by K. M. Shea
The wizard set her hand on the werewolf’s shoulders. “He let her feed him. Have you ever seen Killian Drake eat or drink in public before?”
“Not in the Regional Committee of Magic meetings,” the werewolf said.
Both women swung their gazes back to me and studied me intently.
I fidgeted. “Um…I’m sorry, who are you?”
“I apologize—where are our manners?” the wizard laughed.
“I guess we were too excited,” the werewolf grinned. “Oh, hello Celestina.”
Celestina bowed her head slightly and moved to stand just behind my shoulder. “Adept Medeis, please allow me the honor of introducing you to Pre-Dominant Harka and Adept Bellus.”
Now it was my turn to gawk at the pair. Pre-Dominant Harka was the top werewolf in the Midwest, and served on the Regional Committee of Magic as the werewolf representative. Pre-Dominants came directly under the Dominant—the highest-ranking werewolf in North America. And Adept Bellus was—obviously—the Adept of House Bellus, but I knew her name because her husband was the Elite—the top wizard in the region.
I was basically rubbing elbows with political royalty.
“The honor is all mine,” I faintly said.
“Committee meetings are going to be so much more fun now,” Pre-Dominant Harka said.
“You can sit with Beta Colton and I—he’s Pre-Dominant Harka’s very recently announced fiancé.” Adept Bellus winked and nudged Pre-Dominant Harka, who had turned a lovely shade of crimson.
“Killian and I—that is to say the Eminence and I—are still…sorting our relationship out,” I evasively explained. “I don’t know that we’re at the point, yet, where I feel like I could attend the meetings.”
“Don’t be silly, dear,” Adept Bellus said. “He brought you here. We may as well begin ringing wedding bells.”
I laughed, but internally I hoped Killian knew what he was doing with this little act of ours.
“I should introduce you to my husband,” Adept Bellus said. “I’m sure he’ll be very keen to meet you.”
“You mean he’ll hope she could tame Killian’s ruthlessness?” Pre-Dominant Harka suggested.
Adept Bellus laughed. “I never said that!”
“I don’t think Killian could ever truly be…er…tamed,” I said. (The trick to making our little play believable was to inject just enough realism in it to make it realistic.)
Pre-Dominant Harka nodded. “He must be strong to remain the Eminence of the Midwest.”
We all nodded wisely—as if repeating folksy wisdom—until Gavino skidded to a stop next to me.
“Miss—that is—please excuse me, Pre-Dominant Harka, Adept Bellus.” Gavino bowed politely. “But His Eminence has need of Adept Medeis.” Gavino refrained from touching me, but he herded me away from the ladies and off in the direction Killian had gone.
“Excuse us, ladies!” I called to the pair.
They looked amused as they waved farewell, and Gavino and Celestina herded me away.
“I was doing fine,” I muttered to Gavino. “Killian doesn’t need to worry.”
“His Eminence is not worrying,” Gavino hissed. “Rather, we’re worrying about His Eminence, and we need you to stop it!”
“Stop what?”
Gavino stopped edging me forward when we reached a cleared section of the ballroom dance floor. “Oh, boy,” I whispered, my lips numb.
Chapter Fifteen
Hazel
In the center of the open space was Killian, his eyes extra black and his expression murderous as Josh stood at his back, guarding him.
Standing just in front of Killian was a beautiful woman in a big skirted black dress, wearing a black crown that was so large I wondered if it made her neck hurt. Between the black dress and the glowing diamond necklace she wore—and paired with her coppery skin tone and slightly tapered fae ears—I was willing to bet my week’s desserts that she was the Night Court Queen, particularly given that Consort Ira stood just behind her shoulder.
I stepped into the empty circle around them, wincing at the sensation of palpable tension and hatred that crawled up my spine. But Killian’s hand lingered near his hip where I knew he had a gun holstered. And while Celestina might have said it was impossible to fight here in the Regional Committee of Magic’s realm, she didn’t say what the consequences were for attempting it. I was betting it was not pretty—even for a Committee member and the Eminence of the vampires.
I was aware of the stares drilling in my back as I approached the standoff. “Killian,” I called out to him to warn that I had arrived. (The last thing I needed was for him to think I was one of the Night Court’s minions and accidentally deck me.)
I touched his hand when I reached him—it was icy cold, but at least he didn’t withdraw. “Are you enjoying yourself?” I leaned into his arm and glanced at the Night Court Queen and Consort, then made a show of tapping my cheek for a few moments before brightening. “Consort Ira, is that you?”
“Killian,” the queen of the Night Court snarled—I think Killian and the Paragon had called her Queen Nyte. “This is a discussion for the important. Send your dog away.”
The muscles in Killian’s arms hardened. “You insult Hazel?”
“You care?” Consort Ira sneered. “Is she not a mere human? Your play may work against the stupid and the idyllic, but we know to you humans are only for food and servants.”
“You weave an impressive web of lies.” Queen Nyte smiled. “But it will not delay your destruction. I can only imagine the squeals your dog will make as it dies.” The queen gave me a look seeped in hatred. My instincts screamed at me to step back and retreat, but I placidly forced myself to stand my ground.
Killian’s smile was terrifying. “Are you proposing all-out war?” Killian started to move his free hand under his jacket, probably reaching for his gun.
Ohhhh boy. We were escalating fast—I had to throw on the brakes somehow because Queen Nyte clearly had no idea what danger she was in.
I sighed and briefly leaned my arm against his shoulder. “I honestly would have expected a higher quality of insult. Calling me a dog is so easy it borders on overdone.” I mournfully gazed at the queen as if she had let me down. I then purposely turned my back to her and stood directly in front of Killian. Thankful for my high heels that made me a bit taller, I linked my arms around his neck. “Killian, this is boring and so predictable it takes all the fun out of it. Why can’t you introduce me to Elite Bellus?” The final touch in communicating my utter disregard for the queen had me more nervous than Queen Nyte herself. I tugged Killian down a bit and stood on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
Killian settled both of his hands on my waist. I held my breath for a moment, until he broke eye contact with the rulers of the Night Court and looked down at me. He didn’t quite soften his expression—I could still feel the tense set of his shoulders—but when he looked at me I saw more glimmers of red in his black eyes, which was a good enough start.
He leaned over—I thought to return the cheek kiss, but he kept going down. I almost jumped out of my skin when he kissed my neck—slowly, as if he reveled in it. His lips were a brush of coolness in the heat my magic—and worry—produced, and matched with the way his hands crept up my back, it felt a thousand times more intimate than my cheek kiss.
It took every ounce of control I had to stay in place as he sighed against my neck, and I was so grateful for my skirts, which hid my wobbling knees. There was something about having an apex predator so close to my neck that made my instincts scream, but my brain was pretty confused because it also recognized Killian as an oversized tissue I had recently spent the night slumped against.
What was going on?! My body howled at me—trying to decide if adrenaline or a blush was necessary.
Killian straightened. “If that’s what you want.”
“What?” I intelligently asked.
He let me go long enough to take my hand and led me away from the fuming monarchs a
t a slow walk, Josh right behind us.
“Eminence,” Queen Nyte hissed.
Killian ignored her, and together we rejoined the rest of the attendees, seemingly breaking the spell on the area so everyone returned to chattering—overly bright this time. When I caught a few people still staring at us, they sheepishly looked away, as if to show they hadn’t all been gawking moments ago.
I let out a whoosh of air and craned my neck, trying to see through all the tall werewolves and vampires. It took me a moment, but I saw Celestina and Gavino. Gavino gave me a discreet thumbs up while Celestina winked at me before they both skirted around us to join Josh at our backs.
I finally let myself relax, all the tension leaking from my frame. “Well, that was something.”
Killian didn’t respond. He seemed to be purposefully guiding me through the crowds—maybe to drop me back off at the dessert table? (Even with my heels I was too short to get a good look at where we were going.)
He stopped for a moment, and a server with a tray full of champagne paused.
“Would the lady or sir like a refreshment?” The server offered out his tray.
Killian shook his head, his dark eyes combing our surroundings, but I was thirsty after all my treats, and having to soothe a murderous Killian had only made it worse, so I took a champagne flute with a smile. “Yes, thank you!”
The server bowed and headed to the next cluster of attendees.
I sipped at the bubbly drink—which had a faint trace of sweetness that was almost completely overwhelmed by the bubbles.
“There,” Killian said.
“There what?” I admired my champagne flute before taking another sip.
Killian nodded. “There’s Elite Bellus.”
I almost spat out my drink when he tugged on my arm, pulling me along with him. Bubbles went up my nose when I finally managed to swallow. “You’re really introducing me?”
Killian raised both of his eyebrows at a slant that conveyed he was considering my mental health. “You asked for an introduction.”
“It was an excuse!”
“Ahhh, Eminence Drake! Fancy seeing you here, eh?” An older gentleman I recognized as Elite Bellus laughed at his own joke as he approached us. Elite Bellus was perhaps a decade older than his wife, but he wore his age well with deep smile lines, a noble sort of profile, and a well-groomed goatee that matched his slicked back, silvery hair. He winked at me when he caught my stare. “Care to introduce me to your lady?”
I tried not to look too star-struck. Elite Bellus had represented the wizards on the Regional Committee of Magic for a while, and just about every wizard idolized him for his kindness and quick wit.
“Elite Bellus.” Killian released my hand long enough to shake Bellus’s, then rested his hand on my lower back. “This is Adept Hazel of House Medeis.”
“Adept Medeis, it is a pleasure.” Bellus shook my hand with a firm grasp. “I was sorry to hear of your parents’ deaths.”
I bowed my head. “Thank you, Elite.”
He nodded. “So what—”
He didn’t get a chance to continue as the Paragon almost bowled him over while careening into the conversation.
“Merely training her to get the maximum benefit, was it?” The Paragon scoffed and shook a finger at Killian. “I knew it! I knew you had a thing for her!”
When Killian, Elite Bellus, and I all stared at him, the Paragon coughed. “That is to say,” he amended, “I knew you cared deeply for her.” He peered from Killian to me. “Are congratulations in order, then? This is all consensual?” He studied me, as if looking for signs that I was being forced into this supposed relationship.
Killian gave the Paragon a smile sharp enough he could have eaten glass. “I am well aware of my reputation, Paragon, but I have to ask if you really think I’m that sort of monster.”
The Paragon folded his arms across his chest and squinted at Killian. “Well, you can be possessive.”
I scooted closer to Killian—if I got in the way he wouldn’t have a clear shot of throttling the Paragon—and patted his chest. “Paragon, you’ve met Elite Bellus, I assume?”
The Paragon shook himself. “Oh, yes, of course. How is your evening, Bellus?”
“Rather more eventful than I imagined.” Elite Bellus smiled politely, then nodded to me. “My wife announced her intention to meet you. Did she get the chance to?”
“Yes,” I said. “She is a beautiful and lovely woman.”
Elite Bellus’s smile turned warm, and he seemed to relax slightly. “She is my heart.”
The Paragon turned to Killian. “So, is Hazel your—”
“Finish that question, and it will be the last thing you say,” Killian stated. His expression was stoic, but there was an extra coat of ice to his voice.
“Touchy,” the Paragon grumbled.
When a server bearing a tray of wine glasses passed him, the Paragon plucked two off and offered one to Elite Bellus, who took it.
I shrugged out of Killian’s arm, which made him look down at me with raised eyebrows, until I took his newly freed hand in both of mine and leaned against his arm, half shielding our joint hands so no one saw me squeeze his fingers in warning.
“It’s okay, Killian,” I said in a lowered tone—my attempt at reminding him we were supposed to appear loving. (He was so used to bickering with the Paragon he probably replied on sheer instinct. I thought.)
Killian stared at me for a few heartbeats, then nodded.
Elite Bellus and the Paragon exchanged looks—of what I couldn’t quite say.
Killian returned his attention to the Paragon. “Have you come any closer to finding what you’re looking for?”
The Paragon sighed. “Not really, no.”
“Excellent, then you are free to help,” Killian said.
“What? No, I’m not.” The Paragon straightened and looked slightly alarmed.
“You don’t have to do anything. I’ll simply use your name now when I speak to the fae Queen of Spring.”
“No, no, no,” the Paragon said. “You can’t do that.”
“I would like to see you stop me.” Killian pulled his hand from mine so he could brush a lock of my blond hair. “Enjoy your conversation with the Elite. Celestina will know where I am.”
I nodded and tried to think of mournful puppies or sad baby seals so I didn’t blush like an idiot. “Okay.”
Killian swept off, a protesting Paragon on his heels. Gavino and Josh moved so naturally with the crowd, I didn’t actually see them leave with the two as much as I noticed they weren’t standing with Celestina.
I took a deep breath and tried to mentally prepare myself. This was an excellent opportunity to bring up Mason. I probably took too long—or my nerves were super obvious, because Elite Bellus spoke first.
He took a sip from his wine glass and peered at me over the rim. “I’d heard you were staying at Drake Hall.”
“Yes,” I said. “Killian offered me safe haven after Mason—a senior wizard from my House—attempted a coup, and I was forced to flee for my life.”
“I’ll be blunt. I thought it was political maneuvering on Killian’s end. He always sees ten years ahead of the rest of us and blocks us before we can even move.” Elite Bellus swirled his wine glass. “All supernaturals know this.”
“…Yes.”
“Which is why it’s shocked us all that his usual rules don’t seem to apply to you.” Elite Bellus studied me. “But I feel that I must give my due diligence, and I’ve heard you’re an intelligent girl, so I will warn you. You’re a wizard, Adept Medeis. Killian Drake’s priority has always been and will always be vampires. He’s ruthless, paranoid, and I don’t entirely know that he can love like the rest of us.”
I blinked at the harsh observation. It was true—or at least true-ish. But it seemed almost cruel the way he painted Killian. “I understand where you’re coming from,” I said slowly. “And perhaps you are right about some things. But I can promise you that Killi
an does love.”
It was obvious he loved the Drake Family. Yeah, he wasn’t open or doting like some vampires were with their underlings, but I knew he’d sacrifice a lot for his Family.
Elite Bellus, however, interpreted my statement in an entirely different way. “I’ve never seen him the way he is with you. However, Adept, he is manipulative. It suits him to let everyone else believe he’s fallen for you.”
I tried to keep my facial expression as “slightly confused” and hoped that the Elite didn’t realize how right he was.
“And I will give it to you—he gives you freedoms with him that he wouldn’t allow with anyone else. But there is no possible way he holds true love in his heart for you.”
“Actually, I wasn’t referring to—”
“Has he drunk from you?”
“What?”
“Has he fed off you and drunk your blood?”
I blinked hard, barely able to believe Elite Bellus was actually asking that personal a question in the middle of the Summer’s End Ball. “I. beg. your. pardon?” My frustration started to leak through as I wasn’t able to keep all the gruffness out of my voice.
“He hasn’t,” Elite Bellus said. “And he won’t, ever. Killian Drake only drinks from blood pouches. I don’t rightly know the reason why—it’s certainly a personal choice given that he keeps blood donors on staff for his underlings. But he won’t ever drink from you, Hazel. There’s not a clearer sign in the world that he also won’t ever fully love you.”
I sucked a breath in. “I’m surprised.”
“That I know this?”
“No. That you are so rude,” I said. “What does it matter to you—or to anyone—how Killian eats? It’s not my business, and it’s certainly not yours. And yeah, maybe he is cunning, ruthless, manipulative, and a total ass.”
“I didn’t actually say that,” Elite Bellus muttered.
“But whatever Killian and I have between us is exactly that, between us! And you know what? I’m calling you out on your issues! When I ran from my own House—scared for the lives of my family—not a single wizard House would help me. All of House Medeis’s allies abandoned me. Killian took me in, trained me, and protected me when other wizards attacked me. So, yeah. When I finally get House Medeis back—and I say when because I will—if Killian asks for a favor or two, I’m going to help him, because he’s shown more care for me than anyone in the wizarding community has!”