Page 34 of Poison Nights & Twilight Alchemy

She appeared to notice his full attire for the first time and stilled.

“You’re staring.” Reed arched a brow. “Is there something on my face?” He touched his cheek and inspected his hand. “The antlers are a bit much, of course. If anyone in the Glen saw me in this getup, I’d never survive the beating I’d—”

“You look very handsome,” Dulce whispered, stepping forward to take his arm. “It’s what a wife would say to her husband, of course.” She bit her lip. “Anyway, we have a duty to fulfill. After we eat. No use approaching greedy dukes on an empty stomach.”

Reed recognized they were the plainest dressed at the night’s festival the moment he and Dulce entered the Duke’s gardens. But that did nothing to change the fact that, to him, Dulce was the most beautiful woman there. The festival was in full swing along every section of the tiered gardens, each tree-lined space decorated in bright lanterns, flowers, food and drink, winding its way gently downward to where the copper and ivory palace faced the glittering waters of Alder Bay.

Attire made of every element twirled around him in a kaleidoscope of colors beneath thousands of floating lanterns and drifting petals. Gowns that flowed like glittering water and sparkling ice, costumes of dancing flames, the fabric leaving sparks in their wake. Dresses decorated in leaves and blooms, garments of soft clouds, their shape changing with each movement of the wearer, rainbows and lightning reflected within their misty folds. Those present held the widest variety of creatures Reed could have never imagined in his wildest dreams.

Music filled the air, its sound coming from everywhere all at once, drums that seemed to beat within his very chest.

Tables of food lay in front of them, and Reed trailed his finger across a buttery roll before sampling every dish he encountered. He thought of home, of his brother in the Glen, and a pang of guilt passed through him at the decadent luxury surrounding him. He ventured to guess that no one present had ever gone to sleep hungry a single night of their lives.

Dulce picked up a dessert that looked like a lotus flower, covered in cocoa and hazelnuts. Reed then lifted a pastry drizzled in blueberry glaze. “Try this one.” As she reached for it, he pulled it back with a grin. “Tut-tut, remember you’re my wife.”

She rolled her eyes before slowly parting her mouth. As Reed placed the delicacy against her tongue, his index finger brushed her velvety soft lips.

Her gaze lit up while she chewed, her stare not once wavering from his. “Another. Or no, I shouldn’t be greedy.” She grasped one from the table. “Your turn.”

He didn’t hesitate to open his mouth, thoughts of what it would be like to taste her lips filling his mind—what a delight it would be to discover the flavor of the pastry from her tongue. Her hand stilled when she glanced past his shoulder.

“Those enforcers are watching you,” she said in a low voice that only he could hear. “Do you think it’s possible they might recognize you?”

He peered at the enforcers, not remembering a single one. “No.” He shrugged. “Not with themarvelousjob you did with my hair.”

The crowd shifted, and as the moon’s silvery glow illuminated a towering tree at the center of the garden, he cursed. The bristlecone pine was much like the one at Dulce’s manor in size and shape, except its bark mirrored tar with gray speckles, its leaves changed from green to spiked flowers of red and ash-deadened white.

“One of the Trees of Life is here!” Dulce’s breath hitched, her eyes becoming wide, her skin growing pale with what had to be fear. Reed wanted to draw her near, promise her that the world would be all right. But whowas he to promise such an impractical thing?

The music faded, and Reed turned to find the Duke had arrived. Surrounded by at least twenty enforcers, he descended the palace stairs, his arms spread wide, his attire reminding Reed of a thunderstorm at sunset, dark clouds lit by gold. He looked no more than fifty years of age beneath a crown of curled horns, and even from this distance, Reed could see something of the insatiable greed in his vile face.

“Welcome!” the Duke called theatrically, his voice carrying across the crowd. “Welcome one and all. Eat. Drink. Dance. Enjoy the night away!”

The crowd cheered, the music swelled once again, and the Duke was swallowed by the crowd to attend from a pavilion set above the largest pool in the garden. Its billowing curtains moved in the gentle breeze as a throng of revelers joined him, their silent laughter swallowed by the music.

Dulce’s gaze returned to the Tree of Life, and Reed no longer felt like eating the delicacy still grasped in her hand as her eyes filled with sorrow. “It looks far worse than I ever could’ve imagined.”

“I won’t leave your side until we find an answer.” Reed took the pastry from her and set it on the table before offering his hand to her. “For now, dance with me until we can get closer to the Duke?”

She smiled softly, as if she understood his intention of lifting her spirits. Understood his desire to be of some use to her, no matter how unworthy his qualifications.

Dulce placed her hand in his.

Reed rested a palm against her lower back, pulling her close as he swept her into the crowd of twirling dancers,the Duke still unreachable.

When his gaze met hers, the world disappeared in a blur. With each subtle touch of her hands along his shoulder and neck, his blood grew hotter, the reason they were at this celebration slipping away. It was only Dulce, her eyes, her warmth, her alluring lips.

Reed lost track of time as the music played, gravity itself deprived of all meaning while they continued to dance, to float, with Dulce in his arms. He forgot he was being hunted by enforcers—he forgot he had no home, nowhere to go. All there was, was this moment.

“I have something that belongs to you,” Reed said when he knew he couldn’t selfishly dance with her any longer. He needed to help her get answers, and so he steadied Dulce as she caught her breath. “I should have given it to you before, but…”

She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed, her smile turning quizzical.

Making certain no one else could see, he reached into his pocket for Dulce’s ring and gently took her hand. He then placed it onto her middle finger, watching her expression turn to awe.

“Mother’s ring,” she gasped, quickly disguising the piece of jewelry’s color and shape to silver and amethyst with her alchemy. “I thought it was destroyed in the fire!”

Reed shook his head. “I stole it back for you.” He then leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “It was this ring’s magic that brought the enforcers to my door, and that same magic brought me to you once more.”

---