Page 36 of Blooms of Darkness

“It’s nice to meet you, Princess Illiana,” he said, spinning me once. “So, tell me—are all of your wildest dreams coming true? So many strong, capable, men competing for your hand. Hard to imagine there could be anything more enticing for you,” Kade teased.

“Oh, yes,” I said, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. I steeled my smile as I added, “Being auctioned off to the man with the most strength, while I have no say in the matter is definitely every woman’swildestdream. After all, what more to life could there possibly be beyond being desired by astrongman?”

Without saying a word, Kade stared at me long enough that I averted my gaze, idly surveying the room instead.

I could not do this. It only served to ignite my nerves further, knowing everyone stared. Even those dancing were looking away from their partners and shifting their gazes our way.

Kade commanded the whole damn room, even while dancing with me.

Danger lurked in his immense power. A danger that meant he’d surely cast a woman aside once he had the crown.

“Eyes on me, Princess,” he purred, “They’ll disappear into the background, and you can calm your fluttering heart.” This time, when he led me in the steps away and back together, hepulled me closer. My chest pressed against his, the lack of space between us distracting me from everything else. He angled his head toward my ear. “Unless your heartbeat is because of me, in which case, I can hardly help it.”

“Arrogance isn’t charming, Kade.” Even with the candid words, goose bumps rose along my skin. My shiver had nothing to do with the temperature, and everything to do with him.

I inhaled slowly through my nose, desperate to calm my racing heart. Stupid Fae hearing and senses noticing my body. The inhale scarcely helped as the scent of rainstorms washed over me. Damn it all, he smelled incredible.

“Have we met somewhere before?” he asked, his voice so low I nearly thought I’d misheard.

My gaze snapped to meet his. He couldn’t recognize me. We were far too careful with my disguise, and it had never slipped in his presence. “Does that line often work with your numerous admirers?”

Kade chuckled softly.

I pulled myself together, needing to change the direction of this conversation. “Anything interesting I should know about you, Kade? With your heart spread across the kingdom, shall I expect a rush of angry women at our gates soon?”

His mischievous smile grew as he licked his bottom lip.

Fates help me.

“Thinking about me in compromising positions already, Princess? How forward.”

“It’s not what I?—”

He brought a finger to my lips. “No sense in denying it.”

My eyes flared as I attempted to yank myself away from his stupidly intoxicating touch. He didn’t release me. Instead, he forced our bodies closer, so I pressed against his strong frame. He twirled us, spinning and gliding across the dance floor asif we’d been dancing together for years instead of only just meeting.

His fingers brushed against my exposed back, and I tensed, heat flooding between my legs. I needed to take the edge off, before these trials began. Somehow. I’d never been able to rely on any of the men in this Court to handle those needs.

If he weren’t so cocky and I didn’t have so many questions about his intentions, I may have enjoyed myself, the freedom of spinning around the dance floor with him. My chest heaved, my breathing faster and heavier than I wanted it to be in front of him. As we stood chest-to-chest, Kade’s gaze flicked to my lips. Something under my skin built, rumbling through my body. I’d officially gone mad. My lips parted as I stared at him, meeting his grey gaze.

His brow furrowed, only for a moment, before he blinked a few times.

The spell broke, and only then did I notice the music had stopped.

Everyonestared.

The trance Kade held me in during our dance left every single Fae surrounding us riveted.

A spectacle.

And the man before me dazzled them all by shaking off the electricity between us, ignoring their stares and flashing me a heart-clenching, blinding grin.

Chapter 11

Idropped my hand from Kade’s shoulder as though fire ignited within me, burning from the inside out.

Every protocol flew from my mind as I walked away from him without even curtsying. Fleeing to the safety of Kalliah’s side along the far-right wall, she grasped my hand, her eyes wide in wonder. The music began again, and people returned to their conversations and merriment. Kade, who had stood silently observing me walk away, had disappeared.

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