Page 15 of The Star's Sword

So more like a lot of people pretending to be bored.

By the end of the night, even in boots, I was exhausted. I’d nearly sweat through my dress, my hair was damp and frizzing, and the scents in the air had overwhelmed my nose completely, to the point that I couldn’t smell anything.

“I’m ready to go,” I said, dragging along as I held onto Zadis. His arm was warm and strong, and as he led me out into the night, through the glass doors and out into a misty, moonlit garden, I couldn’t help but feel utterly safe with him.

Utterly assured.

“So,” he said, putting a hand over mine. “I can’t possibly take you home this early, drunk on vampire wine. Gods know what that incubus would do to you.”

I grinned up at him, and Zadis laughed, pulling me through a row of tall, ornate trees to a small white bench made of a strong, sparkly material that glistened like mother of pearl.

He sat and I couldn’t help feeling slightly nervous as I sat next to him, my knees touching his in my dress.

“Samael could still be inside, watching,” I said, raising my hand. “Do you think he saw us go out?”

Zadis shook his head, rising slightly to look around us. “We’re all alone.” His green eyes flickered, his cheeks heating as his gaze fell to my décolletage.

“Maybe I should be worried about being withyouon the wine,” I teased.

His hand reached up to brush back my hair and my breath hitched, making me feel the heady warmth in my body that meant I truly was at least a little drunk.

“Could be,” he said, letting his thumb rest gently on my cheek.

I looked up at his elegant, straight jaw, his gorgeous green eyes, and the fond expression with heat boiling beneath the surface.

“I have wanted you for so long,” Zadis said. He leaned in, pushing my hair further behind my ear, making me shudder slightly as his fingers grazed the shell of my ear.

The moon overhead was bright tonight, shining down through the streamy, gauzy clouds overhead and the misty trails winding through the gardens.

“I wonder where Simon is,” I said nervously, my heart pounding harder and harder as Zadis kept contact with me. He smelt like a fresh, vibrant forest. Like the forest where he’d lived as a fae. A fae prince.

And he was as handsome as all the fairytales would make you believe, his skin nearly luminescent in the moonlight, his broad shoulders a shelter from anything or anyone around.

For a moment, I actually enjoyed this night at the ball. The moonlight. The lack of training.

Zadis’s lips coming tantalizingly close. Behind him, in my minds’ eye, it was like I could see Samael’s burning red irises, watching me.Daringme.

And then Zadis’s lips slipped over mine, so different than the kiss we’d had before.

We’d been playing spin the bottle, and I’d been distracted by fighting with Sam prior, and the trip to hell, and—

And this was so different, the warmth that surged through me as Zadis’s hand gently cupped my neck and then my head, and his lips pressed mine apart to slowly let his tongue out against my seam.

When I simply kept us pressed together, his tongue retreated and he adjusted his lips to a more intimate hold.

It was overwhelming enough emotionally, just with the bond between us, the deep friendship, and the surging attraction that had gone unnoticed for so long.

Truly, could someone love two people? My heart felt like it was bursting, as I felt this cool, soothing but intense at the same time comfort from Zadis, knowing it was so different from the forceful fire whenever Samael and I kissed.

But I guess Zadis had a dominant side too, because he pushed forward again, parting my lips this time, and with a hot shock that made me jump, our tongues connected for a split second.

A twig snapped and Zadis pulled back, sensing my sudden tension.

I still couldn’t believe I’d kissed someone other than Sam.

Was I drunk? He’d said it was okay, but—

“If you want to watch, you should ask, Samael,” Zadis murmured, his voice husky and his body tight, his hand down on my arm, still tensely holding it.

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