28. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Finley

" I t would have been nice to have a little warning," I whisper, as I take in the party already in full swing when we enter Midas's penthouse.

"I wanted to surprise you." Cyrus kisses the sensitive skin behind my ear. "Happy birthday, little flame."

"I'm not exactly feeling presentable right now." Anyone who looks at us will be able to tell we just had sex in public. And it doesn't help that I'm still not wearing underwear.

He looks me over with a wide grin. "Hmm, sex tousled and dripping my cum. You're perfect."

"But there are other people here," I whisper shout.

"All the better." He grins. "You said you didn't want a relationship in the shadows. I intend to give you the spotlight and make sure everyone knows you're mine."

Locked in his gaze, I feel the weight of his words right down to the essence of who I am. This is what I've wanted all along. But I suddenly realize I don't need it. I just need him. And I have him. He's mine, wholeheartedly. I know that now with every fiber of my being.

Taking my hand and leading me to the middle of the room, he stands up on the coffee table and pulls me up with him. "Can I have your attention?"

It's phrased like a question, but the inflection is all command. The room quiets, and I try not to squirm when they all turn to look at us, but I can't stop my cheeks from flaming. I feel completely awkward and exposed. I'm gonna kill him for putting me on the spot like this. Kill him by fucking him to death. Hmm, I wonder how long we have to stay at this party before we can sneak away.

The thought makes my cheeks and chest burn hotter, which certainly doesn't help my current appearance.

"Court of Gold," Cyrus says, holding up our joined hands. "It's my pleasure to announce to you my Ra'ia, my goddess-blessed mate."

All the cultish language and goddess crap is weird, but it doesn't matter because my heart inflates like a balloon knowing that he's doing this, claiming me as his in front of everyone .

"As per tradition, if anyone wants to challenge my assertion that she's my mate, now's your chance, but choose carefully. I learned my lesson challenging a mating, and I won't be as patient or forgiving as Midas. Finley's mine. I've waited for her a long time and won't give her up."

A telling silence covers the room. But right when Cyrus opens his mouth to speak again, a woman steps to the front of the crowd and holds up her hand. She's gorgeous, and for a moment I feel self-conscious standing beside her, but then Cyrus sneers at her, another small confirmation of his words.

"Violetta, you challenge me?"

"Um… no," the woman, Violetta, says. "I'm not challenging your mating. Not exactly. But I feel duty bound to challenge your honor." She picks up speed as she speaks. "I'd planned to wait until our Ra returned before addressing this, but…" She turns to face the group instead of us. "I saw Cyrus take advantage of Finley before the age of consent." She looks back at us, almost apologetic, but there's a touch too much of something else in her expression to make her seem truly contrite. "I'm sorry. I truly am. But Cyrus broke the goddess's law, and that must have consequences."

Cyrus told me it was against their culture—whatever that means—to be with someone before twenty-three, but this woman is making it sound like a much bigger deal than I thought.

"Is this true?" Another woman, tall and regal, steps forward. Damian is with her, and it's only when she takes another step that I realize he's supporting her elbow.

"Grandmother—" There's a pleading tone in Cyrus's voice.

This woman doesn't look old enough to be his grandma, although on closer inspection I realize her hair isn't just golden blonde, it's streaked with white and there's the tiniest crows feet around her eyes, but it's really the frailty of her that convinces me she might actually be his grandma. She must have had kids very young.

"Perhaps," Jethro says, "we're overreacting a bit. She's his mate." He forces a laugh as if trying to get others to join in and return to the celebratory atmosphere of before. "Does it really matter if they kissed a few days before her birthday when—"

"You knew?" Cyrus's grandmother asks.

Jethro hedges. "A friend can guess at these things."

The way Cyrus stiffens beside me tells me Jethro didn't just have a guess. Maybe Cyrus told him after he pushed me away in front of him? The thought eases some of the hurt of that moment .

"And, like you," Jethro glances at Violetta, "I wanted to wait to discuss things with Midas, not in such an unnecessarily public setting."

Cyrus's grandmother turns to Damian. "Put Cyrus in solitary confinement until Midas returns." She straightens, a show of strength, as Damian steps toward us.

I place myself between Damian and Cyrus. "This is bullshit. I don't know anything about your fucked up cult, but you're forgetting that I'm an adult, definitely of age, and far from innocent if you get my drift. There was no taking advantage that occurred here."

Damian hesitates and his grandmother's brows knit, but then her face goes stoic again. "We must follow the law until the matter can be discussed with the priests."

Priests? Shit, it really is a cult. What the hell did Jess get herself involved in?

Violeta takes Cyrus's arm with a clear intent to drag him off, but he yanks it away. "I can walk on my own. I won't be manhandled." He turns to me, kisses my cheek, and whispers, "I'm so sorry. I tried. I did try."

Tears make my vision watery. "This isn't fair. I'm the one who pushed him."

"And he's the one who knew the law," his grandmother says .

Like a painting being put in a different frame, my experiences with Cyrus over the last two weeks reorient themselves in my mind. This is what he was trying to avoid. He wasn't pushing me away, he was trying to prevent whatever shit this is.

Cyrus steps off the coffee table, and I jump down behind him. The crowd parts.

"If you're taking him to some kind of prison or punishment or whatever the fuck, I'm going with him." I take his hand and grin up at him. "I have plenty of ideas for what we can do in solitary confinement."

His grandmother blocks our path. "I don't think you understand the meaning of solitary, dear."

"I don't think you understand that I'm not leaving my mate . Either let me go with him or I'm going to the cops and telling them about your little cult."

"We're not a cult."

"You're forcing someone to do something they don't want to and acting like a pompous ass. Seems like a cult to me."

The corner of her lip twitches ever so slightly. Then she's motioning with one finger, and Damian and Aeson are taking hold of my arms.

A growl turns into puffs of smoke that pour out of Cyrus's mouth. "Get. Your. Hands off her."

His grandmother places delicate fingers on his shoulder. "None of us want to see you separated from your mate. But this needs to be handled carefully or the entire family line could be put in question. Uphold the law, let me talk to the priests, and be patient." She turns to face me. "You too, Ra'ia. It seems Midas and Jeslyn have done a poor job educating you, and it's time that changed. All I ask is that you wait until speaking with your sister before you do anything drastic."

"Running to the cops probably wouldn't do any good anyway," I mutter under my breath, realizing that a group like this of wealthy, influential people probably have plenty of friends in government and law enforcement.

Damian and Aeson slowly let go of me. I force myself to stay where I am. Cyrus takes big gulps of air, clenching and unclenching his fists. He takes one step, stops, looks at his grandmother, then waits for her brief nod before pulling me into his chest. "This is just for now, understand? We'll be together soon."

Then, he gives me a devastating kiss. A kiss full of promises I finally believe.

When he walks away, accompanied by two men I don't know, I turn to his grandmother. "Take me to see these fucking priests. Now . "

She cracks the tiniest smile before turning to the crowd of people still watching us. "The party is over."

They break up in little clusters, no doubt whispering and gossiping about what just happened. Well, fuck them! There's nothing scandalous about me being with Cyrus. I care about him. And I know—yeah, I really do know, without a doubt—that he cares about me.

After the attention is off us, she turns back to me. "Tomorrow."

"Nope. Not good enough." I put my hands on my hips and plant my feet. "Either take me to the priests or take me to my sister."

"The priests are preparing for the baby's naming ceremony. As are Midas and Jeslyn. Now isn't the time."

"I don't know what a fucking naming ceremony is, but you damn well better take me to it."

Cyrus's grandmother tilts her head. "You truly know nothing of our culture?"

"Fuck, no. All I know is that you're all treating Cyrus like a fucking criminal and making a big fucking deal about two consenting adults being together."

She hums softly under her breath. "I'll ensure your passage to the temple tomorrow. For now, goodnight, Ra'ia."

She bows and leaves. Most of the rest of the group has already trickled out. The few remaining people give me cautious looks and hesitant nods before they follow.

Outside on the balcony, I try to make sense of what the hell that was all about. The sun has only just set and the summer air is hot and sticky, clouding my thoughts.

I don't understand what just happened, and I'm not okay with any of it. They're all assholes, as far as I'm concerned. How did Jess get involved with something so out there? And Cyrus…

From the railing, I look out over the city. It's a nice night, warm but not hot. Lights flickering on as the sun sets. But all I can think about is Cyrus, alone in some kind of cell or something.

A sudden swoosh of hot wind blows my hair into my face. At the same time, five sharp points dig into both my shoulders. I scream as pain laces through me, and my feet lift off the ground.

My scream turns to a wheezing gasp. Iridescent scales. Broad wings. A long neck that bends to look down at me. Sharp teeth and glowing eyes. The world spins.

What is it? A giant… lizard? A d-d-dragon ?

Impossible.

I grab the talons that dig into my shoulders and try to pry them off, but we're already too high. Buildings fall below me as we rise higher and higher through the clouds. My vision tunnels. My head spins. White light flashes in the corner of my eyes.

And then the world vanishes to nothingness.