Page 60 of The Forsaken Heir
She was dressed in a traditional shifter gown, which was a cross between a regency-style ballgown and a Roman-style toga. The fabric flowed to the ground, but the upper portion hugged her generous curves like a lover’s hands would. The neckline dipped low and tight, accentuating her impressive chest. It was somehow both classy and sexy at the same time. Her makeup brought out the bright green of her eyes, and her full lips stood out in bright red contrast to her milky-white skin. A diamond-encrusted diadem pinned her hair back from her face and eyes, and ringlets cascaded down her shoulders and back. She was, quite possibly, the mostgorgeouswoman I’d ever seen in my life.
Elle must have mistaken my awe for distaste because she wrinkled her nose and groaned. “God! Do I really look that bad?”
“What? No!” I said. “You look amazing. Beautiful.”
Delphine whacked Elle gently on the shoulder. “I told you that. Do you listen to me? No, of course not.”
“Do I really look okay?” Elle asked.
She arched her back and twisted to look at the gown from behind. This caused the fabric to tighten around her body, hugging the curves of her chest and hips. Saliva flooded my mouth as I imagined tasting her skin and gliding my tongue along every beautiful hidden area of her body. The images flashing through my mind aroused me so much, it was hard to think of anything but what I wanted to do to her. I cleared my throat and turned slightly to hide what was happening below my belt.
“Lady Brielle,” I said, my voice husky with barely hidden desire. “I’m here to escort you to the gala. Are you ready?”
“I suppose so.” She shrugged her bare shoulder and ran her tongue along her bottom lip. It sent another flash of heat through me.
“I’m nervous,” she admitted. “A tiny bit terrified.”
“You’ll be fine, dear,” Delphine said, patting Elle’s arm. “The prince here will keep you safe.” Delphine turned blazing, motherly eyes upon me, and despite my station and power, I almost quailed beneath that gaze. “Youwillkeep her safe, won’t you?”
I bowed my head slightly. “I will stake my life on her safety, Lady Delphine. I promise you that.”
Elle stretched out her hand to me. “I guess it’s now or never.”
I took her hand, and the softness of her fingers and palm on mine nearly made me moan in delight. Whatwasit about this woman? I’d spent the last two weeks getting to know her, and no matter what we talked about or did around the grounds, I found myself weaving fantasies in my head: vacations on Grecian beaches, candlelit dinners beneath Japanese pagodas, writhing and moaning trysts on the moss-covered forest floor, or an evening of cocktails on a yacht in the Mediterranean, both of us laughing until our stomachs hurt. She’d wedged herself in my mind, and at this point I didn’t know how or evenifI wanted that to stop.
“I’m back,” Rasp called out as he ran to join us. “I made it. Everything is all good,” he added, giving me a look that told me all I needed to know. Security was prepared and ready.
Delphine nodded to Rasp and held her arm out for him to take. Her dress was beautiful, but more demure and subdued than Elle’s. It was her personality, but also by design. Elle was supposed to stand out among the crowd, and by God, the tailors had done their job well.
“Has, uh, everyone started to arrive?” Elle asked as we made our way down the hall toward the old inner castle portion of the manor.
Her question was simple enough, but it hid much more. She was asking whether her family had arrived.
“I believe most have arrived or are arriving as we speak,” I said, putting my hand on hers. “From what I understand, your family will be arriving last since Bastien is the guest of honor. They might already be here for all I know, though.”
“Okay.” She blew out a shaky breath, then looked at me, the dark eyeshadow giving her green eyes a piercing quality I liked quite a bit. “You’re going to be right here with me, right?”
“The whole time, or as much as I can. If I’m not with you, someone from our security staff will be near you at all times. I promise.”
“That sounds good.”
Her lips quirked up into a smile, and my dragon gave a peculiar moaning growl of desire and need.
What was I going to do with this woman who had me thoroughly under her spell?
14
BRIELLE
It was like I’d stepped into a fairy tale. It had been so long since I’d been to one of these that I’d almost forgotten how opulent and intense the yearly gala was. Although, this one far exceeded any of the others. Aurelius and his father had gone all out.
As he led me down the sweeping stairs to the ballroom below, I couldn’t help but glance up and eye the gold-and-black hangings, glittering crystal chandeliers, and heavy polished brass mirrors around the room.
“How are you doing?” Aurelius murmured to me as we slowly went down the steps. I wasn’t used to wearing stiletto heels, and it wouldn’t be good if I fell on my face in front of all of shifter society.
“Oh, I’m dandy. Just walking into a room full of people who either think I’m dead or want me dead. How are you?”
Aurelius chuckled, the sound deep and sonorous. “When you put it like that, I can see why you’re nervous.”
