Page 49 of Nightmare's Dance

What I wouldn’t give to possess her heart like the knight did. Nothing about the anger I’d felt when I’d found out about us being bound by our little game had me prepared for the complete desire I had for her now.

She shifted her position, and I made myself focus on melding with the shadows and staying out of sight. A task that was as natural as breathing and required next to no attention.

“Nic,” she whispered in my ear.

Bloody hell. I couldn’t hide the shiver that trembled through me as her breath tickled my skin.

“Yes, luv?”

“Are you okay?”

“Fine. We’re here.” I supposed I hadn’t answered her when she’d asked me a few minutes ago. Grateful I could distract her from that line of questioning, I studied the hallway below us.

“Baz mentioned a trap.” She continued to torture me with the feathery touches of her lips on my skin.

“The jester is investigating. I don’t sense anything through the shadow essence.”

The dream being stepped from wherever his abilities had hidden him and gestured for me to come down.

“Hold on,” I whispered.

Ember’s grip tightened. She was so incredibly strong from her lifetime of aerial that my ribs protested, and I had to soften my body a little to compensate. She squeaked.

“I won’t let you fall,” I assured her, wrapping a few tendrils of shadow around her. She loosened her grip, and I lowered us to the ground, using the wall to steady myself while I held Ember against me. Oh, how I wanted to turn and shove her back against the wall, with those muscular legs wrapped around me…

I jerked my attention away from how good her body felt pressed against mine and helped her stand until she adjusted to being on her own two feet again. The jester shot me a knowing look. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he held out his hands placatingly.

Ember stared at the door as if she could sense her knight behind it. Maybe she could? It wasn’t out of the question, but I didn’t want to know the answer.

“Is it strange that they don’t have a guard at the door?” Ember asked, twisting her hands together.

“Not necessarily. It depends on how easily they think you can find your knight. There are many places to stash prisoners in this castle.” Uneasy, but unable to figure out why besides the current situation, I acknowledged the feeling and set it aside.

“It depends on if they already know you’re involved or not, your highness,” the jester said. “It appears they don’t, in which case they’re expecting Ember to come in the front door, as it were, instead of through the mirror, as they have Mary neutralized for the moment. They may not realize how she escaped and think she’s still wandering in Nightmare and they’re hoping to lure her back.”

I nodded. “Probably. It should be obvious to Baz that either myself or Dio have gotten involved, but so far it doesn’t seem like he’s figured that out. Very odd.”

“As I am a mere jester and not royalty like the two of you, I will take the risk of opening the door.”

I motioned for him to proceed.

With a mocking bow, the jester went over to the door and put his hand over the keyhole.

“Be careful, Robby,” Ember breathed.

“Of course, Spark,” he replied, much more seriously.

The click of the tumblers was loud in the silence. Ember clenched her fists. Robby pulled his hand away from the lock and tugged on the iron ring. The heavy wooden door creaked open.

I didn’t even have to look inside to know Ember’s knight was in terrible shape. She covered her mouth with her hands, and her skin blanched.

“If you will allow me to give an order,” the jester said. “You should remain outside. Just in case.”

I inclined my head as regally as I could manage under the circumstances.

“Go on, Spark,” Robby said.

She rushed inside, the jester following closely.

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