Page 41 of Violet Legacy

Rieka took a step back, and her body brushed up against Dante; an electric shock surged through her at the contact. Her heart quickened as his fingers brushed her arms. She shouldn’t be so sensitive to his touch, but it was all she could concentrate on. The ancient treasure didn’t hold the same appeal as he did, especially as he lightly traced an innocuous path along her arm. The barest touch from Dante made her crave him even more. It made her wonder how his wicked lips would feel on her bare skin.

A distinguished gentleman with a shock of white hair glared at her; his light brown eyes glinted with undisguised lust. Rieka shifted, immediately wanting to retreat into Dante’s embrace. The onslaught of emotions was becoming more unbearable the longer she stayed. Lust was quickly followed by disgust as the Atlantean across from her no doubt realized her hybrid status. Contempt flashed across his features. Rieka returned adon’t fuck with mesmile.

If this was a taste of the heightened senses Atlanteans normally felt, she wanted nothing to do with it. In a blink of an eye, it had turned her entire world upside down. Her heart raced as she tightened her grip on her glass.

She instinctively moved to stand even closer to Dante, calming down instantly as he placed his hands on her. He was quickly becoming her calm before the storm. It was not an emotion she should get used to—future Rieka could worry about that. The artifacts gleamed prettily through the glass, but they had lost their luster for her. Especially when it occurred to her that she was just like the artifacts surrounded by an invisible cage.

Dante lowered his head; his warm breath caressed the back of her neck. For a moment, they were the only two in the room. Everything else fell away, and all she could hear was silence. And she felt only Dante’s touch.

“Do you want to leave?” Dante whispered.

Rieka shook her head. Sheer stubbornness meant that she refused to cower to the old Atlantean order. She was technically an invited guest—just as much as any of them. “No.”

“Are you positive?”

Fuck no. But she had never run away from a challenge, and there was something intoxicating about having the undivided attention of Dante in a public forum. The Atlanteans had an unofficial hierarchy outside of their Houses, and Dante Delacroix was at the top of the pyramid.

“I want to show you the gardens,” Dante said.

Rieka nodded, grateful to be away from the party, even for a moment. Waves of emotions continued to slam into her like an onslaught. It was taking all her control not to scream. “Shouldn’t you be out there networking or whatever billionaires do?”

“Do I look like I need to network?”

No. The Atlanteans seemed to gravitate toward him, wanting to catch his attention.

“I much prefer to spend my time escorting you.”

Rieka couldn’t help it, but she beamed in response.

“This spectacle is for show,” Dante explained as he nodded toward the masses of elegantly dressed Atlanteans. “They all play a part and pretend that it is not already choreographed.”

The crowd in front of them surged as the orchestra resumed. The harrowing sounds of the string quartet was slowly replaced by a more upbeat song. A handful of women dressed in vibrant, colorful ball gowns that barely covered their bodies floated to the dance floor. The music started slowly, as Atlanteans moved toward each other. Their bodies swayed in pairs and more as they danced to the music. Their subtle graceful movements would make any dancer envious. Flashes of pale pink, bloodred, and dark blue twirled in front of her. The dance floor looked like it belonged in a fantasy movie.

“This way.” Dante guided her toward one of the empty enclaves, half-hidden by the darkness.

The surrounding people parted as they approached. Surprise turned into envy as they noticed her. She squared her shoulders and gave them a million-dollar smile as she walked between them. Until they were alone on the small balcony.

Rieka took a breath as she leaned against the stone banister. The fresh air caressed her skin. Out here, she felt a hundred times lighter. Away from the emotional and sensory onslaught. Dante stood behind her, close enough that if she leaned back, she would be against him. The thought was both intoxicating and sobering. She couldn’t afford to rely on him. Not when she didn’t really know what he wanted.

Pretty pale lights twinkled in the darkness. Stars studded every part of the night sky. They had stepped into another world. The music continued softly in the background but was loud enough to sway to the soft beat. A large green maze dominated the view, and if she squinted, she could see the tip of an impressive copper water fountain. If she were truly an Atlantean, she would be able to see the garden in all its beauty, despite it being night. “The garden?”

“Is far more spectacular in the daylight,” Dante admitted as he surveyed the view beneath him. “It is quieter here.”

Rieka closed her mouth before she said something stupid. A small shiver went through her.

“Rieka.”

The way he said her name almost undid her. She closed her eyes as she leaned back against Dante. And she let out a sigh.

Dante chuckled. The sound vibrated through her.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

She didn’t know what Dante was referring to—too focused on how his hand felt against her lower back. It should have been an innocent caress. But even through the layers of her dress, it burned into her and sent her pulse racing. She wanted more.

Wetness pooled between her thighs as he traced the lilies on her inner arm. Her breath hitched.

Dante stiffened behind her as he pulled her closer to him, shielding her from the newcomer.

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