and kind, Saveya. These girls will trample over you to get into the top five. They might be all smiles now but just you wait until the competition hypes up.”

Saveya looks at me with deep sadness in her eyes. “Not everyone is out to hurt and deceive you, Reya. You’re actually pretty cool and fun to be around, and perhaps you need to consider that there are people here who just want to get to know you better.”

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