Maeve
I wasn’t sure how dancing with the prince was supposed to help my mission, but here I was, in his arms. We danced a slow waltz as the crowd slowly made way for the prince, slotting us into the middle of the ballroom for everyone to watch.
I had to resist a gulp. If an assassin’s job was to remain unseen, I had definitely failed.
He tilted his head. “Why so tense?”
I looked him in the eyes. “Just not used to the attention. How do you do it?”
He shrugged. “You learn to ignore it, zone it out. Just look at me.”
I did so, staring at his eyes, capturing the details in hopes of forgetting the crowd. His eyes were so brown they were almost black. They looked at me with a conflicted skepticism. His dark skin was ridiculously flawless, giving me the fleeting impulse to touch his face. I wasn’t entirely sure he wouldn’t slap my hand if I tried.
“You’re tense as well,” I noted, lowering my voice.
He arched a single brow. “I don’t make a habit of dancing with strangers.”
I smiled slightly, shifting both my arms around his neck. “We’re hardly strangers. It’s like you’ve forgotten our closet rendezvous.”
His eyes darkened even more, his hand moving to brush my exposed back. “Believe me, it hasn’t left my mind once.”
I felt a blush creep up my neck. I wasn’t expecting that response. My smile wobbled but I kept it up. “How am I doing?”
“Surprisingly well for someone who’s never been to a gala. You’ve only stepped on my toes ten times,” he said, a wry grin finally gracing his face.
I winced, but couldn’t help smiling back. “Ten times is good?”
He laughed slightly, pulling me just enough closer for me to notice. “It could be worse. How am I doing?”
His laugh lit a spark in his dark eyes, enchanting me in his gaze. I swallowed, slowly and hesitantly moving one hand to frame his face. Was it wishful thinking that made it seem like he leaned into my palm?
Regardless, suddenly the crowd was forgotten, the castle nonexistent, the Mariposa ceased to be.
“Breathless,” was the one word I managed to force out.
He was taken aback a moment, but to my relief, he didn’t move away. Instead, he reached up and gently held my hand, in stark contrast to how he held it earlier. His eyes remained on me as he turned his head just enough to kiss my pulse point on my wrist. The feeling sent instant shivers throughout my entire body.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Do you want to get some air with me? It’s a little stuffy in here.” He asked, his tone betraying his seemingly light words.
I nodded, stepping away slightly. He took my hand and slowly led me towards the back, through a sea of people watching me with confused glares. I looked up at where a throne overlooked it all. Sitting on it was Queen Nesryn, who glared knives through me.
I looked to Elyas again, suddenly feeling that I was going to regret coming with him. Regardless, I continued to follow him, my heart and body betraying my logical mind. We stepped outside into the crisp night air. It was a flowering garden, with a fountain in the middle. Clouds acted as a wall for the garden, separating us from the world entirely. I looked up to see the night sky, the stars so close it looked like you could touch them. I let out a deep sigh.
Elyas turned to me, smiling. “Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s my favorite place.”
I pulled my gaze away from the sky to look at Elyas. “Favorite place to… what?” I paused, a teasing grin coming to my face. “Do you bring all the girls here?”
He chuckled, shaking his head as he walked with me over to the fountain, before turning to me. “It’s my favorite place to be ALONE. No one was allowed here with me until tonight.”
I tilted my head. “I truly am sorry about your best friend. You don’t know who killed him?”
He sobered instantly, his gaze lowering. “No. Unfortunately, he had a lot of powerful enemies. It really could be a number of people.”
I reached for his hand, squeezing it. “I hope you find who did it.”
He looked at me, giving me a sad smile. “Thank you,” he said. He gazed at me a moment before adding: “You look beautiful, May.”
Him saying my fake name jolted me, reminding me of who I am and what I was supposed to be doing.
I sighed, stepping away. “What are we doing? Why did you bring me out here?”
He furrowed his brows. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“None of this is real, Elyas. I DON’T belong here, with you, like this. Everyone in there knows it. Your mom… the queen was looking at me like she wanted me dead.”
Elyas grinned slightly, a crooked grin. “That’s how she looks at everyone. RBF. Incurable, really.”
I huffed. “I’m serious, Elyas.”
He clenched his jaw, sobering. He stepped closer, gently holding my chin. “What happened to your challenge earlier? Now you’re the one who’s scared?”
I shrugged. “Maybe I am.”
Something in his expression changed. He looked at me earnestly when he spoke: “You pegged me earlier, May. I’m constantly scared of what people think.” He stepped closer, so we were now only an inch away. His gaze shifted to my lips as he continued: “Just for tonight… Let’s stop caring. Just for right now.” He leaned in and I didn’t move away. “Please,” he whispered before his lips touched mine.
My heart stopped as he kissed me, feather light and barely there. It lasted only a moment. But that single kiss became one on my cheek, my jaw, my neck. He moved to my ear, and I closed my eyes, waiting for another.
But when one didn’t come, I opened my eyes. His thumb brushed the back of my head, and he was staring. I studied him as he slowly closed off.
“May… what is on the back of your head?”
My eyes widened and I stepped away from his clutches.
“Maeve, your target is near and vulnerable… check your watch radar,” Azriel’s voice said.
I looked down and my heart froze a second time, now for an entirely different reason.
The radar showed a red dot…
Right where Elyas stood.
They wanted me to kill the prince. The prince that I had just been kissing. I knew, in that moment, things would never be the same. However, little did I know, how one night could upend the rest of my life.