Page 83 of Sweet Nightmares
Jane screamed with frustration inside her head. It was going to be her chance to ask the necklace what happened to her mother after she entered the mirror. She’d never been seen again, and Jane needed to know the truth.
“I do not allow other magic in my domain,” Dracy said, his tone dark and threatening. Jane narrowed her eyes. It wasn’tthat he was a soft man. He wasn’t, but this seemed like an act. Draven Dracy Hawthorne was a villain, oftentimes worse than Nightmare, but he was also fair, unlike Nightmare.
“Nightshade, stop scaring her.” Jane folded her arms.
“Is that your name?” Quinnevere asked.
The side of his lips turned up. “It’s one of them.” He turned back to Jane. “You will remain silent for the rest of our adventure.”
It was a command but not a binding one. Jane smirked. “As you wish, oh terrifying one.”
Nightshade glowered, clearly not amused. Jane simply smiled back. Two could play this game.
“Now, you.” He angled his head, his gaze devouring Quinn like prey. “You’ve come here to avoid getting bad luck, so what do you want?”
“How do you know that?”
“I am a god, little ballerina. The things I know would rattle your bones and rip apart your heart.”
“I think I should leave now.”
A muscle in his jaw feathered. “If you leave now, you will incur the seven years of bad luck, and you and I both know that you wouldn’t make it into the ballet if that happened.”
“Okay, then.” Quinnevere paused, her hands trembling, but she tried to cover it up with determination. “What do you offer?”
“What do you want?”
“Aren’t you going to offer to make my dreams come true? To give me unending beauty or eyes that make everyone fall in love with me, or a life filled with no pain, or wealth that won’t dry up or magic or something?”
A wicked sneer climbed up his face. “I could give you all those things, but why would I offer you any of that when I know you wouldn’t accept it?” He cracked his neck almost as if irritatedwith how much of his time she was wasting. “You’ve come here, so what doyouwant?”
Quinnevere sucked in a visible breath. “Is Jane truly your friend?”
“Yes.”
“She pulled me in here so I wouldn’t face horrible consequences.”
Jane opened her mouth to respond, but Darcy narrowed his eyes at her, and she closed her mouth.
“Interesting. That would depend on how well you can bargain.” Darcy’s tone was like a dark, smooth whiskey. “What is it you want?”
After a long, long pause, where thoughts flashed across Quinnevere’s face like a silent picture show, she finally said, “I want to have an emotional expression in my dancing, but I am not willing to pay the cost and the consequences for that.”
She crossed her arms protectively over her chest.
Darcy rubbed his chin. “Here is the only deal I will offer you. I will give you the ability to express emotion in dance. I will give you such incredible artistry that no one can look away—if, and only if, you passionately kiss the prince you despise so much.”
“Nightshade, what are you doing?” Jane cut in, her eyebrows crinkling. He was fucking ridiculous. Was he punishing Jane for bringing her sister in here? Darcy knew she wanted the prince as far away from her sister as possible.
“Quiet, Red,” the god growled.
Jane threw her hands up in mock surrender but said under her breath, “I thought you two had settled your issues.”
“Anyway, Quinnevere,” Darcy’s voice was rough, “kiss the prince with passion, and I will give you everything you want.”
“I can’t kiss Emrys,” Quinnevere gasped out.
“And yet, it is the only deal I will make with you.” His grin sharpened like the edge of a dagger. “Take the deal or receive seven years of bad luck.”
