Page 109 of I Summon the Sea

Gillen chuckles. “Yes. Make her talk, Neere.”

Those sharp nails trail down to my neck, where I feel my pulse thumping, and press. A sting, and then a hot trickle of blood down my throat. “It would be a pity to ruin this pretty dress with blood, wouldn’t it?” she croons. “Or kill you. It’s not that hard. You humans are so fragile.”

I refuse to show fear. She wouldn’t dare kill me. Not if she thinks the king has plans for me.

Her nails nick my collarbone, and I inch back, ready to make a run for it through the crowd, when Gillen jerks around and points up.

“Hey, what is that darakin doing? It’s flying way too low. Damn creatures can bite your head off.”

“Simply move away,” the other male fae says. “Don’t piss yourself, Gillen, it’s just a darakin, not a Great Dara. Get a grip.”

A distraction. The moment her sharp nails ease the pressure on my collarbone, I kick at Gillen, then spin around, only to be caught by the other male. I just need to escape?—

Something wraps around my waist and rips me away from the group. I cry out without a sound as I’m hauled backward. I glance down, expecting to see claws.

But it’s shadows, which could mean either of two options. It’s either the king or…

Jai.

It’s Jai. The relief I feel is ridiculous.

“Sorry I’m late.” He grins, stepping right beside me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “What did I miss?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

“Lord Athdara.” Neere gives him a sickly-sweet smile. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming to the ball.”

“And miss out on all the fun?” he asks, voice dry. “Never.”

“What about her?” Neere clucks her tongue and gestures at me as if I’m something she found stuck to her shoe. “Why are you being kind to her?”

“I’m her escort,” he says simply. “Hadn’t you guessed?”

“I should have,” she mutters, frowning, “but she had no token?—”

“Though it’s none of your business,” he growls—honest to the godsgrowls—“I brought the token with me. So take your friends and make yourself scarce.”

“I don’t answer to you,” she scoffs, but her face loses some color.

“Yes, you do.” The shadows rise, curling around both of us. “I’m the King’s Sword, and even if you weren’t in the Royal Guard, I’d still command you. I wasn’t asking, Neere. Get lost.”

I don’t take a real breath until the three fae have left, huffing and glaring back at us.

Then I step away from Jai, needing to put some distance between us. What I really need to do is lose myself in the crowd and disappear, but I can’t help but meet his gaze.

And that’s a mistake.

My breath stops.

Gods, he’s beautiful. How is he even human? His black hair is shiny, falling on his forehead, a dark, precious crown, and his smile is bright, a faint dimple on his cheek.

How dare he have a dimple? It’s not fair. The boy I used to love had one, too, and it slays me.

In a simple black tunic and pants, a wide leather belt slung over his narrow hips, and tall black boots on his feet, he looks more royal than the king had yesterday in his crown and long robes.

Black moths flutter around him, then settle on his shoulders in rows like buttons, faintly glowing.

I’m so lost in contemplation, I start when he lifts a hand to my bleeding neck, almost but not quite touching.

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