Page 10 of A Bond in Blood

When I lifted myself again, I found I looked as wild as I felt.

Perhaps it was fitting if I were to meet a wild, unrelenting king.

My gaze caught the dress, and my eyes widened. The fabric was thin, so thin I was shocked every crevice and curve of my body wasn’t on display. My eyes ran up my reflection and I realized, the outer fabric was sheer, with a lower layer covering my most private parts. I wasn’t sure whether to be mad or amazed.

One thing was for certain: these fae dressed differently than the mortals.

Nervously, I came out from the dressing screen, scanning the room for my captor. A low whistle came from the double doors and I turned.

“Well, Gods, princess, you know how to clean up,” Olen said.

“I’m not going out there dressed like some whore,” I bit back.

Olen stepped forward, with one hand behind his back. “I can promise our whores show quite a bit more skin than that.”

“Your king can come to me.”

Olen shook his head. “No. He won't. Take this.” His hand extended and I stared down at a dark red mask.

I shifted my gaze back to his, finding him adjusting a mask on the bridge of his nose. Only his was gold, matching his piercings and the gold braided into his hair.

“A mask?” I asked.

“The Unseelie Court,” Olen smiled, “wears only masks when in the presence of the king. Haven’t you heard the stories?”

“I’ve heard of the debauchery,” I replied.

“Oh, we have that too.” Olen opened the door, pointing out to the hallway. “After you, princess.”

I tracked our movements while Olen led the way. I took note of which exits were closest to the double doors. Which stairways appeared to lead outside, or what hallways looked too dark to venture down.

Finally, Olen stopped grinning ear to ear.

“Ready?” he asked.

I stared at the white doors before me, gulping down my fear.

Olen’s hand shoved me forward and deafening music flew at me, blocking any other sound. Just not blocking out the creatures before me.

Some appeared as the fae I was used to. But most were similar to the monsters on the ship and the dock. Half were dancing.

Half were—occupied.

My cheeks burned with the realization that these Unseelie indulged in their most carnal pleasures out in the open. As if they had no care in the world that everyone around them could see them lost in their lust and passion.

I forced my attention away from the moving bodies right as Olen shoved me forward. The movement caused me to stumble on the long hem of my gown.

The sound of my feet clashing against each other echoed around me. I glanced up, finding the room silent and the bodiesunmoving. My eyes continued their observations, pausing when they connected with the gaze of a man seated on the throne across the room.

The Unseelie King.

Chapter 3

My whole life I’d been told of how vile the Unseelie King was. Of his predatory smile. His sickening, decaying skin.

He was the monster who stalked the dark. The creature you’d never want to find in the shadows.

But the man sitting on the throne before me was the exact opposite of what I’d been told.

---