by Tee, Marian
She was about to reply when she noticed something strangely familiar. Glancing up, she saw an orchestra playing from the balcony, mostly mermen – it was easy to recognize them by their glistening skins.
And they were playing her song, she realized. La Vie En Rose, the How I Met Your Mother version.
Her head snapped towards Ilie.
This is supposed to calm you, yes?
It’s also supposed to be what I’m listening to when I’m about to fight.
As the marquis drew her to the dance floor, he murmured words that Soleil would never have even thought someone like him would care to know.
Dance, when you’re broken open.
Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance when you’re perfectly free.
When Ilie glanced down at his heartkeeper, he almost, almost smiled. She was looking at him with stars in her eyes, something that he hadn’t been able to accomplish despite being a marquis with incomparable wealth or a half-demon whose power few beings on earth would ever match.
Fleur was right, he thought. His beautiful, brave Soleil was a hopeless romantic.
And...he liked it that way.
Even if it meant having to be endlessly ribbed by the duke and the rest of the Galere, even if it meant having to memorize all the fucking poems in the world—-
He would do it, if in exchange he would be able to keep this woman looking at him the way she was looking at him now...for eternity.
Chapter Seven
After the dance, the marquis began introducing her to the otherworlders, and with every introduction, his words became more and more outrageous.
She is the creature who dazzled the man in him.
She is the morsel that his wolf could not get enough of.
It was thoroughly entertaining, enough to distract them from asking too much about her real name and background. It was also infinitely embarrassing, enough to leave her torn between gagging him with his cravat and smothering him with kisses.
Dancing resumed after dinner, but the marquis invited her for a walk in the gardens. As they went down the marbled pathway, he asked her yet again about Zari’s visions. When he had her repeating everything for the third time, she shook her head, saying, “I, too, have gone over it several times, milord. I do not believe there is anything else I can do except be wary of the color blue.”
“True.” Without missing a step, the marquis carefully moved her to his other side as they continued on. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw that there were only rose bushes growing on his left.
And they were the shade of blue.
When she turned to him with merriment dancing in her eyes, he said flatly, “You may laugh all you want, but until you remain mortal, I will not take any chances.”
“Oh, Ilie.” He could be so dangerously sweet!
He stilled. “It has been a long time since you had last called me by my first name.” His gaze captured hers. “I like it...Soleil.”
Her cheeks became flushed with color, Soleil unable to believe the amount of pleasure she derived from simply hearing the marquis say her name. I’m being too, too silly. She knew this, and yet...she couldn’t stop herself from feeling that way.
How was it that being silly felt so glorious?
When they stopped, she saw that they had reached a pillared gazebo, hidden in the deeper and darker end of the garden, where there were more shadows than light. The marquis took a step towards her, and she found herself instinctively and breathlessly retreating until her back hit one of the pillars. She clutched it from behind, its massive width preventing her from even encircling it with her arms halfway.
The marquis placed his hands on the pillar, trapping her in his hold. “You have been captured.”
“And i-if I am?”
“Then you must submit to whatever I ask of you.”
Her heart slammed against her chest. “And w-what would you ask, milord?”
“Your honesty.”
Her eyes widened.
“I wish to know if you truly possess not a single doubt that I may have something to do with your impending death?” It mattered to him very much that she did not. Ever since he had learned of the soul seer’s visions, Ilie had wondered what he would do if it turned out that Soleil did not trust him.
And if she didn’t, he could not even blame her for it. As a half-demon, his very nature did not inspire trust, and more so when one considered his duty as part of the Galere. His first loyalty would always be to the demon duke.
He gazed down at her. “Milady?”
She swallowed, the hooded look in her eyes ironically making it clear just how much her answer meant to him. Her entire life, she had been trained to distrust otherworlders and most especially demons. They were the reason she had been cursed, the reason she had been sentenced to die as an infant.
But even so—-
“If only,” she whispered unevenly, “truth serums also worked in making people confess their feelings, then I would—-ah—-what are you doing?” she ended up half-hissing, half-shrieking.
“A reward...” The marquis’ fingers were inhumanly swift as they made short work of the row of pearl buttons at the back of her gown. “For your trust—-”
What? A cool breeze touched her now-naked back, and she gasped, “I don’t need a reward—-”
He smiled down at her. “Then it is a reward for myself.” The last button was released, and then the marquis was pulling the gown off her shoulders.
“No!”
But it was too late, the gown falling to the floor.
“Milord—-oh.” He had not wasted time, his mouth latching on one nipple, and her eyes closed. He began kneading her already aching breasts, and she couldn’t stop herself from clutching his head and pressing her nipple deeper into his mouth.
Oh, how addictive this sensation was!
Heat churned inside of her when he did the same thing to her other breast, its flames licking higher and higher, touching every part of her body. But when he started to move his mouth down, she shook her head. “W-wait!”
He lifted his head.
“I w-want it to be different.” She could feel her cheeks turning pink as she spoke. “You keep doing it...” She swallowed. “I want it to be my...turn.”
Ah. He straightened to his full height. “Do you mean—-” His lips curved in a knowing smile. “You wish to have my cock in your mouth?”
Her eyes flew to him in a mixture of embarrassment and vexation, and she exclaimed, “Must you always be so explicit?”
“Only because I love to see the blush stealing your cheeks,” he answered right away. “It makes me think of a rose that only unfurls its petals in greeting in my presence.”
The redness in her cheeks deepened. “You and your words,” Soleil muttered. “You say that to every lady you seduce, don’t you?”
“Actually, no.” Ilie was being honest. “I cannot recall having to woo any woman. They always want to be fucked.”
“Ilie!”
“Fear not, milady,” he teased. “You are special—-”
“Only because I’m your heartkeeper,” she said crossly. She tried covering her breasts, thinking it was ridiculous to argue with a half-demon, half-wolf marquis while she stood half-naked in front of him like some sacrificial virgin.
But the marquis wouldn’t let her. Drawing her arms back to her side, he murmured in feigned puzzlement, “You want my cock in your mouth and yet you cannot even stand for me to stare at your breasts—-”
“Curse you!”
His laughter was rich and sensual, but his touch was gentle as he traced her lips. “You are certain about this?”
“Stop asking me,” she mumbled. “You’re just making me more nervous.”
“On your knees then, ma lisse.”
Oh.
The command alone was more than enough for her entire body to trem
ble in sensual excitement, more so when the wind around them seemed to keep her nipples in a perpetual state of arousal.
Sinking to her knees, she watched the marquis unzip his breeches and release his cock. It was already fully erect, and she was momentarily daunted. Logically speaking, she knew it would fit her mouth, but – how long would she be able to...before...choking?
“Normally, one has to coax a cock into arousal but as you can see...” The marquis’ tone above her turned dry. “There is no need as my manhood is always at full attention in your presence.”
His hand rested on the top of her head, and she gulped nervously.
“Reach for my cock, ma lisse, and slowly draw it inside your mouth while...yes,” Ilie hissed as his heartkeeper did exactly what he asked. It was pure bliss, heaven on earth, the most fucking beautiful moment in his life to have his cock in Soleil’s mouth.
“Suck slowly then try to get a few more inches in...”
His body stiffened as she did everything right. Inch after inch, his cock eventually disappeared into her mouth, and he bit back a groan as she continued to suck him.
A natural born expert, he thought vaguely. What the hell had he done in his misbegotten life that he deserved a woman like Soleil?
When the pleasure became too much, he said tightly, “Faster.” As her mouth bobbed up and down more quickly, he said, “Stroke my balls...ah.” His body jerked, but her lips only tightened around his cock.
Soleil fell back on the floor when the marquis suddenly pulled his cock out of her mouth and she couldn’t stop staring, fascinated, when he finished the job, jerking himself off and then coming in a hanky that appeared from nowhere.
When it was done, he cleaned himself up and helped her right her dress. She turned towards him, and he surprised her with the sweetest of kisses, his lips landing in the corner of her mouth.
“Thank you, ma lisse.”
His voice was beautifully rough, and her toes curled at the sound.
She almost, almost started to think that she might just be okay with falling for him—-
All of a sudden, Soleil remembered the soul seer’s warning.
Don’t fall.
Don’t fall.
Don’t fall.
She frowned. No. It was impossible that this could be what the girl was talking about.
Her phone buzzed against her leg, interrupting her thoughts, and she mumbled, “E-excuse me.”
Ilie raised a brow when his heartkeeper turned around and started lifting her skirt.
Up, up, up—-
Ah.
His lips twitched when he realized where she had her mobile phone hidden. He watched her read her message. “Work?” he asked when she returned her phone to its hiding place.
She nodded. “But nothing that would keep me from bed.” She yawned right after.
Ilie frowned. “You’re still tired from last night, aren’t you?” He picked her up in his arms.
The next thing she knew, they were standing in front of his carriage and he was already placing her on the seat.
“Ilie!” Didn’t he know how dangerous it was to risk having anyone see that he was so much faster than ordinary humans?
“Relax, milady. We are in Lunare, and humans permitted here are those who already know what we are.”
The carriage door closed, and as it sped off down the road, he placed her on his lap and pushed her head towards his chest. “Sleep.”
“I’m not sleepy.” But she closed her eyes anyway because it was easier to pretend in the dark.
The words making up Crystal’s text message spelled itself out in her mind.
There is no time to waste. Your curse will strike tomorrow midnight. You must allow for the heartkeeping to take place or you won’t have any heart to keep even for yourself.
When they reached home, the marquis told her ruefully, “I would like to kiss you goodnight, but...I hear your curtains twitching again.”
She smiled up at him. “Let them twitch for all I care.” And so she rose to her toes and surprised the marquis by pressing her lips to his. When she drew back, the marquis was staring at her.
“Why did you do that?”
“Did you not like it?”
“You know I damn well did.”
“Milord!” She pretended to be offended. “Your words.” She stepped back. “And now, I really must go—-” She was about to turn when the marquis took hold of her hand and spun her back to face him.
“Your father asked me if I would like to accompany you tomorrow to a human ball. If this is alright with you, I would like to use the opportunity to formally announce our betrothal.” His jaw hardened. “Do you have any objections to this?”
Slowly, she shook her head. “I’m terrified, but...” She inhaled shakily. “No. I have no objection.”
“Thank fuck.” Ilie released the breath he hadn’t even noticed he was holding until that moment.
“Milord.”
“Forgive me.” He lifted her hand to his lips. When he released her, he asked one last time, “You are sure about this?”
Thinking he was too intuitive for his own good, she lied, “It is only an announcement of our engagement, milord. It is not equivalent to agreeing to be your heartkeeper.” Flushing, she also added, “It is also to prevent any scandal from being attached to my name, in the event that people find out I’ve allowed you certain...liberties—-”
He laughed. “And for a moment there, I actually thought you were becoming biddable.”
“Heaven forbid.”
“Also, liberties, you say?” He tweaked her nose, surprising her. “I know you can do better than that, milady, considering those books you secretly love to read——”
Oh!
Picking up her skirts, she whirled away from him, saying in a huff, “Good night, milord.”
But again, he stopped her from leaving.
“Milady.”
He pulled her towards him without turning her around, her back against his chest.
She had the craziest urge to cry.
“W-what is it?”
“Nothing is truly wrong?”
She bit her lip hard. Nothing. She whispered it in her mind because if she spoke, she knew she would not be able to stop herself from crying.
Chapter Eight
The ball, held by the Earl and Countess of March, was heralded a wild success, one of those events that would be talked about probably until the next Season and the one following. It was not because they had served the best food or prepared the best entertainment. Rather, it was for the simple reason that the ball was the only party that the esteemed Marquis of Lunare had chosen to attend.
Every unmarried female in the ball had their adoring gazes glued to him while their matchmaking mamas schemed of ways to lure him into a marriage trap. But first they had to get him alone, and that did not seem possible at all, with the marquis seemingly disinclined to leave the Orphelines’ side.
Granted, they were of a good family, and the eldest daughter, Soleil, was a diamond of the first water but, it must also be said, the matrons privately ranted, that Charles was a mere baron. Surely the marquis would wish for someone with bluer blood or perhaps a greater fortune?
And so they continued to vent their frustrations, but none of them were able to find the courage to approach the marquis. He looked too cold, too aloof, too...noble. It would be horrible, so very horrible, if the marquis gave any of them the cut direct!
“Good evening again, milord,” Fleur greeted the marquis as she took the vacant seat next to him.
“Good evening, milady.”
Following his gaze, she saw that the marquis was scowling at the way her eldest sister held court at the opposite side of the ball. It was a familiar sight for her, but she was guessing it was the marquis’ first time to witness just how many faithful swains Soleil held entranced.
“Jealous?” she asked mischievously.
The marquis turned to her. “You do know who you are ta
lking to, yes?” An elegant brow lifted.
“My sister’s overly possessive betrothed?” she guessed.
Ilie ignored that. “Tell me. Have you noticed anything strange about her?” Something about Soleil had been bugging the hell out of him, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was exactly.
Frowning, Fleur considered the question seriously, knowing that the marquis wasn’t the type to idly ask questions. “Well, she has become nicer than usual.”
Yes, that was it, he realized. Soleil had been nicer, but only someone like Fleur, who had known his heartkeeper her entire life, would have recognized it right away.
If only, he thought, he had known of her ten years ago.
But he had not, and he would not have those ten years back, no matter what he did. That missing decade would have Ilie bitter and furious if not for the fact that he had at least the rest of eternity to look forward to with his heartkeeper.
“This morning I heard her tell Aurora,” Fleur was confiding, “that she could finally read those books.”
Ilie knew what that those books were, but even so, he was puzzled. “Why does Aurora not just read them if she wants to?” It wasn’t like Aurora wasn’t of age yet.
Fleur was looking at him like he was crazy. “Because Soleil told us not to, and we would not have survived this long if we didn’t follow her word.”
Ah.
“And you know, she’s also agreed to finally give me free rein with my allowance. I have nagged her endlessly about it, but she always told me I had too many frivolous wants to be trusted—-” Pausing, Fleur gazed at him calculatingly. “Has anything different happened between the two of you last night? Something that could have made my already sweet sister turn insanely sweeter?”
He thought about Soleil with his cock in her mouth and coughed.
“Aha! I knew it! No doubt it has something to do with someone going down—-”
Ilie choked. What the fuck? Could Soleil have told her baby sister that?
“—-on bended knee,” Fleur finished triumphantly.
Ah. He cleared his throat in relief, realizing that Fleur didn’t know the truth after all. “That did not happen last night, but I had already let her know my intentions.”