Page 76 of Fortress of Blood and Power

As Preston and I descended the stairs, the loud conversation and laughter ceased, guests quieting as they took in my dress. Heads dipped toward one another as winged women and horned men whispered to each other, speculating. I kept my demure smile firmly in place. Once I would have shunned such attention, seeking solitude in the human world, where anyone talking about me only meant shameful rumors and being rejected or mocked. But here? I wanted them to look. Let them fear and avoid me, or let them respect and follow me. Let them know I was not to be controlled or trifled with—that I was not meant to be a mere consort, but their queen.

I lifted my eyes again toward Garrick as Preston and I neared the last step and the crowd surged backward, parting to give us plenty of room. Normally, I would have assumed it was a sign of respect, but I knew better this time. This time, they were afraid, granting me a wide berth so as to avoid their skin accidentally brushing against my forget-me-nots. Garrick’s expression told me he wasn’t under Nerissa’s control, not yet at least. His eyes were locked on me, all-consuming. Heat licked at my cheeks as I returned his stare. I couldn’t read his expression, but I sensed he wished he could silently communicate something to me across the ballroom. That he was on my side? That he found me beautiful?

I was tired of unspoken words between us, of wishful thinking and hopes. After today, we would be free. And I ached to tell him how I felt, to see if there was even the chance of a future for us beyond friendship.

“Stay with me,” Preston muttered out of the corner of his mouth as the musicians began to play and conversations slowly resumed in earnest. Everyone we passed bowed or curtsied respectfully, their eyes barely lingering on their king before latching on me, tracing the petals gracing me from head to toe. I felt eyes burn into my back when I walked by and they glimpsed every scar carved into my skin. While the demon claw marks were a sign of what I’d survived, I wondered what their reactions were to the Stormclaw emblem. Did most think it was Preston’s right to mark me as his, lowly human that I was? Or were they repulsed by such an open display of his violence and cruelty?

I could only hope most thought the latter.

Time passed slowly as Preston escorted me in a slow circuit about the room, engaging in meaningless chatter with countless courtiers who studied me warily, offering backhanded compliments or honeyed words meant to flatter and win them my favor. I scanned the room surreptitiously any chance I had, taking note of where Aspen was perched on Juniper’s shoulder, chatting animatedly. Other rebels I recognized from the makeshift infirmary were posted about the room, looking for all the world like casual guests deep in their enjoyment of fae wine, rich food from the wide array laid out on the side tables, conversation, and dancing.

It took numerous conversations before anyone broached the topic of the flowers covering my dress. “I don’t understand the forget-me-nots,” a woman with slitted pupils that reminded me of those of a snake murmured. She flicked her gaze up and down, her lip curling in disgust. “I thought your power was supposed to dismiss the creatures back to the underworld.”

“The power in her blood will send them back and seal the entrance,” Preston cut in sharply before I could say anything. “Don’t fret about the forget-me-nots; they’re a silly human choice of hers. She knows the heavy price if she fails to close the door to the underworld.” He cast a sidelong glance at me, his eyes burning with a threat. Challenging me to dare to deny him.

I itched to show him what little effect the flowers now had on me. I longed to see the fear in his eyes when he saw his and Nerissa’s efforts had no longer leashed my power. But I wanted to wait for a moment when more of the court could see me, not here when we were in a corner of the room.

The woman sniffed, stepping back from the hem of my gown, apparently choosing to see my display as proof I was nothing but a weak human with pitiful magic. Not evidence I could overcome the flowers’ influence.

As Preston seized my elbow and led me away, the musicians launched into a new song. “Time to dance,” he muttered, and my one comfort was that he appeared as repulsed by the idea as I was.

While one of his cold hands latched onto my waist, the other grasped my hand, pulling me out onto the dance floor. I couldn’t help but wish that, like last time, someone would shoot an arrow at him and cut short this miserable show of ours. As we wove around other couples, nearing the center of the dance floor and drawing more eyes toward us, I drew a deep breath and concentrated. I pulled away from Preston, and before he could react, lifted a hand and directed icicles to form on the garland stretched overhead. They sparkled golden in the flickering light, drawing countless stares and inducing scattered gasps and whispers throughout the crowd.

Preston froze, his eyes widening with fear before narrowing in fury. He seized my wrist, yanking me toward him until I wasuncomfortably close. “You’ve made your point, Snowflake,” he hissed. “Now dismiss the ice.”

I had countless rebels on my side and a plan to fight back today. I wasn’t afraid of him. “Why?” I asked. “Afraid my showy magic will prove to your court that I’m even more powerful than they’ve been led to believe?”

Preston scowled. We ended our dance in silence, and without another word, he slunk off the floor toward his sister, leaving me free to approach the tables. Per Aspen’s advice, I selected a glass of fae wine, sipping it as I dodged the courtiers who tried to approach me with questions. If they were on my side now, they would join the rebels and me later. Otherwise, I was in no mood for more shallow conversations and false politeness.

Slowly, I edged my way toward a shadowy corner, ducking behind one of the stone pillars stretching toward the ceiling. Here, I breathed a sigh of relief as I studied the crowd, awaiting Aspen’s signal. It felt like hours had dragged by already, and I was growing more anxious as time passed.

Downing the last of the wine in my glass, I froze when I noticed a fae servant slip through the crowd, approach the queen, and dip his head to whisper. Nerissa stiffened, spoke briefly to her brother, and then quietly vanished through one of the doors with the servant. I frowned, wondering what news she’d been given. Did anyone suspect the rebels’ plans, or did it have to do with the war? Preston made his way through the crowd, playing the role of charismatic host as if he wanted to do everything he could to distract his guests from noticing his sister’s absence.

And Garrick was nowhere to be seen. I set my empty glass down on the floor behind the pillar and sank against the wall, letting the chill emanating from the stone seep through my dress and cool my heated skin.

“I suppose you can learn all you need to know about a party if the guest of honor is hiding,” a low voice said at my side.

I startled, turning to see Garrick leaning against the wall nearby, his gold eyes luminescent in the shadow cast by the pillar. “You managed to slip away too,” I said, grinning.

“You look...” Garrick hesitated, tipping his head as he scanned my form, as if he hadn’t already stared at me the entire time I’d entered the ball. “Ethereal.”

Hoping he couldn’t see the blush staining my cheeks, I settled back against the wall, turning my tone playful. “Ethereal? Whatever do you mean?”

Garrick stepped closer, his voice pitching lower. “I think you know, Starlight.”

My heart slammed into my chest as wild and hopeful thoughts spun through my head. “Garrick,” I whispered, “will you dance with me?”

Regret flashed in his gaze. “I can’t.”

My eyes darted about our concealed space. “Then not out there. Here.”

Garrick shook his head. “It’s not that.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against the wall, keeping a careful distance between us. “They forbade me to touch you at all. Even if I only touched your sleeve or put my hand on your waist.” His throat worked as he swallowed. “It's another test of my obedience when I have free will, and you know what they'd do if I failed it. I can’t be the one to hurt you again.”

My heart sank. Of course Preston and Nerissa were still playing their sick games, making the rules even stricter when they suspected I would be more tempted than ever to touch Garrick. “Then let’s dance like we would in the mortal world, only never holding hands.” I stepped forward, turning to the side and pulling my arm close against my hip.

He blinked, as if recalling some of the dances he’d witnessed at the ball in my hometown, the night we first met. How did it already feel so long ago, when only days had passed? He mimicked my stance, stepping up beside me and keeping his own hand held carefully away so it wouldn’t graze mine accidentally. We moved slowly to the music, circling one another and then reaching out our hands as we spun together—never holding hands, never even letting them brush. Our bodies never collided as we stepped near enough that I could feel his warmth, but stayed far enough apart that I could only dream of him pulling me in, dancing with me as Preston had.

“See?” I said with a grin as we paused across from one another, the song coming to an end. “We can still dance as friends.”

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