Chapter 18

                                    

                                          
Usunaar didn't let me leave the floor until after at least two songs. The male knew his way around the dance floor, but I found it difficult to lose myself in the music with him. Everyone in the room was watching and judging us; it had been much easier with Xander. People still watched then, although most were unconcerned about the High Lord of the Forest. I could still feel the heat of his palm against my lower back, like it were still there. I had forced him to dance out of spite, and I was looking for an escape for selfish reasons. I wanted to feel nothing but the music and let my thoughts be numbed by its tune, to the point where I didn't know how honest I had been with him. I let down my guard and offered him a glimpse of who I was. This was a stupid and deadly mistake. Females like me were not meant for ballrooms like this; I'd rather drown in a crush of sweating bodies in a club than deal with the watchful gazes and judgmental murmurs. I knew I looked amazing in the dress, but everyone here was a stranger. How many of them would kill me because of the absurd red wolf prophecy or just because their high lord was coddling me? I've seen enough females scowl at me while Usunaar guides me through the dance to know which ones to avoid. Jealousy may drive fae to do dangerous things, and here I am, wearing a dress that reveals more of my skin than it conceals. Megan forced me to leave my blades behind and promised that I would be safe here, but when have I ever actually been safe? If it isn't bandits or rebels, it's bounty hunters and morons who believe prophecies blindly.
My fingertips brushed over the dagger pendant as I finally approached the refreshment table. If Felix, Jasmine, Reece, Jasper, or even Ariel were here, I might have been able to enjoy myself. The temples exceeded my expectations. The white walls glistened in the sunlight, merging in with the packed snow around them; the inside was also pure white. I felt out of place from the moment I strolled through the doors. The temple seemed too pristine and innocent for someone like me. Every second here makes me want to return to the forest, where I feel at home. I want to feel the ground beneath my feet, smell the fresh pine of the trees, and hear the birds' singing and critters' talk. There was only silence here. Only the wind responded to you. 
I shoved by a powerful eagle shifter who was lingering at the table to grab one of the few flutes of champagne that were still on the table and drank it swiftly. I'd drunk more than enough wine to know I should feel something, but it only left a trickle of numbness in my thoughts. Was it the altitude?

"Did you enjoy your dance with Usunaar, pet?" His voice was gentle, without the customary venom and scorn when he called me that. As he leaned into the table, I could feel the warmth of his body next to me, causing several of the empty glasses to clink together.
"About as little as I enjoyed yours." I lied before turning to face him. His smile caused the ring in his lip to shift.
"That's a nasty thing to say about your fiancé. Congratulations, by the way." Xander drawled, yet his eyes were filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place. So he had heard it then. Usunaar implied that he wanted me to stay here and be with him. I had to fight the temptation to leave the moment he said it—the way he looked at me as if I were some prize mare, fragile and in need of saving—but I smiled and politely rejected.
"If you heard it, then you're more than aware of what my answer was." I shot, grabbing another flute, and Xander leaned closer, almost touching me, before reaching for the last flute.
"I've known Usunaar for centuries; once he has his eyes on something valuable, he doesn't simply give up." As Xander explained, he sipped from the sparkling beverage, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Then I'll remind him again of my answer." I countered, and Xander smiled again, the ring on his lip reflecting the waning sunlight.
"I have no doubt about that." He purred, and his gaze softened. The bright blue tone changed into a rich ocean hue. "Come, let's go watch the sunset." He pushed himself away from the table, and I took a quick look at the stained glass doors leading to the balconies. People began to leave the room to watch the last rays of sunshine disappear below the horizon. When I looked back at him, he was walking through the main door and into the hall. I surveyed the room again, looking for the others, only to see them exiting onto the balconies with the rest of the visitors before groaning and following Xander out into the corridor. He was waiting a few steps down the corridor, sipping leisurely from his glass.