Page 69 of Fallen Stars

Elara held her breath. This had been the risk. Ariete had seen partially through Merissa’s glamour before, but that had been when she was glamoured as Elara. As a complete stranger, they had wagered Ariete wouldn’t notice.

Indeed, he ran his eyes approvingly over her. “You found a treasure,” he drawled, taking Merissa’s hand.

Eli winked, turning on his heel. “I think I’ll take this one now if you don’t mind.” His head jerked to the brunette. Ariete waved a hand to him, unbothered. “Enjoy,” Eli added, taking the girl by the arm. And with that, they were gone.

The bass of the music deepened, to the point that Elara could feel it through her body. Merissa played her part, swaying between Ariete’s spread legs.

“I requested a private audience with you, my lord. I’m so honoured that you allowed it.”

Ariete sucked on his pipe, the back of his tattooed knuckle grazing Merissa’s arm. It took every ounce of strength in Elara not to lunge shadows at that hand and stop it in its tracks. The last time a friend of hers had been so close to Ariete, she had died. Bile rose in Elara’s throat as she observed the scene before her.

Merissa is not Sofia. And Merissa will succeed in what she needs to do, she affirmed to herself, the mantra keeping her calm as she waited for the right moment.

“The pleasure’s all mine.”

Merissa swung herself onto the Stars’ lap, straddling him. Elara grimaced as Ariete’s hands ran down her friend’s curves.

“It’s been my dream since I was a little girl to kiss a Star and make a wish.”

Elara had never seen Merissa like this, but the woman was a natural, as though a part of her that had been hiding this whole time had finally been allowed to shine.

Merissa leaned in, angling her head to kiss Ariete, but his hands whipped out, grasping her wrists as he stilled them. Elara stepped forward, but Merissa’s smile turned seductive.

“I don’t kiss,” Ariete murmured, his lips a hair’s breadth from Merissa’s. Merissa’s smile turned positively feline.

“Ah, you’re one of those men. Anything but the lips.” Her nose grazed his neck as his head fell back, the hypnom truly taking hold.

Ariete’s mouth twitched. “You could say that.”

“Can I not even have a peck?” Merissa sighed, pushing herself into him. Elara saw Ariete’s inked hands tighten on Merissa’s hips. “I want to know what wishes taste like.” Elara saw her friend flick her tongue out, lapping it over the ink at his neck.

“It’s dangerous to wish upon a Star. I’m sure your parents warned you of that growing up.” Ariete’s voice was like gravel, rumbling down Elara’s spine. It sounded like a warning.Come on, Merissa. Time is running out.

“I’ve never cared much for playing it safe.”

Ariete’s head lifted, and he studied Merissa for a moment. His eyes narrowed. “You’re different,” he slurred, his hands running up to her collarbone. A knuckle brushed the hollow of her throat. “Braver than the others.”

Merissa sat up straighter then seemed to relax once more, playing that part of adoring devotee so well.

“In the world I fell from, we had a name for women like you.Bravina. Fearless.”

“Perhaps I should be rewarded for my courage,” Merissa purred.

Elara saw Ariete’s red eyes search Merissa’s face as her friend nodded, biting her lip.

“Fine,Bravina. I’ll grant you one kiss, one wish.”

“At what cost?” Merissa breathed.

Ariete shrugged. “No cost. It’s been a while since a mortal has piqued my interest.”

Elara nearly scoffed. His brother, Leone, had said something similar to her.

Merissa sighed, pliable in his arms. Elara took a step closer. Ariete raised Merissa’s chin, angling her head as he slanted his mouth and brushed it against hers.

The kiss was tentative, searching—too intimate for Elara’s liking. She grimaced.

Merissa moaned, deepening the kiss as her tongue slipped into Ariete’s mouth. Gods she was a good actress. Elara wanted to vomit. But this was the only way to slip the pill onto Ariete’s tongue, just a concentrated form of the Hypnom to knock him out cold.

---