Page 44 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

“C’mon, Sweetheart. We’re engaged. If my fiancè looks good enough to fuck, I should be able to tell her such.”

“Keep your filthy thoughts in your head.”

“Or what? You’ll stab me?” He placed his hand dramatically on his chest as he followed me into the room.

“It’s been a long time since you stabbed me. You know how your violence turns me on. You and those daggers.” He was practically panting now.

“Thoughts. Keep them in your head,” I scolded.

“Fine. I’ll keep my thoughts about fucking you in that dress in my head.”

“You’re infuriating.”

“And that’s why you?—”

We both froze. The unsaid words hanging in the air.

“We should go.” The words were thick in my throat.

He scrubbed his hand over his neck. “Yeah.” He looked at the floor. “After you.

Luka held out his hand to me and guided me from the carriage. He linked my arm through his as the cold winter chill nipped at my skin. Forgoing a cloak was a decision I was now regretting.

He leaned in close, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “Remember, we’re supposed to be happily engaged. So you’re going to have to pretend to like me tonight.”

I swallowed, still on edge by how close his mouth was to mine. “Good thing I’m a master at putting on a mask.”

Something I couldn’t place flashed across his features before he pulled back and guided me inside the manor.

We walked through the gilded doors into a darkened entry where we were immediately passed glasses of a dark liquid in a tall glass by a masked servant.

My eyes scanned the darkened room, searching for any sign of the ball Luka had promised, but there was nothing, the room was empty besides a few masked staff. The curtains were drawn, keeping out any light from the moon. Only a few bulbs were lit, casting the room in a dim orange light.

“You won’t find anything in here.” I remained silent, taking a sip from my glass as he continued to lead me through the room until we came to a lighted path. We followed the path down the hallway until we were led to what I assumed was the ballroom.

The curtains were shut in here as well, but candles and lanterns were scattered throughout the room along with small strings of lights. The lighted path we followed into the room continued into the ballroom spreading out like lighted roots in the dim room to guide us through.

There was no room for dancing, booths, couches, and daybeds were scattered around the space instead. Fabric dividers were placed strategically throughout the room to create the illusion of privacy, but everything was still out in the open.

Partygoers were scattered around the room, the sounds oftheir pleasure mixing with the dark seductive music playing from musicians hiding somewhere in the dark room.

I swallowed thickly as my gaze flicked to the pair of males on the couch beside us. Our arrival did nothing to slow or stop their exploration of one another.

“Is this what you were expecting?” Luka said as he leaned in close to not disrupt the males.

“No.” My voice was rough in my throat. No. This was not what I was expecting at all.

“I’ll explain in a moment.” Luka pulled me along. “Let’s find a spot first.”

I stopped in my tracks. “A spot—I’m not finding a spot with you Luka.”

“Shhh—” he warned. “We’re happily engaged, remember? Just follow me.”

I did so hesitantly. We passed a small dance floor, where a female danced seductively for a small group of males and females who reclined against a mass of pillows and blankets.

Luka continued to weave us through the room until we came to an unoccupied day bed in the far corner of the room.

“Sit,” Luka instructed me. I didn’t argue, I sat against the pillows, and placed my empty glass on the table beside the bed.

---