Page 25 of A Blaze of Fire
“Let them cool for a bit,” he advised. He leaned down to blow on his and then mine to cool them down. Reaching for my wrist, he ushered me toward a group of dancers who moved to a steady drum beat and sang in a beautiful, lilting language. I strained to glean the meaning of the melody. While the words were unrecognizable, the tenor was moody and poignant.
He nodded to the sticky buns in my hand. “Try it now.”
Every morsel of fae food I’d put into my mouth to that point had been amazing, so my expectations were high as I leaned in and took a bite. I wasn’t disappointed. “Oh my gosh, they’re delicious!” I moaned as I reveled in the fluffiness of the bun. “I want to try one of everything!”
Alec laughed. “Slow down there, I’m not made out of money.”
“Oh, you mean you can’t just fool people with a handful of leaves?” I giggled and bit into the sweet confection again. “So, what are they singing about?”
Alec nodded toward the performers and swallowed his bite. “It’s an old Fae love story about two males who loved the same female, but in the end, because of all their fighting, she died.”
My eyes widened. “What? That’s so sad!” I glanced around at the merry faces. “Why is everyone smiling and dancing, then?”
Alec smirked. “It’s a great Unseelie love tragedy.”
I frowned. “That’s sick.”
He shrugged. “That’s life.”
“I could never be one of you,” I whispered before sinking my teeth into my second sweet bun.
“But now you are, and you’ll be surprised at the things you’ll end up doing.” He turned to me with a serious expression. “It’s time you stop separating yourself from the fae. You’re one of us now. Accept it. Forget about the humans.”
Forget about the humans? How could I? My mom was human, and she was still back in the human realm. Eventually, I had to get back to her.
“I will never forget my human side,” I muttered angrily.
“Do you think they would accept you if they knew what you are?” Alec taunted. “Because they won’t. Even though you’re a halfling, you’re one of us.”
“Whatever.”
Alec chuckled. “Go on.” He motioned toward the dancers. “Go dance.”
My eyes widened. “What? I can’t!”
He snatched what was left of my bun and pushed me toward the crowd of dancers. “She wants to give it a go!” he yelled out.
Upon hearing his voice, a smiling woman with long silver hair approached me. “Come!” She took my arm and brought me into the fold.
All the dancers linked arms with the person next to them to form a circle, then began to sway to the music. I tried to follow their movements, but I wasn’t the best dancer. The woman who invited me to join them was kind and did her best to help me stay upright. Eventually, I paid less attention to my embarrassment and realized I was having fun. Everyone shouted enthusiastically and sang along to the music at the top of their lungs. I didn’t know the words, but I eventually caught on to the chorus and sang right along with them. I twirled, spun, and danced the night away until I was tired and sweaty. Finally, Alec pulled me out of the fray.
He wore a devastating grin. “Still bored?”
I giggled. “Nope! Come on! You should join us!” I pulled him into the circle and he stumbled. I grabbed his hands and we spun around, laughing as if we’d been hit with laughing gas. Even though I was getting dizzy, I didn’t release Alec’s strong grip. Before I knew what he was doing, he pulled me into him and dipped me, making me burst into a fit of laughter.
We spent the rest of the night dancing and singing and eating baskets of street food that was more delicious than anything I’d ever tasted in my life. Before long, I was exhausted and my eyes were starting to droop. We sat on a street curb and my head lolled, then rested on Alec’s shoulder. I was trying very hard not to fall asleep but failing miserably.
“Stay awake, Violet.” He bounced his shoulder, stirring me awake.
I popped my head up, startled. “I’m awake!” I yelled.
Alec laughed. “Sure you are. Here.” He handed me a cup of wine. “This might liven you up a bit, at least until we get back to the castle.”
“Wine makes me sleepy,” I argued.
“Not this wine,” he smirked. “It’s made with fae fruits. Enjoy.”
I raised my brows before grasping the cup and taking a small sip. The sweet, fruity taste exploded in my mouth and just as Alec predicted, I came back to life. It was like taking Adderall. A legal version.
