Page 39 of A Dance of Water

Luella stopped in the midst of it all, arms falling by her side and her teeth digging into her lower lip. Her heart was so loud, and every being in this room could hear each thunderous thump.

A warmth at her back. "Go stand before the throne. We cannot come with you," Graves whispered next to her ear, careful to keep his skin away from hers.

"W-why?" she stammered.

Please.

She did not want to be thrown into this pit alone.

A brush of feeling against her mind and a whisper of softly spoken thought.I will not leave you, pet.

Bastian spoke into her mind with the barest flutter of something amiss. His voice was laced with sensuality, and her thighs burned under the thin silk of her pure white gown, remembering his firm touches against her delicate flesh.

She exhaled a shaky breath, sending out a thought of her own, hoping its echo would reach him.Please, don’t leave me.

You’re killing me,he replied. She turned, then, and caught his red-tinged stare, brows winged with sorrow and eyes half-lidded with the debaucherous haze of crystalline winter. For her benefit, a smile was forced upon his lips.

Go,he whispered,before I risk everything and steal you away.

Just this once, she wanted to be stolen.

She seemed to forget he was inside her and could hear her everythought with ease, for a flicker of amused indulgence softened the pained expression on his face.

Go to the throne. I will be with you every step of the way.

And so she did.

She walked toward the throne, feeling anticipation sweep throughout the room like a cool burst of air.

Stop,Bastian ordered.

And she did.

Luella came to a stop right before the few steps that led to the raised dais upon which the throne sat. She still did not see the King.

Turn around.

She turned, fingers gripping the fabric of her gown as her hands pressed against her thighs. Every inhale she took hurt her tight chest, and every exhale felt like it was being blown through lungs made of ice.

She scoured the crowd. Hungry faces peered at her.

Bastian stood against one of the walls, Graves at his side.

Where are the others?she thought.

This time, the vampire did not reply.

Slowly, like the trickle of water, she saw flashes of white, growing closer.

More females dressed in pure white silks stepped from the confines of the crowd and walked to where Luella was standing nervously.

Bastian, what’s happening?

No response.

Her brow furrowed, and she resisted the urge to reach up and tug on a white curl.

Nine, she counted nine females, not including herself. They were all much more gorgeous than she, with fuller hips and more enticing chests. Luella looked down at her own body with jealousy.

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