Relish: A Vicious Feast Book 2 (33 page)

No longer with a clear purpose, I stroll into a darkened ballroom. The Winter Solstice ball is still a few weeks away so the space is left bare. Only beams of moonlight seep in. The rubber soles of my boots muffle my steps against the hardwood, but due to the length of my skirt, a scraping hush accompanies me. I pause at the center of the dance floor and place my hands on an imaginary partner’s hand and shoulder. I take a step forward then to the side then one step back, another to the side, and one more forward. I repeat the motions. Because of the coming ball, everyone’s been practicing. This is an important year for all the thirteen-year-olds since we will be officially announced into society. My stomach does a flip. I can only hope I don’t trip when I walk down the stairs in my white gown. I pivot into a turn and collide with—

“Luka?” My eyes widen about the same time I gasp out his name.

In a smooth move he learned from countless hours of dance practice, he takes my hand in his, places my other on his shoulder, and slips his arm around my waist. “It’s not good to dance alone,” he says, leading me into my favorite waltz.

I have to fight not to smile up at him when I ask, “What are you doing here?”

His eyebrows shoot up. “I was walking down the hall and spotted the open ballroom door.” He indicates where I came in with a head tilt. “I saw you here dancing alone and thought to join you.”

“What about Moira?” I blurt out as he twirls me around. My skirts rustle against his long legs. He prefers leather trousers during this time of year with a fur vest over his billowy white tunic. The moonlight gives his curls silver highlights. My mouth waters inexplicably at the sight of him. It’s as if I’m seeing him for the first time.

The corners of his lips dip a fraction. “What about her?”

“Don’t play coy with me.” I brace myself to say the words that poison my insides. “Aren’t you two supposed to be holding hands all happy?”

“And why would we be doing that?”

I want to smack away the mock confusion on his face. He knows what I’m talking about, but he wants me to actually say it. Confirm. I hate him sometimes. I huff, not needing to think about the steps of the dance anymore. Luka leads so well that all I have to do is go with the flow. More often than not we were partners during our lessons. I trust him not to let me stumble. The firm hold of his hand on the small of my back tells me so.

“Didn’t Moira confess her feelings for you?” My heart is an orange being squeezed for its juices in my chest. It takes all my strength to remain standing when all I want is to push him away and run so I can bury my face in a pillow.

“She did,” he says with a stern expression.

I wait for him to continue. When it becomes apparent he won’t, my brows furrow. “And?”

“She’s probably in her room.”

“Why would she—” I cut myself off. “Are you saying you rejected her?”

“Yes.” The truth of it strikes panic in me. I struggle to get away from his arms. With strength I know he possesses, he keeps me in place, continuing to sweep me across the gleaming hardwood floor. “What are you doing?”

“I have to go to her.”

“Why?”

I glare at him like he doesn’t understand. “I’m her best friend. I’ve known about her feelings for you since…forever. I can’t let her deal with this alone. Now, let me—”

His lips interrupt the rest of my sentence. Our dance stops abruptly. I push against his chest when both his arms snake around my waist. I try to lean away but he only chases after me, bowing us over until I can’t lean back anymore or we’ll fall. But considering the way he’s holding me in those strong arms of his, I’ll have to knee him between the legs to get away. And that’s the last thing I want to do.

My fists gradually open so my hands are splayed on his chest. The feel of his lips on mine send magical shivers down my spine. Soon I’m gliding my hands up so I can lace my fingers into his glorious hair. He takes this as an invitation to part my lips with his tongue. At first, I don’t know what he’s asking from me, but as soon as his tongue touches mine and a zing rushing through my body curls my toes, I give him as good as he gives me. It’s not our bodies dancing anymore.

When I nip at his lower lip, he groans and pulls away. He rests his forehead on mine. Our breaths mingle. I want more of his lips. So much more. But he doesn’t allow it, keeping his distance.

He whispers my name.

“What’s the matter?” I ask, his lips barely an inch from mine.

He straightens to look into my eyes. They look like mercury in the dim light. Still catching his breath, he says, “I rejected Moira because I have feelings for someone else.”

Struck dumb by his statement, my response is, “Someone else?”

“Oh God.” One of his hands lets go of my waist so he can rake it through his hair. “What do you think the kiss was about?”

Unwilling to fully accept what he’s telling me just yet, I grin playfully at him and bat my eyelashes. “Your attempt at teaching me a new skill?”

His gaze hardens. “I don’t kiss anyone that way.”

“Not what I hear from Demitri and the other guys when you’re all boasting about going into town and practicing on the girls there.”

“I won’t defend my past actions.” His face drops. “This, right now, means so much more. Feels so much more. It’s real for me.”

My heart echoes the promise in his words. What I’ve been feeling tonight finally makes sense. Unfortunately for him, I have other plans. Feeling the need to make him work for it a little more, I cup his face with my hands. My palms tingle at the stubble along his jaw. “Sometimes I hate this double standard we have going. Guys can fool around and call it practice but us girls are supposed to stay away from all that? Why can’t we fool around too?”

“Who have you been fooling around with?” He searches my face as if trying to find the answer before I can speak it. His grip on my waist tightens.

I laugh. “You’re my first kiss, Luka.”

When he sighs in relief, his shoulders actually droop for a moment then he straightens to his full height. “Good. I don’t have to kill anyone today.”

“And who’s to say I won’t kill anyone who kisses you other than me from now on?” To make my point, I arch a brow right about the same time a bolt of thunder makes landfall outside.

He glides his hands up the sides of my body until he’s cradling my face with them. This prompts me to move my hands to circle his wrists. I squeeze, my gaze never wavering.

“You’re the last girl I ever want to kiss.” He presses his lips to mine.

“Then you have to let me go,” I say afterward.

Hurt sparks in his gaze. “Why?”

I roll my eyes. “That’s not what I mean.”

It takes him a couple of seconds. Boys and their delayed understanding of things. “Moira.”

I nod. “She’s my best friend.” It bears repeating.

“What will you tell her?”

Taking his hands from my face so I can squeeze them in mine, I say, “That I have feelings for someone else too.”

His happiness manifests in a bright smile I now know he reserves just for me. I stand on my tiptoes, place a quick kiss on his lips, then run out of the ballroom before I forget what I need to do and allow myself to explore what else he can do with his mouth.         

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTY
-S
EVEN
S
PRING

I stand on a low platform in front of three mirrors. The center looks me straight on while the ones on the left and right are slightly angled so I get a view of my dress from the back and sides. I twist this way then that, watching the fabric dance around my legs. Never in a million years did I ever think wearing a dress, especially one made of yards and yards of cream silk chiffon, can be so much fun. The ribbons Deidra braided into my hair danced along with my movement. Oh, there will be lots of dancing today—well into the night.

The Strega Compound is celebrating the final stages of my ascension into my Vessel powers. It will last until my twenty-first year, where I will finally be fit to rule over all the covens in our compound and keep my people safe and my kingdom prosperous. Already I can feel the tiny jolts of power strumming through my body. The surges lightened my mood. And it’s springtime. The birds outside are merrily enjoying the festivities with their enthusiastic chirping. The flowers are blooming, giving the air sweetness. And the sky is an impossible shade of blue I’d only ever seen in Luka’s eyes.

The image of his smiling face sends delicious tingles over my skin. Last night he whispered into my ear about a surprise. Having not seen him all day, I’m anxious. Since confessing our feelings for each other that winter night at the Eclipse Keep ballroom three years ago, we barely spend time apart. Luka had gotten into the habit of sneaking into my room at night. Just to sleep, of course. Even when I wanted to take things further, he’d stop, saying it wasn’t the right time. I respected him for his self-control, even if it left me frustrated most of the time. As Vessel, it is my duty to pick the right consort to rule by my side. This will happen when I turn twenty-one. Luka and I both know taking my virginity will not only ruin my credibility as a ruler to my people, but the consequence to my ascension may be catastrophic, especially if I end up carrying his child.

My hand drifts to my belly. The thought of carrying a child made by me and Luka seems so right it hurts. I can already imagine a blond, curly-haired cherub running into my arms. I shake my head at the hot flush spreading across my face. Oh I wish we’re celebrating my twenty-first year instead of my sixteenth. Can we skip five years? I already know who I would choose. But…I sigh…that is not the way we do things around here.

“Oh, darling!” My mother exclaims from behind me, her hands cupping her beautifully youthful face. “You look wonderful.”

I twirl around. “You think so?” I leave out the real question I want to ask, “You think Luka will like it?” The cream dress is conservative by my people’s standards. Lace covers the entire upper half of my body, from my wrists to my neck. The skirt is full and embroidered on the side with blue lilies that match Luka’s eyes. They’re a later addition to the ensemble I insisted the dressmaker add. I hope he notices.   

“Gorgeous!” Mother rushes to me. Her tall willowy frame is sheathed in a royal purple dress. It covers everything, sure, but the way the rich fabric clings to her curves leaves nothing—and I mean
no-thing
—to the imagination. I wonder what my father thinks of what my mother is wearing. She keeps her hair down, draping over her shoulders and cascading down her back. Her only accessory is a simple silver crown topped with pearls. She moves her soft hands from her face to mine. “You are the most beautiful daughter I have.”

I smirk. “I’m the only daughter you have.”

“That you know of.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me and I laugh. “All the more important that you are beautiful. Imagine the shame I would feel if you weren’t?” She kisses the tops of my cheeks as I laugh some more. I love her so much my chest aches. I wouldn’t know what I’d do without her in my life and when I say so tears well up in her eyes. She gathers me into a tight embrace. “Oh, I wish Moira were here to see you today.”

My breath hitches. I haven’t spoken to my best friend since the night I told her about my feelings for Luka and how he shared them. Granted, I could have handled things better. She’d just been rejected after all. But I was thirteen and thrumming with excitement. The next day she left to complete her studies. I often wondered about what would have happened if I were more mature in my approach. Yes, I gained Luka’s love in the end, but I lost my dearest friend.

I disentangle myself from my mother’s arms. “I’m sure she’d want to be here if she could.”

Her face crumples as she studies me. “Whatever happened between the two of you? You were inseparable growing up.”

I bite down on the tip of my tongue to keep in the truth. No one knew of my relationship with Luka. It’s all stolen kisses and secret caresses in the shadows for us. If I want my choice for a consort to seem legitimate when the time comes, no one can discover that I’ve already given my heart to him. My virtue will be questioned, and we can’t have that. 

“We just…” I begin around the prickly lump in my throat. “We just grew apart, I guess.”

The creases on her forehead ease. “Oh, I’m sorry, my darling girl.” She taps my cheek before placing her hands on my shoulders. The brilliant smile my father fell in love with blooms on her face. It starts with the curling of her lips until she shows teeth and rises until the corners of her eyes crinkle. She practically glows when she smiles like this. “Let’s forget about sad thoughts. Today is about celebrating the day I brought you into this world.”

I roll my eyes and laugh. “And I thought it’s celebrating the final stages of my ascension.”

“That too.” She takes my hand and leads me out of my chambers.

***

The Solstice Palace is decked out in all its finery today. Its tall towers gleam beneath the shining sun. Our family’s banner of a shield with a budding rose at its center dances in the breeze from spires. The gardeners conjured climbing vines around all the columns. A light rain of flower petals falls over the courtyard where children play. Servants carry trays of all my favorite foods, mostly sweets, much to the chagrin of my father who prefers roasts and salty things. I conceded to a rotisserie of bison for him, which he says he’s eternally thankful for. A chocolate fountain flows in one corner, surrounded by fruit and pastries on sticks. I pick a combination of marshmallows and brownies and dip them into the stream until they are generously coated. Then I pop the contents of half the stick into my mouth. I lean away, making sure none of the chocolate drips onto my dress. I haven’t seen Luka yet, so I want to stay perfect for as long as I can.

I finish the rest of the stick and decide to search for him. I’m officially worried. Whatever surprise he has planned isn’t worth anything if I don’t see him right away. I murmur a locator spell in front of a framed map of the palace grounds and a tiny blue dot appears in the great hall. My belly quivers as a mischievous grin spreads across my lips. I gather the front of my skirts in my hands and take off at a run. He cannot hide from me for long.