Page 25 of A Bride for the Winter King
The silk lapels of his navy tuxedo offer a scandalous glimpse of his naked chest, his skin white—yet not pale. It glows from within, the attractive luster interrupted only by a few blue freckles at his neck.
He pushes off the wall and approaches the small stage with the swagger of a movie star. The front of his jacket hangs open, offering a jaw-dropping view of his chiseled abs and the Fae runes tattooed over his left pectoral muscle. Darker ink stalks from the mass of intricate drawings to form the shape of an eyeless skull as the corner of Elio’s mouth curls up in the shadow of a smile. “Thank you, Sara.”
The boom of his chilly voice riddles my arms with goosebumps, and my gaze trips over the hem of his tailored pants to reach the ground, my cheeks too red for my taste.
Jeez… That dude definitely spends way too much time in the gym.
Sarafina beams at him with a wide, enamored smile. “The public will vote for their favorite brides all night, and tomorrow, only twenty of them will start their travels with us.”
Elio offers the cameras a wink as he buttons up his jacket with long, nimble fingers. “Choose wisely, please.”
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth, and I’m reminded why women flock to his contest every year of their own free will. It’s not just about the apples, the money, or the clout. The Winter King is fucking gorgeous.
Death wrapped in wolf’s clothing.
His raw charisma angers me, especially knowing how heartless and dangerous he actually is.
Elio raps his fingers on the speaker next to him. “Now… let’s dance.”
Music pounds through the gigantic ballroom, and nightlights freckle the dance floor.
Seth leans into my ear, speaking loudly for me to hear him over the music. “As long as he sees you, you’re good. So make sure to catch his eye.”
The relief at getting past the blind dates challenge is short-lived, the roil in my stomach back in full-force. “You’re awfully sure of yourself. What if he sees me and doesn’t care?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not about to stake our victory on the whims of that ice cube. The next two rounds will be decided by the public, and if Elio loses his shit when he sees you as dramatically as I think he will, your resemblance to his dead queen will make sure that we stick around.” He pushes me toward the bar. “Go and grab a drink now. And remember to look pretty.”
“I hate you,” I grumble.
“You’re welcome.”
I elbow my way across the dance floor, trying to peer over the crowd and see where the king is, but I’m shorter than most of the other guests. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as I head to the bar, thirsty for some liquid courage. “A Spring tonic, please.”
The entire bar is made of ice and stretches the length of the ballroom. Rows and rows of bottles add a splash of color to the set-up, the lights shining through the orange, pink, purple, blue, and green shades of hard liquor.
I play with my fingers as the barman shakes the cocktail, my stomach coiled in a hard knot.
What the fuck am I doing here?I snatch the drink from his hands after he’s done and gulp it down in a few swigs. I usually steer clear of sweet drinks, but I’m not supposed to be familiar with Fae cocktails.
“Do you have anything stronger?” I ask.
“Eager to get drunk, eh?” he asks in a thick Irish accent.
“You could say that.”
A small chuckle escapes him as he shakes together a shadow mule. “The wedding dress’s a little much, don’t ye think?”
“My sponsor’s a big ass.” I lick my lips and grab the classic drink from the glossy countertop—about ready to turn on my heel and storm to Seth’s room for my mask so I can get the fuck out of this frozen kingdom.
The smokey, bitter aromas of the familiar drink melt on my tongue.I can do this. For Ayaan.
The Winter King leans on the other end of the bar and hails the barman, stealing him away, and my heart booms. No other bride has elected to get shit-faced, which leaves the counter mostly empty, but the horde of women hovering around Elio forms a shield between us.
He orders a drink and answers a few of their questions with a perfect air of boredom. The brazen way they encroach on his personal space coaxes a wince out of me.Can’t they read body language? The guy looks annoyed,not charmed.
It’s not the vibe I expected. Most men would jump at the opportunity to bed as many of these beautiful women as possible. Elio certainly didn’t seem shy or introverted earlier.
I tilt my head back and gulp down the rest of the shadow mule, tethering on the edge. I’ve almost made up my mind to leave when his characteristic ice-blue gaze crosses mine.
