Page 30 of Ella's Masquerade
However, disbelief practically poured from her exterior. Which was precisely why I brought her here. The only way she’d believe me would be tosee.
I took advantage of her silence and continued my explanation. “Your mother was a fae, but she fell in love with a human—your father. It’s not common among our kind, particularly among the royal sect, but it’s not unheard of. I mean, Midnight Fae interact with mortality to sate our blood thirst. It’s what sets us apart from other fae. Well, that and our favor with the dark arts, necromancy, and other—”
“Hold on,” she said, lifting her hand. “Blood thirst?”
I smirked. “Of all the things I said, that’s what you chose to hear?” Typical human. “Yeah, we drink human blood. And before you freak out, it’s not often. Just enough to keep our darker elements alive. That’s how I know about Darlington and the surrounding suburbs. It’s my preferred feeding ground.” I met her gaze. “And you were my target the night we met.” Only, I’d been so startled by her Halfling nature that I’d been unable to perform, let alone bite her.
Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “You’re a vampire?”
I snorted. “Hardly. You’ve seen me eat, Ella. And you’ve seen me in sunlight. Also? Vampires don’t exist. They’re a myth contrived by humans, likely because of a few idiot Midnight Fae who didn’t compel their prey correctly.”
“Compel?” she repeated, understanding brightening her features. “Youcompelledme tonight.”
“Yeah, I did,” I admitted, running my fingers through my hair. “Not that it’s a great excuse, but you wouldn’t have gotten in the car without it.” I’d seen the fight written all over her body, and I wasn’t in the mood to persuade via my usual charms. They were all burned out, thanks to Ryan and her damn shenanigans.
“And the dancing,” she added.
My eyebrow lifted. “What about the dancing?”
“You compelled me then, too.”
It took me a moment to realize what she really meant—the seduction and subsequent kiss. Amusement tilted my lips. “Oh, no, sweetheart. That was real. No compulsion involved.”
“You made me kiss you.”
“I assure you, I did no such thing.” I leaned forward, crowding her against the door. “I’ve never compelled a woman to touch me, Ella. There’s never been a need, nor would I desire it. Besides, part of the fun is the foreplay. Why would I belittle such a thing by adding compulsion to the mix?” I wasn’t Dash or Charlie. When I craved a female, I worked for it. And tonight was no different.
“You expect me to believe you?”
“No,” I replied without missing a beat. “In fact, I fully anticipated younotbelieving me, which is why I brought you here.”
“I’m talking about the compulsion, Trayton.”
I tongued my teeth, considering how I wanted to reply to that. “If it makes you feel better to believe I’m lying, then I’ll allow it.” Because my conscience in this regard was clear. “However, deep down, you know the truth already, Ella. Because you haverealcompulsion to compare it to.”
Her gaze narrowed and she glanced out the window, only to shudder and face forward. Because yeah, the vines were growing agitated. They sensed her discontent and likely ill thoughts toward me. As a royal of these grounds, the enchantment would do what was required to protect me against any and all threats.
Interesting that it considered Ella a threat when she clearly didn’t have access to her powers yet. Which was an oddity in and of itself. Midnight Fae were born with their gifts. Halflings came into them over time, but she should have access to her inner strengths by her eighteenth birthday—an event that had come and gone.
“Your mother was powerful,” I said, thinking out loud. “Renowned, actually.” It was entirely possible she’d enchanted her daughter in some capacity, but I hadn’t picked up on any dark-magic notes from Ella. In fact, I hadn’t detected a single note of power inside her. Just a very strong resolve and a courage that would put most fae to shame.
“My mother,” she whispered, her attention shifting to her hands. “Did you know my mother?”
“No, but my parents did. They all grew up together in the royal circuit and attended Midnight Fae Academy around the same time.”
“Midnight Fae Academy?” she repeated.
I nodded. “It’s where our kind go to perfect our access to the dark arts. Our scores and knowledge then determine where we end up in the society sects. It’s sort of like your version of college, only for Midnight Fae.”
“So why are you in Darlington?” she asked.
“Because I’ve been assigned to recruit you, Ella.”
And you’re my intended mate,I added mentally.Welcome to the family.
We’d cover that aspect later.
After she understood everything else.
