4. Amaya

I've only met the dark elves around the manor, and I do not recognize this one. He's far too handsome, even with his face obscured, for me to have forgotten. Long black hair, violet eyes, tall, and muscular… I would remember him.

My father's warnings echo in my head, but I ignore them. There's something pulling me to him, something that has me thinking that maybe this dark elf won't be so bad…

"I'd like for you to," he murmurs in that deep sultry voice that has me weak in the knees. I want to give in. I want to melt into him, let him sweep me away.

But a small part of me cautions against it. We are alone out here with no one to see. Even though I do not look like a human, is he still trying to take advantage of me?

"Why is that?"

His violet eyes sparkle, and I am lost in them. I know I should take a step back, take a breath, but I can't. "Because you are too beautiful to let go."

My heart flutters as the masked stranger takes my hand, his touch sending tingles up my arm. I know I should pull away, that proper ladies don"t wander off alone with unknown men. But propriety feels trivial in this moment. There is something magnetic about this elf that I cannot resist.

"Let's get out of here," he says, his voice smooth and rich. "It's too loud and crowded. Wouldn't you rather get some fresh air?" His words are inviting, but my Father's voice echoes through my head. Dark elves are dangerous.

I hesitate, glancing back at the light spilling from the ballroom down the hall. Father would be furious if he knew I was sneaking off. Well, he'd be furious if he knew I was out of my rooms at all.

The stranger leans in, his breath tickling my ear. "Don"t you crave a taste of freedom, little surri?" The nickname does something to me it shouldn't. "Come with me. It's just a breath of fresh air." His grin spreads wider. "And I promise you I don't bite…unless you ask me to."

A thrill races through me at his words, my rebellious side flaring to life. Here is my chance to experience something new, to break free of the gilded cage I"ve been kept in. Caution wars with curiosity.

The stranger squeezes my hand gently, waiting for my decision, his masked eyes boring into mine. Throwing aside my doubts, I make my choice.

"Lead the way," I reply breathlessly as if this isn't my own home.

With a roguish grin, he sweeps me down the shadowed corridor until we emerge into moonlit gardens. I'm not surprised he knows his way here with how many people end up slipping from the party to hide between the tall floral sculptures. I wonder if anyone else is out here right now.

The night air is heavy with the perfume of flowers as we stroll along twisting paths, leaving the party further behind. My heart hammers with exhilaration.

We come to a secluded alcove surrounded by yellow tagetes in full bloom. Sitting on a carved stone bench, the stranger pulls me down beside him. His knee presses against mine, his proximity making me hyper aware of his masculine strength and my own femininity.

"Now, little surri, tell me something about yourself."

As his fingers trail up my arm, I find myself opening up to this mysterious elf. I should feel on edge, but I don't, not with him. Out here, I feel daring, adventurous—finally free.

"I don't know where to start," I giggle. I've never been in this position before and adrenaline is pounding through me.

His grin spells danger that I want to get lost in. "Your name."

"Amaya," I answer, breathless as he leans closer. I doubt that it will give away my heritage, the one warning of my Father's I'm clinging to.

He smiles deeper, dipping his head closer "A pleasure to make your acquaintance Lady Amaya," he says, taking my hand and brushing his lips over my knuckles. "You may call me Siderus."

Something in his tone gives me pause. There is a weight to his words, as if revealing his name carries significance. I study his masked face, trying to decipher the shadow in his eyes. Who are you really, Siderus?

I push the questions aside for now, eager to be out of my room. Tonight, I won't worry about secrets and lies. Tonight, I am just another girl going to a party, papilions erupting in my stomach because a handsome man kissed my hand. And when he lowers my hand, he doesn't let it go.

"Tell me Amaya, how does a lady like yourself end up wandering dark corridors while a ball goes on inside?" Siderus asks, a teasing lilt to his voice.

I laugh. "I was feeling rebellious tonight. What about you? What drew you away from the party to go walking around in the dark?"

"You did," he answers smoothly, making me blush. "One look at your beauty and I was helplessly ensnared."

His words send a flutter through me even as I roll my eyes dramatically. "A pretty lie. But tell me the truth. What were you doing?"

He grins roguishly. "You see right through me. Let"s just say I"m on a mission of utmost discretion." His eyes twinkle with mirth and mystery.

We banter back and forth, and I find myself impressed by his quick wit and intellect. He seems pleasantly surprised in turn by my own. In this moonlit garden, titles and secrets are cast aside. There is only Amaya and Siderus, two souls deep in playful conversation.

Sitting close beside Siderus on the cool stone bench, I"m hyper aware of his tempting proximity. Neither of us have moved to remove our masks, though his disguise only seems to add to his roguish mystique. I wonder what he looks like beneath, if his countenance matches the intensity of his stare.

As for myself, the ornamental mask I wear is a necessity, not decor. Without it, the glamour wouldn't be enough to hide my features. Father"s greatest fear is my identity being discovered, being seen as human. The mask preserves the illusion and keeps me safe.

I study Siderus" profile, admire the sharp lines of his jaw and regal nose peeking above the etched edges concealing his features. But beneath them I can see his strong cheekbones that the mask follows and his violet eyes, with a heat that matches his passionate words.

He turns, catching my stare, and I flush though he cannot see it. His lips curve into a sensual smile.

"What thoughts flit behind that lovely mask, Amaya?" His voice caresses my name possessively.

"I was just wishing to see your face unobstructed," I admit.

His grin is absolutely heartbreaking. "But where is the fun in that?" His thumb swipes across the back of my hand. "I love a little mystery."

When our eyes meet, the air grows even more charged between us. He reaches out, fingertips grazing my jaw, and I shiver at his touch. "You are exquisite," he murmurs. "Even without the mask. I don't know if I could take your full beauty."

My eyes take in his violet ones, and I feel that pull again. The same one that had stopped me from slipping into the ball when Siderus approached me. And I find myself leaning in.

It"s not lost on me that he slips closer, stealing away space and the air from my lungs. But I gladly give it to him. Right now, I can"t think of anything that will stop me as he dips his head, lifting his free hand to pinch my chin between his fingers.

"Amaya?" he murmurs, inches away from my face.

My heart is hammering as my gaze flicks between his eyes and mouth. "Yes?"

"I hope you can forgive me for this."

And then he takes away the rest of the space.

Suddenly, I feel the fervent brush of his breath against my lips, a tantalizing prelude to the kiss that follows. His fingers tighten on my chin, anchoring me to him. I feel the gentle graze of his thumb traced across my lower lip, a feather-light touch that sends insidious tendrils of heat spiraling through me. I gasp, an invitation he seizes upon, and our lips meet in a kiss laced with anticipated longing.

The world shrinks around us until it"s just Siderus and me. The manor fades along with the distant music and laughter. Even the world outside with its star-speckled sky and misty moonlight is forgotten. This moment is just him and me - our existence intertwined in a space where time has no dominance.

His kiss isn"t soft as I supposed it would be but instead filled with pent-up passion and urgency. It"s as though he"s been waiting for this moment for a long time—perhaps even longer than I have. My heart throbs in rhythm with his, its frantic beats echoing like a thousand drums in my ears. Every nerve ending inside me comes alive, electrified by his touch that feels like a live wire.

My fingers weave through his black hair while his free hand slips around my waist, pulling me closer so that there"s not even a whisper of space between us. The silken fabric of my gown wrinkles beneath his firm grip, but I couldn"t care less about it.

His lips are warm. A welcome heat in the chill of the evening as they claim mine. My first kiss... It"s unlike anything I expected. And it is more than I could have hoped for tonight.

My mind, my fears, my hesitations - all surrender to the intoxicating allure of Siderus" touch. His fingers drift from my chin, trailing a path of shivers down my neck and coming to rest at the small of my back, pulling me into his embrace.

The kiss deepens, burning brighter than the lights illuminating the path of the gardens. The taste of him is intoxicating, a sweet and spicy blend that hints at hidden depths yet to be discovered.

I"m overwhelmed by the sensation of him. Siderus. His scent fills every breath I take, a mixture of sandalwood and musk with an undertone that"s uniquely him – wild and untamed like the winds sweeping across the ocean.

His other hand slides up to bury itself in my hair, grip soft yet insistent as he pulls me even closer until not even a whisper could slip between us. He pulls back just slightly to look at me, his dark eyes hooded as he takes me in. His thumb brushes lightly over my cheekbone in a touch so gentle it's almost reverent, leaving a trail of heated skin in its wake.

His soft murmur echoes in the night air. "Amaya," he says my name like a prayer, a fervent plea wrapped in two syllables that sends my heart soaring higher than any waltz ever could.

"Siderus," I whisper back, letting his name roll off my tongue and mingle with our twined breaths. Our lips part for the barest moment, and I am about to dive back in when I hear a gasp.

I whip around, my stomach dropping as my name pierces the night air. "Amaya?"