“Enjoying the show?”
I started, blushing furiously. My heart was thumping and my breaths were little gasps at my lips. My face burned at my longing for Laphaniel.
“You look lost,” said the fey, his bronze eyes as wicked as his grin. “Can I offer you a drink?”
He offered me a goblet, his lips lifting to reveal sharp incisors. I glanced at the cup and then to the short horns that peeked out from his curling blond hair. I shook my head.
“I'm not supposed to drink that.”
He sat beside me, stretching his long legs in front of him. “Do you always do everything you are supposed to do?”
“I wouldn't be here if I did.”
He laughed, his eyes glinting, his lips stained red. I could smell the sweetness of the wine on his breath, the ripeness of the berries, the tang of something dark and forbidden, the undertones of broken promises.
“It will be more fun if you join in,” he said, swirling the wine in his glass. “Did you know we can smell the fear coming off you? It will only be a matter of time before it overexcites someone. You don't want to get hurt, do you?”
I went to move away, though there was nowhere I could really go. “I'm waiting for Laphaniel, leave me alone.”
“You are alone,” the fey cooed. “I was just being friendly; my name is Gabriel.”
He took my hand even though I hadn't offered it, pressing his lips against my skin.
“Angelic,” I replied, the echo of his kiss lingering at my hand.
“Do you think?” His teeth glinted in the low light, tips of pointed canines peeking through his lips.
“I think you'd sooner damn me.” I said, pulling my hand back.
“And what fun we would have. Allow me just the one dance? You cannot spend your first Faerie Ball merely watching.”
Gabriel offered me his hand, strange amber eyes peering out from behind his curls, a smile dancing at his lips, just hinting at the devil that was lurking beneath his charming mask. Laphaniel was still nowhere in sight, and the golden haired fey was right...it wouldn't be long before something else noticed I was alone and unguarded.
I placed my hand in Gabriel's, swallowing as his fingers closed over mine and he swept me over to the dance floor. He reached for a goblet of wine held up by a passing faerie and tipped the golden liquid into his mouth. He grinned as he pulled me close, his mouth pressing against mine as he poured the wine from his lips to my own.
Warmth burst against my throat and bloomed at the pit of my stomach, tiny sweet bubbles bursting at my nose and mouth. Gabriel deepened his kiss as my body tingled with the mouthful of wine, one hand snaking around my waist while the other caught my fist as I went to thump him.
He spun me around with expert hands, his smile never faltering. He caught me again to lift me off my feet to the pounding of the music around us. I glared at him, my own traitorous lips breaking into a smile as I gave in, throwing my head back as a laugh escaped my mouth, and danced with him.
“See? Now you're having fun,” he laughed with me, gliding around the floor with dizzying speed. Faces all blurred together as I spun with him, some wore masks and others not, revealing long muzzles and pointed teeth that snapped at me if I brushed too close.
I spotted Oonagh standing in one corner, her silver hair wild around her bare shoulders, as she lost herself in the arms of a girl with butterfly wings. She paid no attention to me...and as quickly as I had seen her, I lost her again when Gabriel waltzed me across the room until my feet were bleeding.
“Stop!” I gasped. “Stop, please.”
With a theatrical bow he stopped beside a golden table, gesturing me to sit on one of the plump velvet seats dotted around the cavernous room. I tried to catch my breath, feeling my chest strain against the restraints of my corset. I kicked my shoes off, not needing to look to know my blood had stained them red.
“You cannot say you did not enjoy that.”
“It was certainly an experience I won't be forgetting for a while,” I replied, already wanting to throw myself back into the music, although my body was begging me to rest. “Thank you for looking out for me.”
“Thank you for the kiss,” he grinned with a wink, and I rolled my eyes.
“You’re welcome, but don’t think you’ll be getting any more.”
“Worried your lover will get jealous?” Gabriel said, licking his lips. “Or worried you’ll fall helplessly in love with me?”
I snorted, leaning over to massage my sore feet, even as they continued to tap to the sound of the wild music. “Perhaps both, likely neither.”
He grinned as I smirked up at him, his hand resting on the wall above me, his bright eyes drifting to the writhing mass of bodies, itching to get back into the fray.
“What are these?” I asked, spotting the rows of minuscule bottles lined up neatly on the table near me. I picked one up, watching the contents swirl in my hand, glittering gold and red.
“Those are Goodnight Kisses,” Gabriel said. “Party favours.”
“What do they do?”
Gabriel's smile faded as he plucked the vial from my hand, turning it up towards the candlelight until the liquid turned black as if eaten up by shadows. “They put the drinker into a deep sleep until the sun rises. It is tasteless and undetectable when slipped into wine.”
“For what purpose?”
“Can you truly not think of any?” Gabriel answered, his smile dark. I shuddered, not wanting to dwell on what the fey would do with someone unable to fight back.
“You really are just monsters,” I said, disgusted, as he closed my fingers over the vial with a wicked grin.
“Yes, we are. Never forget that,” he whispered, leaning in so his words ghosted over my cheek, his breath warm and sweet. “Keep hold of those kisses, you never know when they may come in useful.”
“Have you ever used them?” I blurted out, uncomfortable with his closeness, but unable to move away from him.
He laughed again, soft and gentle and wonderful, his fingers coming up to pull the pin from my hair, so it tumbled in waves over my shoulders. “Do I look as if I have to force someone to my bed?”
“No,” I replied. “I bet they tumble over you like skittles.”
His laugh was a filthy chuckle, one that screamed of wild nights and abandoned morals and I didn’t doubt he could charm the stars from the skies if he wanted them.
“Oonagh spent an age doing my hair.” I said, gesturing to the pin he twirled in his fingers. “She’s going to be pissed you’ve ruined it.”
“Ah,” he grabbed at my hair, twisting it tightly before poking my head with the pin. “How do you get it to stay up?”
I laughed, shoving him away. “I have no idea. Leave it alone before you impale me. I won’t tell her it was you.”
“You have my unwavering gratitude, Teya,” Gabriel said, holding a hand to his heart before reaching out to me. “One more dance?”
My own smile matched his as he pulled me close to re-join the untamed swirl of fey. He twirled me with expert hands, lifting me up so my gown spun in a whirl of ripped silk and glittering beads. His hand was at my hip, the other entwined with mine as he kept a firm hold upon me, keeping me close. I spun until I felt sick, the writhing world around me nothing but a blur of flashing colour and crazy noise…but I didn’t care, the ball had an insatiable grip upon me, and I allowed it to engulf me.
I cried out as I crashed to the floor, sprawling across the marble when suddenly Gabriel’s hand was torn from mine and he staggered backwards. Blood bloomed against his skin, yet the frenzied beat of music played on, and the fey continued to dance. Violence it seemed, was all part of the ball.
I jumped up as Laphaniel raised his fist to lash out again, catching his arm before he could swing.
“Wait!” I yelled at him. “Stop! What the hell are you doing?”
“What do you think you are doing?” he snarled, turning to me, his eyes black, fury radiating from him.
Gabriel stood, wiping the b
lood from his face with his sleeve, placing a hand on my shoulder, forcing me to back away from Laphaniel. “She was enjoying herself. You left her alone. You are lucky I came across her; who knows what would have happened.”
Laphaniel shot forwards, grabbing Gabriel by the throat and smacking him hard against the wall, as I screamed at him. The candles above us guttered out, responding to his anger. The dancing fey close to us turned to watch, amusement settling over their graceful faces.
“Don’t you touch her!” Laphaniel hissed, his voice low and deadly. “She belongs to me.”
“I kept them away from her,” Gabriel spluttered, scrambling at the tight grip around his throat. “She is sober and untouched, my friend...more than I can say for you.”
“I never asked for your help.”
“Stop it!” I grabbed at Laphaniel's hand, but with a sweep of Glamour, he sent me to the floor. My knees hit the marble and I gasped with the sudden sharp pain, fighting against the weight of the angry, desperate Glamour that was pressing me down.
“You never ask anyone for help,” Gabriel croaked. “Look at the state you are in, look at the mess you have created by bringing her here.”
Laphaniel released his hold on Gabriel's neck so he slumped to the floor, bruises already forming around his throat. I rushed forwards to help him, but Laphaniel snatched at my arm, hauling me up and away from Gabriel.
“Leave her alone,” he spat, his words slurring as Gabriel looked at him with a mixture of fury and pity.
“What did you bargain for her?” he asked, his voice hoarse. I shot a look at Laphaniel, watching something pass over his face...regret...shame...disgust. He met my gaze and turned away.
Gabriel pushed himself to his feet, the marks around his neck already fading. “Take him somewhere to sober up.”
I nodded and watched him wander into the dance, the mass of bodies swallowing him up into the frenzy he seemed to enjoy so much.
“You're drunk,” I snapped, utterly furious. “Just look at you!”
Laphaniel stared at me, his head tilting to the side, a wicked quirk at his lips as if silently daring me to carry on.
“What happened?” I asked.
He blinked, and some of the darkness lifted from him so he simply looked pale and miserable. “What happened?” he breathed, stepping closer to me. “You happened.”
His words came out thick and heavy, and beneath the smell of strong liquor, he smelled of her. Looking closer I could see marks on his arms, scratches and faint bruises and when I thought my heart couldn't take any more, I noticed his shirt was buttoned up wrong.
“We need to talk.” I swallowed the lump in my throat as I wondered what he had done to bargain for me. “Right now.”
As we left the ballroom, I was aware of the glinting eyes that watched us from the mass of dancers. I ignored them as I took his hand and led him back to the room Oonagh had shown me.
Laphaniel didn't speak as we walked, his silence pounding at me in a fog of pain and fury and despair. At his sides, his knuckles were white where he clenched them tight, his face shut off to me, turning him back to the cold stranger I had met that night in the woods.
We reached the room and I made to take his hand again, but he grabbed me instead, kicking at the door so it swung open with a shriek. I barely had time to gasp before he pinned me to him, his mouth hard against mine. His hand wound up into my hair tugging tightly so I couldn't move away. I moaned softly as he backed me against the wall, the candlelight exploding, sending us into darkness as I clung to him.
They ignited again and spluttered out, flashing between life and shadow as any control Laphaniel had over his Glamour...his emotions, failed him completely. His kisses screamed to me and for just a moment, I gave into them, allowing his hands to tear at the stays of my corset, as his mouth moved to my neck, his teeth biting down at the soft flesh just above my breasts.
“Laphaniel...stop...” My head spun, a part of me wanting once again to get lost within him, that part of me wondering why I had ever fought to find my way out. “Stop.”
His eyes met mine and they were bottomless, an abyss without end. He pulled away and sank down on the bed, and finally the candlelight around the room stopped flickering.
“What happened with Luthien?”
“I asked her to let you go,” he said, his voice hollow.
“And she said no,” I said, and it wasn't a question. Laphaniel nodded as I settled down beside him. A thousand questions flashed through my mind, but only one pushed past my lips, dangling with uncertainty, sharp with jealousy. “Did she kiss you?”
“Yes.”
I tensed. “Did you kiss her back?”
Laphaniel turned to face me. “Yes.”
My eyes followed the marks on his arms, the fingerprint bruises and I felt sick. “Did you sleep with her?”
Laphaniel shook his head slowly, as if he were unsure, his hands reaching up to adjust the collar of his shirt. I noticed that there was blood on his neck.
“Did she...”
“Don't!” he snapped, rising to his feet and away from me, crashing against a bookshelf as he stumbled. “She said no, Teya. Nothing else matters.”
“It matters to me if she's had her hands all over you.”
“Why? You had your… little hands all over Gabriel tonight,” he slurred. “It…it looks as if we both wound up in someone else's arms... though you by far seemed to be having more fun.”
“If you think I’m having fun, Laphaniel, then you really don’t know me at all,” I replied, irritated, tired and terrified of what lay ahead for us. For a moment I stared at the jewelled wings of the serpents overhead, wishing I could tear them down and use them to fly far away.
“You forced me to bring you here.”
“Well, at least we can establish this is all my own fault,” I bit back. “Thank you.”
“I tried to make you stay away from here,” he said, words overlapping each other.
“You tried to force me to stay with you, Laphaniel. Maybe…”
“Maybe what?” he said, eyes flashing. “Are you blaming me now?”
I growled, the noise scratching against my throat. “I think we both did pretty well screwing this up.”
I moved towards the door, unable to stay in the same room as him without falling apart. I needed some air, space away from the frantic tempers and the sheer hopelessness of everything.
Quicker than I would have thought was possible in his state, he grabbed at my arm and pulled me back, his hand tight against me.
“You are not leaving this room without me,” Laphaniel said softly, a warning giving his words an edge. “Do you understand?”
“Why, are you going to hit me again if I disobey you?” I hissed.
He dropped his hand instantly, and I regretted the words the moment they fell from my mouth. Laphaniel backed away, his face anguished.
“I didn't mean...”
“Why don’t you just go? Gabriel seems keen on your company.”
I swallowed, hating the hurt I had caused him, but as much as I wanted to, I couldn't take back the words I had spat at him.
“I'm just going to get some air. I won't go far,” I said softly, pushing down the bitterness I felt. “Why don't you try and get some sleep and maybe we could talk some more later?"
“I tried so hard to fix this,” Laphaniel said.
“I know.” I gave a small smile before I turned away, reaching for the door. I hesitated, torn between needing space from him and needing to be with him. “This isn't your fault.”
“Yes, it is.”
I barely heard the words as I closed the door behind me, and I wondered how long we could carry on with so much blame and guilt between us. I feared that it would push everything else out, everything that really mattered. Our love was new, a fledgling beating against so much darkness and hopelessness. I didn't know if it was strong enough to endure what lay ahead. I only had a fool’s hope that it would.
Chapter
Twenty-seven
I had only wandered down the hallway a short way when the sound of my name made me pause, the word floating on the tip of music, sung only for me.
“Teya.”
My blood froze, fear rising inside me at the poisonous whisper singing my name.
“Teya.”
I spun around, but there was nothing there. Not even the candles flickered in their holders.
“Teya, little lost thing.” A breath at my ear. I tensed, feeling a hand curl around mine. “May I have a word?”
Luthien stepped out of the shadows, an enchantress in black silk. Her unfathomable eyes met mine, a half smile caressing her lips, as inside my soul cringed before her.
“What is it?” I said, my voice a quivering mess.
“I do not converse in corridors, Teya,” Luthien sighed, her hand still on mine. “Find me within the hour, and then we can talk. We have much to discuss, you and I.”
The chilling touch of her fingers melted away and she disappeared as quickly as she had come, leaving behind fear and a strange longing I couldn't place. I could not fathom what she had to discuss with me and could only guess that she hoped to torment me more. It would have been tempting to crawl back into Laphaniel's arms, but although Luthien had sounded courteous, I was certain her request was a thinly veiled demand. What happened to those who disobeyed the Almost-Queen of Seelie?
With heavy dread, I realised I didn't know where Luthien's drawing room was, and in a mansion as enormous as hers, it could take days to wander the labyrinth of corridors and stairs and still never find her. Letting out a growl of frustration, I tore down the hall with my skirts in my hands, seeking out someone...anyone who would show me the way. I was hoping to find Oonagh, or even Gabriel, but as I found my way back to the great hall with its frantic pulse of music and dancers, I found neither.
I did find Nefina.
“It is not safe to run around this house, little thing, you may get eaten.”
“And wouldn't you just love to see that,” I snapped, clutching at my side where a stitch was forming. Nefina curled her lip, her blue eyes darkening as she stepped closer to me.
“Oh, I would,” she purred. “More than you know.”
Darling, There Are Wolves in the Woods Page 21