Page 45 of Insurrection
“Adrien kissed me, and Dray walked in on it,” I mumbled, heat rising in my cheeks at the admission.
Finias’ eyes blazed as he let out a dangerous hum, “Is that so?”
I swallowed a lump in my throat and nodded. “And then Drayven kissed me.”
My back hit the wall of the hallway as Finias walked me up against it, his large tattooed hands gripping my waist as his head dipped to bring his lips closer to mine. His voice was rough, “I don’t like that. I don’t like that they kissed you. They don’t deserve it. Especially Drayven. Especially with how he’s hurt you.”
“And who deserves it?” I breathed out, wanting to hear his answer.
A smile stole over Finias’ face as he hesitated over my lips. “Not me either, Ama.”
Oh.
Disappointment flooded me, but then suddenly, he brushed my lips gently with his as he spoke against them, “But that doesn’t mean I won’t take it—and you—anyway.”
Oh devil.
Finias’ kiss was explorative and cautious at first, and I completely gave in to it, my body melting against his as he traced my lips with his tongue and made my knees weak. Every point in my body lit up with pleasure as the man simply kissed me. It was such a dangerous kiss, though. Such a toxic, dangerous kiss.
My body flooded with warmth at the memory of the way he had made me come with his fingers, and I wanted to find a room and ask for a repeat right now.
Unfortunately I knew that wasn’t an option so I decided instead to go up on my toes and press a kiss to his cheek. Finias let out a low rumble his hands wrapping around my waist and pulling me closer in a tight embrace that had my face flushing.
A dangerous sound had us pulling apart, and my gaze snapped to the side, where Drayven stood, looking dashing despite the small cuts and light bruising from the fight last night. His silver hair was slicked back and contrasted handsomely with his all-black tuxedo set. I froze as his eyes ran over me, then he cursed and stormed back towards the ballroom.Shit, how long had he been standing there? It couldn’t have been long and I was hoping all he saw was the kiss to Fin’s cheek.
Pain blossomed in my chest. Guilt and pain.Why did I feel that?I wasn’t Drayven’s, and he had hurt me immensely. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt at him seeing me with Finias—especially since he’d admitted that he had feelings for me. That had to have wounded him to see.Again.
But I couldn’t go to him. I couldn’t keep giving up these moments of happiness to placate him or soothe his anger.
Fin held me closer, and I closed my eyes, allowing myself to relax and feel comforted before we headed towards the ballroom. My stomach clenched as a ball of dread settled into it. Tempers were flaring between the men, and emotions were running high with the vote on the line between the kings and queens.
Tonight wasn’t just a ball. Tonight was a game of chess. One I intended to destroy.
Chapter Nineteen
Ama
Walking into the ball on Finias' arm was a bold move. It indicated an alliance between our houses, but it would still be unclear who was voting for whom. His parents were likely under the impression that he had secured my vote, while the other houses that thought I was whoring myself out likely thought I had secured a vote from the House of Runes.
That placed a big target on my back—one that showed I was a force to be reckoned with. I wasn't here to be quiet, complacent, or stepped on.
No, I was here to make my father proud and win this vote for our house once again. And I wasn't going to do that by making any shady, manipulative moves. Staying true to myself was extremely important to me, and no matter what I felt for the men around me, I wouldn't let my values or goals slip from my mind.
I hadn’t realized just how many opinions I had on leadership until I’d stepped away from my father and had to navigate these things on my own. It was both nerve wracking and freeing. I felt like I was growing through this experience, and it was a completely unintended side effect of something I hadn’t even wanted to do. Now, though? Well, now I was glad I’d come—and for more reasons than one.
"You look absolutely ravishing. I realize I failed to tell you that earlier," Fin whispered discretely to me. All eyes were on us, and his comment brought a smile to my face, which in turn, caused several enemies to scowl.
They wanted me out, and they wanted me to feel shame at what I was. Who I was.
Something peculiar had shifted within me in my short time at the Summit. While I had an intense desire to prove hybrids weren't lesser, I had also realized that I had been shaming myself for being a hybrid my whole life by shunning the Succubus half of me.
I had treated myself exactly the way I hated others treating me, and it was time to put an end tothatbullying too. No longer would I despise or feel disgust over who I was. While it was true I had some unresolved mommy issues, I couldn't change who my birth parents were. They had found love, or so my father claimed, and then I had come along.
I was a result of love, and after meeting these princes, I had to admit I found the line that had been drawn between all the species when it came to relationships disgusting. Why were we not free to love who we wanted to? Why did purity of lines matter?
They didn't.
Lifting my chin, I let my lips pull back into a toothy grin that encompassed my face, “Why, thank you, Fin. You look rather dashing yourself.”
