Page 77 of Insidious Monsters
I was instantly enveloped in heat. We crunched across the drive and up the steps to the house. The front doors were wide open, people visible within, mingling in small groups. Some men were dressed like Lothos, in silken shirts and corsets, others wore form-hugging tunics with slacks, and several had come in tailored suit jackets over designers shirts, making it easy to separate the fae from the not so fae. There were women too, dressed in fancy gowns, but none of them had a fae look to them.
Laughter tripped over the threshold to greet us as we stepped into the foyer and the conversation dropped, falling into a lull as we became the object of scrutiny for all.
I nestled closer to Lothos and peered up at him with a smile, speaking through gritted teeth. “Well, this is uncomfortable.”
He squeezed my shoulder and looked down at me with a warmth that made my stomach flip. “This is normal, August.”
Lothos led me further into the room and the crowd parted to let us pass. I caught whispers of “nova prima” and “she’s the one the prince wanted.” We passed through an arch into a huge room that had been cleared out to accommodate several dancing couples, and among them, sticking out like a royal thumb, was Barathos himself.
The prince cut a splendid figure in a black corset edged in silver thread that matched the cosmic silver shimmer of his hair. His midnight-blue skin shimmered as if dusted with starlight.
A crimson-haired beauty was cocooned in his arms, delicate face tipped up to gaze at the prince. But whereas her gaze dripped with adoration, his was cool and controlled as if he was merely playing a part.
He looked across the room at us, cold smile tipping into a lopsided, smug one. “Our guests of honor have arrived.”
The woman in Barathos’s arms tore her attention from his face and looked our way. Eyes like a raging storm drifted from me to Lothos and widened a fraction. Her mouth parted as if on a whisper. Lothos’s grip on me tightened, his body going stiff.
What was going on here?
Barathos’s attention flicked from the woman in his arms to Lothos. “You remember Dahlia, don’t you?”
Lothos’s chest expanded on an inhalation and a tremor passed through me. A warning of impending chaos. I wasn’t sure how I knew it—maybe it was something to do with the contract we’d signed, or maybe it was the fact that I’d known Lothos long enough and intimately enough to recognize signs of distress. Whatever the reason, he needed me now. A barrier to whatever this was. I turned my body so I was pressed against him, using the contact to pull his attention to me.
It worked. He dropped his gaze to my face, and I reached up to stroke his cheek. “Introduce me, love.”
Love, ha. Okay, keep it together. Play the part.
Lothos’s face relaxed into a doting smile. “Of course, Dahlia and I grew up together. We were...friends a long time ago.”
In other words, they used to bang. Got it. I fixed a warm smile on my face and beamed it Dahlia’s way. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Dahlia blinked sharply. “Why yes. Of course it is.”
Was it my imagination or was she paler than a moment ago?
Barathos pulled her to his side. “Dahlia is my new nova prima.”
Her eyes flinched as if she was in pain and she blinked rapidly as if holding back tears, but her smile didn’t falter. Barathos was gripping her too tightly. Hurting her.
Lothos exhaled sharply, his bicep flexing beneath my fingers. It was obvious Barathos was trying to provoke him.
Anger flared in my chest, but I pushed it down. “Dahlia, I’d love for you to show me the mansion?” I looked up at Lothos, a question in my eyes and a slight pout to my mouth. “Would that be all right, love?”
Once again Lothos relaxed. “I’m sure our host wouldn’t mind relinquishing his nova prima to his honored guest.”
Barathos’s jaw ticked. “Dahlia, make our guest feel at home.” The way he said it sent a shiver of foreboding down my spine.
But the prince had relinquished his hold on Dahlia, and she drifted toward us, a genuine smile on her face.
“It is so good to see you.” She drank Lothos in with a sweeping look before focusing on me. “Come, let’s get you a drink.”
She linked arms with me, and I allowed her to draw me away from Lothos.
This hadn’t been the plan. I was meant to stay close, but there was no way I’d stand around and watch Barathos abuse his power.
Dahlia led me toward the bar, but I spotted a balcony. “How about some air first.” I steered us toward the French doors and onto the decking outside. It was quiet here, cold too, but we were away from prying eyes and flappy ears. “What’s going on, Dahlia?”
She balked. “You are very direct.”
