Chapter 23 : A Dance With Jared

Jared extended his hand to me, beckoning me forward. I glanced over my shoulder at Aeris, who was looking smug and suspicious as he leaned against the railing of the terrace overlooking the city of Suncrest. Night was falling, and the city lights sent an amber haze rippling over the horizon.

It would have been beautiful had that orange-eyed creep not been standing right in front of my view.

“Eliza," Jared repeated more sternly.

I fixed Aeris with a steely glare and took Jared's hand. Aeris raised his brows at me but looked nothing but amused.

Jared placed my hand in the crook of his arm as we walked back into the ballroom, leaning down to hiss, “Don't egg him on."

“He knows," I said, looking up into his eyes.

Jared looked down at me, nostrils flaring. “What did you say?"

“I didn't say anything! He said it was–it was my hair. It was my hair that gave it away. Someone in his circle must have recognized me from the auction."

Jared cursed under his breath and broke from my gaze to look around the ballroom. Warriors were posted along the walls, watching the proceedings. Jared eyed them all, then found Archer and Brandt in the crowd.

“We're getting out of here tonight," he said, leading me through the crowd again.

“But he hasn't given you the scroll yet–"

“I don't care about the scroll."

“Of course you do! That's why you're here, and why you brought me here. You need it. I'll be fine–"

“He will stop at nothing to lay claim to what he believes is his," Jared seethed in my ear. I closed my eyes as a ripple of heat rushed through my body as his breath tickled my neck. “I won't let anyone else have you."

Anyone else?

Jared straightened up, catching Brandt's eye in the crowd. He nodded once, his pointer finger brushing against the tip of his nose. Brandt made another quick motion with his hand in response and disappeared into the crowd.

“What was that all about?" I asked, but Jared moved us deeper into the fray.

We arrived at the edge of the dancefloor where a dance was already in full swing. It was a group dance, the couples weaving in and out of each other and then twirling with their partners.

“We'll catch the next dance," Jared said absently, his eyes still scanning the room.

was obvious he wasn't going to tell me what was going on. Was Aeris going to announce to the crowd that I was his breeder? Was Jared really planning on trying to escape

to give up on the mysterious scroll he needed because

few couples made their way back into the crowd of onlookers, others staying

when I'd first arrived at the ball. They danced with controlled grace, their faces

life and trying not to mow down anyone dancing nearby. I had a feeling this next dance

he watched the orchestra prepare for the next set. His eyes were locked on the violinist. Aeris had mentioned a few times that

all–a game. I was just a

my hand and led me out onto the dancefloor as the music

I said softly, trying to hide my

you're enjoying yourself. That's what Aeris wants to see,"

my neck to follow their gazes. Aeris was testing us. I had

joined hands to shoulder level. “It's a

don't know how to

me," he breathed, then he swept me

feet. He'd mentioned being a good dancer, but the word “good" wasn't an adequate description of how

Me? Not so much.

said

And I did.

my hand and spun me in a tight circle. Another twirl, then another, my feet barely touching the ground as we

his fingers in mine, squeezing softly as I breathlessly looked up at him, totally

how to

grin, then had me spinning on my toes before sweeping

wasn't raised a bandit," he said wryly. “That came

but let go of my hand, his other hand trailing over my back as

and led me in a tight circle for a moment before I was sent

the two of us joining and then separating as we wove between the other dancers. I was out of breath

my lower back, his palm spread wide.

movements sure and

looking at me now in the same way he'd looked at me when he'd asked me my name that night at the breeder

“Trust me," he'd said.

I had.

But why?

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