Crave the Darkness (26 page)

“What’s wrong?” Raif asked as we filed out the door. Xander’s limo waited a few feet away, the driver holding the door for us. I sighed. How I h
ated the pomp and circumstance.

“I wanted to talk to the team before they left,” I said. “They need to really pay attention to—”

“Darian,” Raif interrupted. “Relax. I spoke with your team, and they know their duties tonight. Now, get in the car before Xander ruptures a blood vessel.”

I looked into the car and Raif was right. Xander did look like he was about to pop something. Jeez. Anxious much? It wasn’t exactly easy getting into the car: the long hem of my gown kept catching on my heels, but I eventually managed to sidle in next to the king. “What?” I asked at his exasperated expression. “Afraid we’re going to be late or something?”

“Nonsense,” Xander said, sounding very much like the king he was. “I’m always fashionably late. But we do have to arrive before they close the wards over the building or we’ll never get in.”

At least I could be thankful for the PNT’s military precision and preparedness. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be a complete waste of time after all.

Chapter 26

O
nce you’ve seen one ball, you’ve seen ’em all.

Of course, this was the first supernatural soirée I’d ever been to. Most of the ball-goers had let their glamours slip, allowing them to appear as the less-than-human creatures they were. And the dresses and suits were as diverse as the attendees—some resembling medieval garb and others in more current styles. We arrived
fashionably late
just like Xander wanted, with minutes to spare before the wards were placed on the building. The PNT didn’t dick around when it came to security, and as soon as the moment came to lock the place down, several Fae stepprroe=s ted forward to cast the magical wards that would not only protect the preternatural partiers from harm, but nullify every supernatural ability of those enclosed within the binding magic.

Tricky.

And super-fucking smart.

Xander handed me what looked like a glass of champagne, but after I took a sip I realized that the pale pink liquid in the glass was some sort of faerie wine. The flavor was like nothing I’d ever tasted before, sweet, but not overly so, and smooth without any bite. The carbonated bubbles seemed to burst in my mouth as I drank, sort of like biting into a fresh piece of fruit. A curious sensation, but not unpleasant. I found myself smiling as I took sip after sip, enjoying this new experience.

“I’m easily amused,” I said, shrugging when I caught Xander watching me.

“As am I,” he murmured in a husky voice that brought chills to the surface of my skin. “I could watch you all night.”

I cleared my throat nervously, looking around the crowded ballroom to distract myself from Xander’s heated gaze. I noticed Dylan McBride; with him was a young woman, mid – to late twenties, maybe, with curling mahogany hair that brushed her shoulders and eyes the color of the ocean at night. Not quite gray, not quite blue. Pretty. I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed, either.

“Who’s the woman with Dylan McBride?” I asked Xander.

He looked at the girl and shrugged one shoulder dismissively. “His niece, I believe. She’s an anthropology professor at Washington State University, or something. Her name is Mickie, or . . .”

“Niki,” Raif said, not bothering to look at us. His eyes were glued to Dylan’s niece. “Niki McBride.”

I gave Xander a knowing smile, but dropped the subject of the girl’s name. I’d let Raif admire her from afar. God knows he needed something other than Xander’s ridiculous monarchy in his life.

Xander led me away from where Raif was content to sit and stare at Dylan’s niece, and we began to make the rounds that I’d hoped we wouldn’t have to make. The Shaede King wasted no time in showing me off to the crème de la crème of the supernatural society. Anxiety twisted my stomach into knots as he paraded me from one group to another, giving grand introductions and encouraging his peers to compliment me on my dress, hair, or any other silly thing that meant absolutely nothing to me. When Azriel had taken me from San Francisco to Seattle, I’d shunned the wealthy lifestyle he’d offered, instead opting for a low-key existence. But tonight I played the part of quiet, charming escort and made small talk with all of Xander’s friends and acquaintances. It wasn’t too bad. I had a drink in my hand, Anya and Dimitri couldn’t be safer inside of the warded building, and for the first time in months, I felt truly at ease.

Nature eventually called—what with the drinks I’d been guzzling since I arrived—so I excused myself from Xander to search for a ladies’ room. The ball was being held at one of many facilities the PNT owned in the downtown area, and I wandered from the ladies’ room out into a marbled foyer that made the one in Xander’s house look like a coat closet. Leaning against the cool stone wall, I closed my eyes, releasing a long, drawn-out sigh. I needed a break from the crowds, the curious eyes, and whispering voices. I enjoyed the quiet, still moment, and wondered how long I couow long ld hide here before Xander came looking for me. . . .

“I think I can safely say this is the first time I’ve ever seen you wear an actual
color
,” a cool voice drawled beside me. “That’s some dress.”

Well, fuck
. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Tyler would be here tonight. After all, he was a PNT delegate and presumably high up on their food chain. Time to hike up my big-girl panties and face the ex, yet again. “Hey, Tyler,” I said, not bothering to push myself away from the wall. The cool marble just felt too good against my heated skin. “You look nice.”

Nice.
Whatever
. He looked fucking
amazing
.

He dismissed my futile attempt to make small talk and leaned in close, bracing one hand on the wall behind me. “I bet Xander’s getting off on having you by his side tonight.” His breath smelled of expensive bourbon. Hmmm, not his usual drink. Bourbon was sort of my thing. I’d never seen Tyler drunk before. I think he was more of a control freak than I was. But he was definitely tipsy enough to let his inhibitions—and that control—slip a little. Ice crystals formed on the marble behind me, causing me to shiver. How in the hell could he use his magic with the wards in place? Not a good sign. “Was it easy for you, Darian?” He leaned in closer, so close that our lips were almost touching. His eyes delved into mine and the beautiful hazel depths swallowed me whole. My breath fogged in the cold, and my teeth threatened to chatter as he continued to stare. “Tell me. Was it easy to just walk away from what we had in exchange for being Xander’s kept woman? Do you like being his trophy? Playing the part of consort?”

His words touched a nerve. The wrong nerve. I’d hated being an ornamental wife to my human husband. No freaking
way
was I going to play that role again no matter what Tyler might think. And
consort
? Not a chance. “I suppose it was as easy as your decision to come home with another woman,” I countered, infusing venom into every word. “I waited for you, Tyler.
You
walked away from what we had. Not me.”

I tried to push myself away from the wall, but Tyler wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, keeping me right where I was. He pressed his body against mine and swept his thumb across my cheek. My skin prickled, the weight of his stare brushing against my senses. The marble behind me continued to grow colder, and I was forced to push myself away from it, tighter against Tyler’s chest. A sound like the crack of a whip echoed around us as a fissure opened in the frozen marble and traveled from where Tyler’s palm rested against the wall, all the way to the ceiling.

Shit
.

“I want you to wish for something.” Ty’s voice rumbled in his chest.

“Wh-what?” I stammered.

“Wish. For. Something.” Tyler’s eyes were hard, unyielding, and his stare bore into me with such intensity that I couldn’t look away. His hand, still wrapped around the back of my neck, held my face close to his, and the cold that emanated from him chilled me to the bone. “Do you know how fucking frustrating it is for me that you never wish for
anything
? Well,” he scoffed. “I guess you make the occasional wish. But only when you want me out of your hair.”

“I wished for
you
,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “Almost every day. And no matter how much I wanted you with me, you stayed , you staway.”

“Wants versus needs,” Tyler scoffed. “Your wishes are dictated by magic, Darian. You might have wanted me for whatever reason but you didn’t
need
me. I’m at your disposal . . . night, day, whenever. And still, you only make selfish wishes. Wishes to keep me home and out of your hair. Wishes to bring me to your side to relieve your guilt. Do you know how useless that makes me feel?”

“Tyler . . . I . . .” What the hell could I say? He was right. I refused to make wishes, even though his very nature demanded that he grant them. I hadn’t wanted to use him, to treat him like a slave.

“Is it easier to be with
him
?” Tyler asked. “Does he give you space? Freedom? Does he let you be in charge, because I have a hard time believing that he’d let you. Does he even care what happens to you as long as you’re front and center when he wants you to be?” His eyes left mine and his heated gaze swept my body, sending a liquid fire through my bloodstream. “Do you tremble when he touches you?” He swept his forefinger along my collarbone and over the swell of one breast. “Can he make your breath quicken like I can?”

Little puffs of steam burst from my parted lips. “Stop it, Tyler,” I said, too breathily. I tried to infuse my voice with strength and resolution, but fell short. “You don’t want me anymore. You have Adira. Why are you doing this to me?”

“Make a wish,” he commanded.

My gaze darted from his eyes to his parted mouth. I could almost feel his lips on mine: soft, yet demanding. “I wish . . .”
you’d kiss me
.

As if he’d read my mind, Tyler’s mouth claimed mine. He pulled me tight against his chest, his free arm wrapping around my waist. I melted against him, flames of desire licking at me with torturous heat. This would ruin me, I knew it, but as his tongue met mine in a slow, tantalizing dance, I didn’t care. Nothing mattered but this moment. I wanted to touch him, to tuck my hands inside his tuxedo jacket and run my palms along the hard planes of his chest. I wanted to hold him so close to me that there’d be no chance of him pulling away. Instead, I balled my hands into fists at my side, denying myself the pleasure of touching him. I couldn’t open myself up to more heartache. When he sobered up a little, he’d realize what a mistake he’d made.

“Darian,” he whispered against my mouth as he pulled away. “I—”

“My king is looking for you, Darian.” Anya’s voice was like a blade sinking into my chest. “Should I tell him you’ve found something more interesting to occupy your time?”

I wondered if this was how a teenage girl felt when her parents caught her making out with a boy. Tyler stepped a good three feet away from me, and the frost that had formed on the walls and floor beneath our feet began to recede. My gaze settled on Tyler, the expression on his face unreadable. Nothing like alcohol to encourage bad decisions, I guess. I wanted to say something . . . but what? I was at a loss for words. I wanted to know what he’d been about to say to me before Anya interrupted. I could tell by the look on his face, though, that I’d never know.

Without a word, I turned away from him. It was like spinning out of orbit, prying a chunk of metal from a high-powered magnet, and my feet felt heavy as if they’d disobey the command of my brain. I followed Anyafollowed back toward the ballroom, resisting the urge to look back. “What the hell was that?” she hissed, her pace almost too quick for me to keep up with and still look elegant tottering on my too-high heels. “You come on the arm of
my
king,
and I find you wrapped around your former lover.”

“Shut it, Anya.”

“How could you dishonor him?” she continued incredulously.

“Anya, I said be quiet. I wasn’t trying to dishonor Xander. I don’t know what the hell happened back there. It just . . .”
Why
was I trying to explain myself to her? It wasn’t any of her damn business. “Just forget it, okay. It was a mistake.”
Yeah, a mistake Ty will probably regret in the morning.
“I’m here with Xander, period.”

She scowled, her violet eyes glowing with suspicion, but she let the subject drop. Xander smiled as we approached, his face lighting up and his eyes smoldering as he took me in. But something behind me caught his attention and the smile seemed to melt, turning down at the corners as his eyes narrowed. I stole a glance behind me to see Tyler coming through the door behind us.
Perfect
. Just fucking
perfect
.

“Where have you been?” I’m pretty sure Xander was going for a teasing tone, but he failed miserably. He reached out and took my hand in his, pulling me close. Caught in a ballroom full of onlookers, I couldn’t simply reject Xander’s attention. I didn’t want to hurt Ty, but I’d been truthful with Anya, I had no intention of dishonoring her king. Leaning down, he put his lips to mine, though his gaze had locked on something behind us. As he pulled away, his mouth curled into a triumphant smile, mocking and superior. Obviously meant for Tyler.

Wow. Can you say, awkward? The evening took a nosedive, crashed and burned, and left no survivors. The air crackled with energy, and the ballroom, despite the press of bodies, grew cold. So cold that many of the attendees complained that something must have malfunctioned in the heating system. But I knew better. What I didn’t know was why his magic hadn’t been nullified by the wards. I knew that many in the supernatural community held a deep reverence toward the Jinn race. I was also aware that their magic was the most powerful. Could it be that the wards simply couldn’t negate a magic as strong as Tyler’s? If so, I’d been a fool to think that any of us were safe within these walls.

Tyler’s gaze had been locked on me since the moment I’d come back into the grand ballroom. I tried to ignore it, but the weight of his stare was almost a physical thing, pressing against me like his body had earlier in the foyer. With each cocky, victorious smile Xander flashed his way, Tyler’s anger seemed to grow tenfold. And if that wasn’t fucked up enough, I noticed about halfway through Ty’s deep-freeze routine that he hadn’t come dateless, either. Adira wound her arm through his, looking as devastatingly gorgeous as ever.

She whispered in his ear, soothing words I’m sure. And though it made my insides burn to see her touch him with such intimacy—her hand caressing his upper arm, fingers teasing his hair, her mouth so close to his face that their lips would touch if he turned just a fraction of an inch toward her—she seemed to calm him. The temperature in the room began to regulate once again, and my breath no longer clouded the air. What was with him, anyway? Tyler was here
with another woman
. Why would he care who I’d come with?