The decadent palace loomed over me as Remus and I strolled through the arched doors. The place was overrun with beautiful people. They looked happy, thriving even.
I could feel Caldor’s eyes on me as I moved forward tensely. I knew somewhere around here would be the insufferable Prince Nero. I was almost positive his eyes were stalking me through his home as well, but I couldn’t let that distract me. All the handsome men in the world couldn’t stop me from moving deeper into this very obvious trap.
I knew very little right now, which left me off kilter, but I didn't know some things. Firstly, I knew there were poisonous roses in the gardens which had yet to be explained, nor had I inquired about. Secondly, I knew these Source wielding people would kill me in an instant if given a reason. And finally, I knew that all three of the men with me could feel the danger in the room just from their body language. Even Rijjat’s eyes were shifting uneasily as we moved through throngs of people. Remus’s arm intertwined with mine, holding me in a death grip, and without my potion, his shifter nature was closer than ever.
“You look beautiful tonight,” Remus purred as he shifted me closer to his warm body.
Caldor grunted in disgust before walking in another direction. I knew he wouldn’t go far, but in order to keep up appearances, Remus had to be the man on my arm tonight. Caldor didn’t like it, but he knew I was right.
My eyes met Remus’s warm stare as he studied me from the tips of my toes to the curling tendrils of my dark hair. There was raw appreciation in those cat-like eyes, and my stomach fluttered with excitement, remembering the dark promises he’d made to me. I just had to decide if I was willing to succumb to the temptation or keep him at arm’s length.
Rijjat followed Caldor’s lead, moving out of sight but close enough to help if something went wrong. We had no real plan to get out of here if things went badly, but we’d kill to save ourselves if we had to. I just had to hope that if something did happen tonight, Rijjat wouldn’t turn on the three of us in favor of his prince and king.
I still wasn't sure about that man, but something deep in my gut urged me to place my trust in him. I knew it was foolish, and I might come to regret it later, but as of now, I decided to watch him carefully.
“You shouldn’t push him on purpose, Rem,” I warned my soon-to-be husband, even though my lips tilted into a small grin.
He chuckled wickedly. They would have to figure their differences out eventually, or else this was going to get messy. Caldor was my past, and Remus was supposed to be my future. I couldn’t snuff out the flame I’d held for him, even if I was starting to kindle something new with someone else. I wouldn’t admit it to him though, as their ego was already too big for their own good.
“Tell me, what can I do to make you crave me as much as I throb for you?” I sucked in a breath as Remus’s whispered question caressed the shell of my ear.
He shouldn’t be speaking this freely in a place full of so many potential enemies with listening ears. I narrowed my eyes as they shifted through the room, searching for the person responsible for our suddenly loose tongues and unchecked emotions. Nero had to be near, and that made the hairs on my arm stand up.
“Looking for me, sweet Mara?” Nero’s smooth voice crooned as if he’d been hovering nearby this entire time without me noticing.
I stopped, pulling Remus to a sudden halt that caught him by surprise. The shifter growled in displeasure as Nero appeared in front of us with a Cheshire grin. His hair was a deep midnight blue, like the sea during a storm, contrasting with his eyes, appearing silver like moonlight on a clear night. It took seconds for his hair to begin shifting colors, from dark blue to black, as his eyes began showing hues of oranges and yellows.
It was mesmerizing to stare at the ever-changing prince. In fact, there were many eyes on him tonight, especially women who tracked his every movement and who were beginning to turn their shrewd eyes on me, the very obvious intruder.
“You summoned us and we came. What now?” My words were curt and clipped. Remus was stiff beside me; no doubt if I met his eyes, I would find him glaring at Nero.
Nero grinned wider. He threw his arms out and chuckled darkly. “Enjoy your time in my beautiful home. Eat and drink your fill, and perhaps dance a bit. You’ll know when it’s time to make your appearance before the king, little one.” He leaned in, placing a chaste kiss on my cheek, before bowing deeply and disappearing into the crowded room.
Remus moved to follow the prince, but I caught his arm and subtly shook my head. We didn’t need to draw attention to ourselves yet. It was clear he was trying to throw us off.
I peered around the ballroom and found a door that led outside of the main hall. The ballroom was mostly reserved for politics and greeting dignitaries, while the dancing, dinner, and entertainment took place under the stars.
I moved towards the double wooden doors and lost my breath at the sight before me. It was a terrace that overlooked the beautiful gardens, spanning the entire outer edge of the castle grounds. The garden was lit with torches that flickered with warmth and accompanied by shimmering lights of purples, blues and greens that seemed to hover over the guests gathered below. Magic…
It was still so strange to be in a place where the Source was so openly flaunted, but I had to admit it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Pressing against the stone railing, I could see out for what seemed like miles of beautiful flowers, herbs, and fountains. There were winding pathways through the gardens that led to private alcoves, small ponds, and beds of soft grasses. Beyond that was the glittering city that shone like colorful starlight in a sea of blackness.
Remus’s deep, rumbling purr made me turn my focus back to him, and I sucked in a quick breath at the change in his eyes, fully yellow now and narrowed directly at me. “Seems your potion burned right through me. It took two days for my cat to drink it up, but now he’s free at last.”
“Now might be a good time to tell me what kind of shifter you are, Rem,” I said, trying to distract him from whatever made his eyes glow like a predator stalking its prey. With my potion worn off, his cat would have snapped back into Remus at full force.
Shifters were primal creatures, and after having been suppressed for so long, it was only a matter of time until Remus was no longer in control and the animal within took what it needed. It would want to shift or fight or fuck soon, and I didn’t know if I was okay with any of those things.
I stood taller, squaring my shoulders and peering directly into his eyes, unable to allow the shifter to dominate me.
“Seems you should’ve put it together by now. I’m a fucking panther, Mara. The most cunning of cats.” He tipped my chin up with the tip of his suddenly clawed finger. The sharp point nicked my skin but didn’t draw blood.
“And all this time, I thought you were a pretty little meowing house cat.” I swallowed a lump in my throat as he moved in closer, his feet silent on the stone terrace.
“More like the kind that eats up pretty little things like you.” Remus groaned as he pinched a lock of my hair between his fingers as if savoring the softness of the strands. I bit my lip and moved closer to him.
This was a bad idea; I knew that already. We were in enemy territory, and any number of eyes could be on us at this moment, but the draw and pull I felt towards Remus was undeniable.
“Look at me,” I murmured as his eyes flitted over my shoulder, glossing over as he fought for dominance over his panther. “Remus, I command you to look at me,” I said again, more forcefully.