Page 210 of Fated or Knot

I made sure to shut my mouth so I didn’t gape at him as a sense of awe filled me. The dress, the spring-themed event… “We’re redoing how we met.”

He flashed his fangs in a mischievous smile. “With a different ending, I hope.”

Surely my eyes twinkled with excited stars as I took his arm. I’d been a frightened spirit back then, a depleted ghost of myself with a painful limp. Fal had been a shock, somethingotherI’d been trained to fear.

It’d be nice to smudge the lines of the past. Take away the fear, the pain, and the uncertainty, to replace it with love and new beginnings. Andpack, as we entered the event with my other three mates right behind us. “Pack Sorles,” Fal said to the servants at the gates. He barely broke his stride. Instead of checking the guest list for our names, they simply bowed and gestured us on.

As we passed through the gates, the gardens seemed to grow three times the size. Blooms gilded with essence opened our way, and the faelight insects buzzed like real ones. Treesunfolded from out of nowhere. Faelights shaped like owls hooted amongst their branches. “Whoa. Is this an illusion?” I asked.

“Aye. The Revantee Pack is a kitsune family. They always have impressive illusory work at their events,” Fal explained.

As he spoke, a cluster of flowers grown to about shoulder height unfurled their petals. Each contained a glittering letter on the inside to spell out: “Welcome revelers!”

“Fascinating.” This was a murmur of admiration from Kauz. If he was impressed, it was definitely well done.

We made our way into the mansion, and were greeted and pointed in the right direction by house moths and guards, all wearing the white and red of Duke Revantee. The flow of revelers slowed in the narrower halls, leaving me to do the same thing as many others. I admired the art on display. Antique paintings, vases, and collections under glass cases were all set out for us along the way. Probably on purpose as a flaunt of wealth.

I also chatted idly with my mates as we shuffled toward the main event. They’d come to surround me amongst this crowd and I had a feeling that was also on purpose. Marius in particular stayed alert of our surroundings. Our kelpie bond thrummed with his protective instincts, right next to his feral impulse to scoop me up and plonk me back in my nest to start my heat in privacy.

In a way, it was too bad that wasn’t the plan. In another, once we reached the party, my worries and the ache in my core faded to background noise. The live orchestra was heard throughout the mansion, but as we filed into the vast, open space of the ballroom, the music was loud enough to resonate in my soul. I tilted my head back with a coo. The ceiling had to be another vast illusion, as it seemed there was no roof, only a night sky with stars to rival the dreamlands. There had to be a real ceiling up there somewhere, as the hanging garlands of flowers and goldenlanterns had to be tied to something. Their floral fragrance colored the air.

“There’s a lot of fae here,” I murmured, mostly to myself, once I was done admiring the decorations. Maybe not as many as the Omega Masquerade, but there were certainly more alphas and betas, since the masquerade imposed a few rules to shape the crowd. Here, there were clusters of full packs, but also of gossiping omegas with their mates in other corners, catching up over refreshments.

“Remember, they’re celebrating us. They just don’t know it,” Fal said, patting my arm. He was the only mate that stayed with me. At some point during my gawking, the other three had disappeared into the crowd. “How about we dance. It’s early, so the floor isn’t too crowded.”

Hmm, this felt familiar. “I still don’t know how,” I answered.

Tilting his head, he echoed what he’d said the fateful night we’d met. “Is that so? It’s not difficult.” After a moment’s pause, he added, “It shouldn’t be long before the next song.”

We waited at the edge of the dance floor. Stars, I was still in trouble. I really wanted to kiss that mischievous smile and see if the magic masking his scent would also change how he tasted. Honestly, I already knew he’d taste like wildflowers, sunshine, and every lusty thought I kept tamped down out of sheer force of will. And I craved him anyway.No, bad Lark. Don’t let your pre-heat ruin your fun tonight.

The music rose to a peak before starting to fade. He led me onto the dance floor and bowed over my hand. Our gazes met as a new song began, and despite the other couples around us and the murmur of many dozens of voices, my focus narrowed. I saw only Fal, the grace of his form, the eternal confidence in his expression, and the way he looked at me that had my heart threatening to melt.

“Move with me and relax. I’ll do the work,” he said in an undertone. He placed my hand on his shoulder and cupped my lower back, drawing us into the dance together. There was not a foot of propriety between us. Maybe three inches, as a generous estimate. Just enough space that our clothes didn’t brush.

Without the silencing band crippling half my steps, dancing was remarkably easier than what I remembered. With Fal’s guiding hand, I didn’t fumble. The rhythm of the music matched the cadence of our steps. I was light as air. I was trulydancing.

My excitement spiked, filling my blood with effervescent bubbles. I could see why Fal loved to do this, and why he sought out more challenging ways to express himself through song and dance. Maybe with a lot of practice, I could join him. Until then, being pressed up against him, moving in sync, was blissful. As soon as the first song ended, we went straight into a second.

“Feel like being shown off more directly, love?” He asked this as he looked over my shoulder and lifted his chin toward a few male voices calling his name. “As long as they don’t touch you, I think I could introduce you to some of my friends.”

“Maybe a bit,” I answered. “You’re going to know a lot of the fae here, aren’t you?”

“Aye. You tend to amass acquaintances when you talk as much as I do.” He winked at that. “A bit it is, though. I don’t want to overwhelm my shy mate.”

I nibbled on my lower lip. “It doesn’t bother you, does it?”

“Stars, no. Quite the opposite,” he said immediately. “I have peace of mind knowing that, if given the chance, you’re most likely tucked in your nest with a book. Or off gallivanting in the wilderness with Tormund. I’ve heard from him in exceptional detail about how you took a shine to your new horse.”

I brightened at the mention of Stella. “And vice versa. I think she and I really clicked.”

“Nowhere between reading and horseback riding do I hear ‘befriending unknown, potentially dangerous fae.’ That is, unfortunately, something I’ve done way too much of.”

“Were they actually dangerous?”

“Oh, aye. I inherited enemies the moment I was born, and you will have them too. It's a drawback of your royal status. Many, many others will want what you have, and sometimes they come for it with a smile on their face and a knife hidden behind their back.” He paused as he read my expression. I’d latched onto him in sudden worry. For both of us, and our family too. “This is all why I was trained to read intentions so well. As your lord, all who approach you must first talk to me. No fears,mo stór.”

“No fears,” I echoed in agreement.

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