Page 20 of Seduced By Darkness
Another heated look. “I only intend to get to know you.” His smile is wicked. “I don’t let myself get lured into the woods by women when I don’t even know their name.”
I bite my lip and shake my head. “Best if you don’t know.”
“But if I don’t know, then how am I going to find you again?” His eyes search my soul.
“Vi.” It blurts from my lips and I nearly stifle a moan. I can’t believe I just betrayed myself like that.
“Vi.” There’s something about the way he says the word that undoes me.
“For V-Violet.” I look him in the eye. What’s the harm in this one little lie? He’ll never know. Tomorrow will come and I’ll vanish like the figment of a dream.
He looks a little disappointed when I don’t ask him the same.
And then he slips his mask from his face.
My breath catches. Again. I knew he was handsome, but I didn’t realize just how much. There’s a dangerous carnality to him. Green eyes. He has green eyes. They’re the color of a forest cat’s and just as predatory. Thick dark brows and silky lashes complete the look.
It’s like he strips away this layer deliberately.
See me. Know me.
And then he lifts his hand to my face. “May I?”
We’re in the shadows of the trees, but there are other dancers close behind us and my face is not unknown.
I take his fingers and plunge us into the forest. “Not yet. I still haven’t decided if I’m going to let you do this.”
“You’re the one leading me into parts unknown,” he teases. “Maybe I should be afraid formyvirtue?”
It’s safer here. No eyes to see us. No ears to hear us.
I pause, with my back to a nearby tree. “I… find it difficult to trust.”
He searches my face again. Nods. And then he goes to one knee. “Then I grant you control over me for this one night. Command me, my fair lady. I bind myself to your whims. I promise once, I promise twice, I promise thrice—whatever you ask of me until the dawn rises, I am bound to give you.”
Hecan’tbe serious.
The fae are bound by their oaths and this effectively gives me control over him. If I asked him to kill someone, then hemustdo it.
“What are you doing?” I take a step back. “What if I asked you to do something you’re not comfortable doing?”
“You won’t.” There’s not even a single hint of doubt on his face. “You don’t trust me, Vi, so this grants you the power between us.” A slight pause. “You won’t hurt me. You won’t ask of me anything I don’t wish to do. I have faith in that.”
To see him like this on one knee before me—
“Get up.”
He pushes to his feet and I clap my hands over my mouth. His eyes are twinkling as he sees my dilemma.
I push away from him. It feels overwhelming. I’ve never had such power and now it lies in my hand, it’s a horrifying burden. Every word I speak must be carefully chosen.
“Come,” he whispers, extending his hand. “You’re safe now. Because now Ican’thurt you. There’s a place by the lake that I would like to show you. The views are spectacular.”
And it’s no doubt private.
I look down at those gloved fingers.
I don’t even know what’s come over me as I place my hand over those leather-clad fingers. “Okay,” I whisper.
