Page 72 of The Curse of a Kingdom
The ground became soft the farther onto the dance floor they went. Nava looked down, finding stained white coats and shimmery golden fabrics. She watched as the fae and humans shed their clothing. The dance floor was packed, winged people moved alongside wingless partners.
Some wore more clothes than others. She had never seen anything like it. Devon led her forward to the center of the room. Nava wasn’t sure she wanted to be so close to all these soon-to-be naked people.
She wrinkled her nose when the Crow turned to face her, lifting his brow.
“Don’t tell me you are a prude.”
“I’m not!” Nava glanced around her as the strangers of this kingdom writhed against one another in a seductive dance that looked too intimate. She took in the crowd and was astonished by how quickly the party was developing into some sort of orgy. What was going on here?
Devon held her too close for her liking, and her skin prickled with the sensation of being followed. “Don’t step on my feet.”
“Oops.” She smiled when the tip of her heel met his soft boot. “Have you come up with a way to get him out of here? Because, other than giving him time . . . I haven’t.”
“He is not leaving this place, not until he unravels whatever he’s trying to find from his past,” Devon whispered. “Unless you break the spell he is under and he somehow evolves to the man you met last year. Which is not the Arkimedes of a decade ago.”
She wiggled in her spot, feeling like ants crawled over her skin, the sensation making her lose her footing on the dance floor. “How do I break the spell? I thought the one casting it formed a counter-spell. I doubt the king will offer me the solution.”
“You’ve got that right.”
“Well, then what? Is there a way to gain back memories that were taken?” Devon nodded, and her heart stumbled on a beat. “Like-like all memories, even the ones that were taken from me?” Her voice sounded too small.
His face softened. “Cat.”
“What?”
“Yours are gone.”
She shouldn’t have asked. Nava didn’t have the luxury of falling apart in the middle of the ball. Her eyes blurred, and she deviated her gaze, focusing on anything but Devon, not wanting to see an expression that mocked her—or, even worse, pitied her.
Devon gave her a moment to collect herself, and she allowed the beautiful music to carry her sorrow, wishing she had her brother close, to get lost in one of his famous bear hugs and find solace that at least she still had him.
“So that’s it then?” Devon’s words had her mind sharpening back to this reality. “You have been gaining his trust, hoping he’d choose to leave with you in just a couple of weeks?”
She scowled. “Do you have a better plan? I’m open to even your suggestions.”
“We can poison his mind to have him kill the king and then take over the kingdom. My debt will be paid, I will be free, and this mess will be your problem.”
“You know what? I changed my mind. Your plan sucks.” She huffed. “And so we are clear, you will not be free after this.” She had to take this man back with her to the Northern Village in the Grey Island or Roman would never allow her back.
His smirk grew to one side. “Watch and learn, cat.”
“Nava is a bee, brother. Not a cat.” Arkimedes’s voice came out dangerously low.
She jumped in her spot, and Devon’s hands loosened from her body, dropping to his sides as if he knew he shouldn’t push his luck. Her skin raised into goose bumps as she turned to face Ark. This close, he towered over her, standing every inch the prince he’d turned out to be.
His aura flickered, letting her know he was not amused. His temper was not controlled, which in return made his magic act out. It was the only time she was able to see it. “I will steal your dance partner now.” It wasn’t even a question.
“I’m sure I get a say in the matter,” she grunted. However, there was a secret part of her that rejoiced at this alpha display.
Arkimedes took a deep breath, his eyes shining with a heavy dose of amusement. “Can I have this dance?” But his hand was already grabbing for hers before he even heard her answer, pulling her toward him as his wings tucked behind his back. The fairy lights bounced on his feathers, bringing out the blue iridescence shades.
She stumbled forward, steadying herself against his chest. His heartbeat drummed under her fingers, erratic beats that told her his adrenaline was pumping hard. From this close, Nava took in the woven patterns of his coat. Someone had made it, with beautiful embroidered shapes of feathers and tree branches that held no leaves, like the insignia of this house.
“I will leave then.” Devon bowed and met her gaze from the side as his lips formed the words “Get out of here.”
Arkimedes’s eyes bore into her, as if reaching for her soul. His other hand grabbed her lower back, bringing her closer to him. Her body quivered when his fingers trailed up, reaching the bare skin of her back.
She breathed as a spark traveled through her with his touch, and for a moment, it was only the two of them. Even though everyone could tell who he was by the shining crown of thorns that lay over his styled head of hair, he was still wearing a mask.
