Page 16 of A Blaze of Fire
No, the best option was to let this play out as it would. Once Ansel was here, I would take care of him. Whatever he had planned, I’d handle it. I had no choice, really. This was for my sake as well as Violet’s.
9
VIOLET
We waited around outside the throne room at least twenty minutes before Alec stepped out. The arch of his brows showed he was surprised to see us waiting for him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Are you okay?” I glanced at the crack between the doors before they closed, catching a glimpse of the King. His stony face and impassive demeanor gave nothing away.
“I’m fine,” Alec replied flippantly. “Come on.” He ushered me down the hall. We took the winding steps that led to the bottom floor and the rose garden, and he motioned for Rosemary and Rook to stay back.
Alec and I walked along the rambling trail of the manicured garden side-by-side. The strange quietness between us made me uncomfortable. Well, even more uncomfortable than I already was in this outfit.
He peered over at me and raked his eerie eyes down my chest slowly, making me squirm. Then he smirked. “Nice dress.”
I scoffed. “Laugh all you want now.” I crossed my arms over my chest, trying vainly to cover myself.
“We’re not a prudish bunch, Violet.” He walked with his hands behind his back. “We’re even known to hold rituals in the forest …in the nude. Don’t your kind know about the fair folk?”
I looked up at him and deadpanned, “I know all about Tinkerbell, and from my recollection, she was fully clothed.”
Alec grinned. “Well … you’ll have to get used to our ways.”
I rolled my eyes and stopped walking. “I don’t seeyouhalf naked. Isn’t this sort of sexist?”
Alec turned to me and raised a brow, then slowly began to unbutton his tunic. “Would you like me to undress, Lady Violet?” he asked on the end of a laugh.
I smacked his arm. “Stop! You know what I mean.”
Alec re-buttoned his tunic and chuckled, delighted to have gotten me riled up. “Head into the forest if you’d like. You’ll see all the half-naked males you want.”
“Gross,” I grumbled.
“Or is it justmeyou want to see?” He wiggled his brows suggestively.
My face flushed and I smacked him again. “Not funny!”
“You gotta admit, it’s a little funny,” he said as he leaned toward me. “You and my brother had a thing, but now you’re here with me. I wonder what he thinks of that?” He raised a brow.
I gritted my teeth. “Don’t insinuate something that isn’t real. You know why I’m here.”
“Right.” He smiled. “To save Ansel … Too bad it’s all been for nothing.” He grinned and then spun on his heels, heading down a parallel garden path.
My eyes widened. “What?” I muttered. “What did you say?” I ran to catch up to him.
Alec shrugged. “Ansel is coming to the Unseelie Court. My brother is absolutely smitten.” He peered down at me and smirked. “Too bad your grand gesture is now moot.”
“But he can’tdothat!” I shouted, then slapped a hand over my mouth and peered around to make sure no one was listening. “Alec, you know he can’t.”
He suddenly stopped walking and I bumped into his back. “I can’t stop him, Vi. Ansel is a man on a mission. Nothing will stop him from getting to you.”
I bit my lip and tried to look away, but Alec grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. “Stop that.” His eyes zeroed in on my lips.
I released my bottom lip slowly and tried to look away, but he tugged my chin even harder and forced me to meet his unusual eyes.
“Always look me in the eyes,” he murmured. “Always.”
