Page 10 of The Coveted
My imagination lit up thinking of what sort of special things could happen in this place. Before I could ask, Taryn linked my arm in hers and led me to one of the servers.
She grabbed two shimmering gold drinks and thanked the woman, who didn’t take her eyes off of me until someone else called her over. “We’re going to need a drink before we talk to these people.”
I laughed, grateful we were on the same page. I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had worked its way into my gut. No matter how beautiful the décor, I knew I was surrounded by enemies. I needed to learn more about their way of life.
“So, everyone here is the Kingdom’s elite?” I swirled the glass straw around my tall glass, watching the golden contents sparkle like some kind of magickal glitter or shrunken stars. I realized I had absolutely no idea what this was, but I assumed it was safe if everyone else was having it.
Taryn shrugged, taking a sip. “Aradia’s most powerful, their status passed down through generations.” Her energy stirred, contrasting with the boredom in her features.
“Including you?” I asked. Taryn didn’t feel like an enemy, but I guessed that wasn’t something that would necessarily be apparent.
She faltered, conflicted. “You don’t seem like the witches here,” she said, sipping her drink once more. At first, I was confused by her deflection, but then I saw the yearning in her aura for honesty, revealed through timid blue hues.
I mirrored her, tasting the liquid’s mixture of tart and sweet, like crisp green apples with a kick. “Because I’m not. You know I’m not,” I said, my eyes probing. I wanted her to trust me.
She nodded, something intimate, and almost imperceptible passing between us. Like our souls recognized each other’s, somehow. “Well, neither am I. I was adopted into this life,” she said, glancing around. “My parents were infertile, which I think was no accident. They were cruel and demanding. I never seemed to live up to their expectations, no matter how hard I tried. I think they resented I wasn’t their flesh and blood, and that the blood I did have was… well, you know. Undesirable.”
I creased my brows, trying to follow. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand, hyperaware of all the stares directed our way. Was Taryn from the same place I was from? Or maybe the same place as Daelon? Was that why Nathaniel called her a heretic? I took another drink. A pleasurable tingling sensation crawled lazily up my spine. This didn’t feel like alcohol.
“They’re dead now,” she said, averting her eyes. “They were mean, but they did give me a better life. One I never would’ve been able to have otherwise. If not for them I might’ve been the one serving you a drink. I mean, I don’t even have any interesting gifts or special power that would’ve helped me change my station. So here I am, and fuck anyone who has a problem with it.”
She grinned, clinking glasses with me. I could tell from her reluctant aura that she was feeling vulnerable, so I offered a reassuring smile.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said softly, and she blushed. I swallowed down another sip. “Um, what exactly is in this?” I asked, almost to the bottom of the glass. I tasted more than just flavor in its shimmers, like it was liquified energy. Really,reallygood energy. A warmth spread from my stomach to my chest, enveloping me and my magick in a blanket of pleasure.
Before she could answer, a booming voice sounded from behind me. “What are you two clucking about?” It was Nathaniel, much to our mutual displeasure.
Taryn smiled coolly. “How tiny your dick is,” she retorted without missing a beat.
“Charming. But you’ve never been areallady, have you?” He moved in, standing a little too close to me as he towered over Taryn and glared down at her.
I felt a hand at the small of my back. Daelon appeared on the other side of me, and his fingers subtly guided me to take a step toward him and away from Nathaniel before leaving my skin. I felt the warmth spread to my face, but no one seemed to notice this miniscule gesture.
“Lucius wants Áine to meet some people at the throne,” Daelon said. He eyed the drink in my hand. “How many of those have you had?”
Taryn rolled her eyes dramatically. “It’s our first. Chill. Well, let’s go then.”
Nathaniel turned on his heel and walked with purpose, Taryn trailing close behind. She cast a glance back at me, no doubt analyzing the way Daelon was on me like glue.
“You shouldn’t be drinking those,” he whispered close to my ear, his fingers brushing against my wrist.
I pulled it away, staring straight forward. My inclination to be angry was mellowing out though, as I tuned into the pleasure of the drink and all of the energy that danced around me. I was struggling to remember why I was ever angry in the first place.
“Everyone else is drinking it, Daelon. You can’t order me around anymore.”
“As much as I do quite enjoy ordering you around for the sake of it, that’s hardly the point. This drink isn’t going to sit well with a witch like you, trust me. It’s not a good idea.”
I ignored him. I felt too good right now to let him bring me down. As we approached the witches gathered around the throne, all eyes were on me. I wondered how long it would be like this.
“There’s our lost orphan,” Lucius exclaimed, nearly throwing the woman who was perched in his lap to the floor with a burst of magick. She stumbled before taking up her new position to the left of the throne.
Every fiber of my being tightened and clenched, but anger was hard to hold onto right now. I glanced at Daelon, who reluctantly moved away to stand before Lucius.
Lost orphan?I asked Daelon telepathically.
Just go with it. And be respectful, please,he instructed before cutting off the communicative channel.
I forced a smile, deciding to play it cool until I could figure out what the hell I was supposed to be doing. It felt like Lucius was setting me up to fail by continuing to keep me in the dark, and at the same time establishing near-impossible standards about keeping my gifts hidden.
