Page 4 of Reveal Me
The opulence inside the venue was staggering. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, their prisms catching the light and scattering it in a kaleidoscope of color across the high ceilings. The walls were draped in rich tapestries, each one telling an ancient story—heroes, battles, and gods. The air smelled of vanilla, musky incense, and some faint, intoxicating scent that made my head spin.
There was every type of beauty—tall, dark, and brooding; pale-skinned and ethereal; colorful-haired with pastel eyes. They all shimmered under the candlelight, their clothes flowing gracefully, their eyes gleaming with secrets they’d never share. I took them in, my gaze drifting over their figures. And then, I locked on to the men.
They were handsome, sure. I could tell instantly who’d be good in bed—the ones whose presence alone drew a woman in like a moth to a flame, one that she knew would burn her if she dared to get too close. I found one moth, his broad shoulders set beneath a fine, tailored coat, his sharp jawline a perfect contrast to the glint of challenge in his eyes. He stood out from the rest, and I had no doubt that in the sheets, he’d make me burn.
I was about to make my move when a voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the princess who doesn’t want to be queen.”
I turned, eyes flickering up to meet the speaker. She was nothing short of stunning. Tall with molten gold skin and hair that shimmered in a way that couldn’t be natural. Her eyes—unnaturally green, glowing with an otherworldly light—pulled me in. A fae, no doubt. And like most fae, she could see that I wasn’t who I pretended to be.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Niamh.”
I raised an eyebrow. Waiting for me? A part of me was suspicious, but the other part, the part I’d long since learned to ignore, whispered that perhaps this was exactly the kind of trouble I needed.
“And you are?”
“Vaelora, the hostess with the most testosterone guidance system that you’ll ever find.”
That got a snort out of me. I liked her instantly.
“You have a duty, but I know your heart seeks something else,” Vaelora continued, her words like honey—sweet and smooth but dripping with an underlying sharpness. “I have something special for you, something that will satisfy your curiosity before duty comes knocking on your door.” Vaelora gestured elegantly toward the grand staircase at the far end of the room. “That door at the top of the stairs? Behind it lies exactly what you need. The distraction you crave.”
Now, my mama didn’t raise no fool. I was talking to a fairy. Her words were thick with promises and double meanings. For some reason, likely my future about to catch up with me, I wanted to play her game.
I shook off the doubts, feeling the pull of the unknown that had always been my constant companion. Curiosity—it always got the best of me—nudged me forward. A distraction. That’s exactly what I needed right now.
So I dipped my head in thanks and took her direction. The sly smile I gave her was meant to convey that I wasn’t intimidated or fooled. But boy oh boy was I about to be proved wrong. Without another word, I turned toward the staircase.
My heels clicked against the stone steps, each sharp sound echoing in the otherwise still corridor. The excitement inside me bubbled, rising with every step, each one bringing me closer to the door—toward whatever awaited on the other side. With a steadying breath, I opened it.
What lay beyond wasn’t a luxurious bedchamber or the secret den I’d expected. No, it was a forest. A real, live forest. Thick trees rose up around me, their branches whispering in the wind. But that’s not what beckoned me through the door. It was the scent of the flowers.
The bitter tang of poison ivy. The sweet undertones of hemlock. The earthy tang of damp soil mingled with the cool, crisp bite of the night air. It smelled like… me. My senses wereoverwhelmed, the fragrances of both beauty and danger pulling at me, coaxing me toward the forest.
I took a step forward and immediately felt a sharp tug. I felt myself being pulled. The world around me spun, the edges of reality blurring like a bad dream. The warmth of the room faded, and suddenly, I was falling—no, being sucked—into the space, the air humming with ancient magic.
I blinked and immediately recognized my surroundings. I was at the Crossroads portal. And then I was being pulled again. A second portal jump.
I gasped, panic rising in my chest, but it was too late. The pull was too strong. I hadn’t even been ready for this, but I’d never been ready for anything in my life, had I?
When I opened my eyes again, I had no idea where I was. Well, no factual idea. But I had a logical suspicion.
All around me were poisonous plants. Above me, the sky did not look like the one I’d looked up at every night of my twenty-five years on Earth. No, this sky was from an entirely different galaxy, and I bet I knew which one. I bet I knew which planet. I’d bet my weight in arsenic that I was on Panthera.
That damn tricky fairy!
Chapter 2
Dion
The lingering scent of sweat and desire hung in the air. It was a tantalizing reminder of the pleasures of the night before. With a languid stretch, I rose from the bed, feeling the warmth of the sheets clinging to my skin before reluctantly releasing their hold.
My muscles rippled beneath my skin as I moved. I should be tired after pleasuring two—no. I looked back and remembered there was a third body beneath the sheets. None of the women stirred. I’d satisfied them all. Many times over.
Energy coursed through my veins in the sunlight. I didn’t feel an ounce of tiredness. I felt ravenous. Like none of the hunger inside me was slaked.
The panther within me stirred, its instincts sharp and alert. The beast was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Except there were no challenges.
