Bastian shook his head. “The elf prince and I have spoken numerous times over the years. So, he knows where I stand on things.”
I glanced over at Lia and Bayleon and Bastian’s arms tensed around me. When I looked up at him, his eyes were on them. I’d had my suspicions for a while, and it seemed I was right.
“You’re in love with Lia, aren’t you?”
His focus came back to me, and he sighed. “It appears I’m not the only one. She would never choose me over my brother.”
I could see Lia watching us from the corner of my eye. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” I said to him.
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I don’t deserve her love.”
It broke my heart to hear him say that, but I knew why he felt that way. Bastian was a good man and even tried to save my mother during the final battle with the dark sorcerer all those years ago. However, his problem lay with the number of women he’d killed over the years. He’d pleasured them to death; that was the Tyvar curse.
“Have you been with any women since you joined the Spring Court?” I asked.
“No,” he replied. Even though his eyes were covered, it was as if I could see his sadness through the mask.
“Does that not affect you somehow?”
Bastian hung his head and blew out a breath. “It gets harder and harder every day, Ella. But I’m getting through it.” I had a feeling there was more he was keeping from me, but his lips pulled back into a sexy grin. “Right now, I’m happy to have the privilege of being with you.”
His sincerity was one of the things I cherished about him. We finished the dance, and I was about to ask him for another when I felt a blast of dark energy enter the room. Gasping, I let Bastian go and jerked around, scanning the crowd.
“Ella, what’s wrong?” Bastian asked, grabbing onto my arm.
I thought for sure everyone would’ve felt the power, but nothing seemed amiss. Iston was deep in conversation with his father and the dwarves. My parents were with their brothers and sisters, laughing and enjoying themselves while the rest of the guests continued to dance. The man from my visions was here . . . the Shadow fae. I could feel his eyes on me as if he was stripping me bare.
Bastian circled in front of me, concern etched on his face. “What happened, Princess?”
I could feel the Shadow fae all around me, but I couldn’t find him. Everyone in the room appeared to belong.
“Do you not feel something strange?” I asked, focusing back on Bastian.
He glanced around the room. “No. I don’t sense anything strange at all.” Then, standing protectively by my side, he held my arm tighter. “Is there danger, Ella?”
I didn’t want to cause a scene. If the Shadow fae was here for revenge, I didn’t want him getting close to my family. The only way to draw him out would be to give him an easy target.
Smiling up at Bastian, I patted his hand so he’d let me go. “I must have imagined it,” I said, laughing it off. “Maybe I had too much faerie wine.” I fanned a hand in front of my face. “If you don’t mind, I think I’m going to get some air.”
“I’ll go with you,” he offered.
I held up a hand. “I’ll be fine. Stay here.”
Turning on my heel, I hurried out of the ballroom and into the cold night air. It was dark, and there was no one on the veranda. Snow swirled around me as my magic built inside my very being. The Shadow fae’s energy had heightened, and I knew he was close. My plan to lure him out had worked.
I could sense him drawing near, my heart beating dangerously fast in my chest. His footsteps crunched in the snow, but I kept my back to him. Then, ever so slowly, I reached for my dagger, knowing I would only have a split second to react when the time came. All I needed was for him to get closer.
My pulse pounded so fast I could hear it in my ears, and my adrenaline spiked. I was so close to ending this, once and for all. I wanted to look into his eyes when I buried my dagger in his cold, dark heart.
Taking a deep breath, I had about three more seconds.Three. Two. One.Grabbing my dagger, I slid it out of my belt and whirled around, ready for the kill.
Everything happened so fast.
One minute, I was in control, but the next, I felt his hands on me, grabbing me around the waist. He was too strong, his power more potent than I anticipated. The hard edge of a blade sliced into my neck, and I bit back my wince against the sting of the cut. Nevertheless, I held my dagger against his as I stared into his stormy gray eyes.
We were at a standstill, neither one of us moving.
His gaze moved to my lips, and he smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess. Although I must say, I wasn’t expecting this kind of welcome.”