Page 48 of The Coveted
I locked eyes with the man from before, the one carrying a fresh tray of elixir.It’s the dress,he said, as if reading my thoughts.You can see the Goddess in it. But you have to be able to recognize Her… otherwise it feels like something you never knew you wanted—confusing in its unplaceable familiarity and perplexing in its sense of profound wholeness. The lost witches don’t know why they’re drawn to its magick… they just are. Be careful, Áine.
His words melted away before they could take root. I had no idea how long we’d been dancing, but my legs felt like gelatin and my face hurt from smiling. I let myself get swept up in the magick, and it was a much-needed break from the usual chaos that reigned over my mind. These were not my people, and this was not my home, but getting lost in something bigger than myself was still a breath of relief. My soul longed for community.
And that was why I couldn’t wait to follow the servant’s map to my first Solstice worship since my mothers were alive. This was the next piece of the puzzle, falling into place when I needed it the most.
I was pulled from my thoughts at the prickle of hairs rising on the back of my neck. I followed my sixth sense, turning just as Renata rose to her toes again, this time locking lips with Daelon.MyDaelon. He tensed, but soon his hand was in her long brunette hair as his lips engulfed hers. When he pulled back, his eyes immediately found mine even as he held her to him, his hand still on the back of her head.
Intensity rose in my gut, and suddenly sparks rained down from the ceiling. I paled, sucking in a deep breath as the whole room looked up at the chandeliers—everyone but Daelon, whose gaze on me was unwavering. I looked away, meeting Sebastian’s eyes instead, as I fought against my power.
“Looks like sparks are truly flying with those two again,” Sebastian laughed. “Though I don’t think it’s ever been from romance.” He raised his brows, realization striking his features. “Well, you know how the Commander is, don’t you?”
This wasn’t helping. “No. I have no idea.”
He dipped me, stroking my cheek. “It’s not my thing, don’t worry. I prefer women to look like they’re enjoying themselves.”
I swallowed as he brushed his thumb against my lips, leaning down again to kiss me.
I forced a smile. “I’m sorry, but I think I need a break. I’ll be right back. Promise,” I said.
“Of course,” he said, though a bit of disappointment clouded his eyes. “Hurry back to me.”
The energy had shifted with my mood, snaking into a darker side of the erotic. As I moved through the orbits of witches, dancing and touching each other, they looked more animalistic than before. They were like the hardcore clubbers on Earth always looking for their next fix, surrendering entirely now that they’d found it.
Lucius’s fingers were steepled at his lips, watching from his throne as I made my way through the crowd. I gave him an exaggerated curtsy, which earned me a chilling laugh I couldn’t hear over the music. Nathaniel just sneered.
I finally made it to the corridor, where the energy and music faded into some much needed quiet. I walked to the tall windows that overlooked part of the gardens, and the sky was dark save the stars and a bright, nearly full moon. Their energy reached out to the magick of my dress like they were one in the same. My heart slowed.
“You can manifest. And paint.”
So much for a tranquil moment to myself. Lucius joined me at the windows, standing far too close for my liking.
“Apparently.”
“How?” he demanded. I met his piercing blue eyes, which churned and darkened with obvious jealousy. “Those are not your gifts.”
“I don’t know how,” I sighed.
His defined jaw was tense as he stared me down. “You know, I actually believe you. You are quite clueless,little witch.”
I rolled my eyes. I wished he’d never gotten his icy, pale hands on Daelon’s pet name for me.
“You’re lucky I’m in a fantastic mood, or you’d be paying for your rudeness right now,” he said. “Daelon did a poor job teaching you respect.”
I clenched my fists.
“The dress was too much. It reeks of heresy,” he said, his tone dark. “You’re being reckless, and if you continue, people will start to question your true origin. And I will be forced to intervene.”
I wondered why he hadn’t already. “It wasn’t on purpose. No one doubts that my power comes from you.”
“Except it doesn’t,” he snapped. “It comes from the treasonous and the weak. The losers of history. But no matter. You servemenow.”
“I don’t have any names for you,” I said quietly. “Everyone here actually likes you, surprisingly.” Well, I was sure a lot of it was fear and ignorance-based admiration, but still.
His laugh was cold. “You will learn to as well, in time. In fact, I don’t care about any of that anymore.”
I drew my brows together, glancing back at him. The contours of his face were moonlit, and I had the fleeting thought that his features would be quite striking if they weren’t shrouded under a thick layer of cruelty and callousness. He was staring at the gardens now too.
“That’s… concerning,” I said, barely above a whisper. Wasn’t my ability to flatter his paranoid fantasies the whole reason I wasn’t dead yet? Just a few days ago he’d appointed Daelon as my handler and gave some very clear instructions on my purpose. What could have possibly changed?
