24. Kiera

Chapter 24

Kiera

The world had frozen to a shocked calm as Aiden’s soft lips pressed against mine. Somewhere, in a different world, there were voices and the feel of the knife slipping from my fingers.

Then a beautiful, raging storm exploded inside me.

I flung my arms around his neck and kissed him back.

He groaned and wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed me into every hardened muscle of his body.

I gasped as my feet left the ground, but his mouth chased mine, stealing it once more.

Fucking Four, I wanted to be stolen.

His kiss was as demanding and desperate as mine. I clung to him as if my life depended on it, afraid I would shatter if our lips ceased to touch. My hands flew over him, tunneling into his silky hair, yanking on his shirt collar, raking over the stubble on his jaw, clutching his face to mine.

The tip of his tongue kissed mine before stroking into my mouth.

Gods, he tasted like apples and cinnamon. Like sweet wine that blurred my thoughts and quenched my thirst.

Like chaos and destruction.

A strangled whimper rose from my throat. He answered with a hungry growl, wrapping my legs around his waist and pinning me against a wall with his hips.

A deep, pleasant warmth coated my insides like honey.

But then something small and hard bounced off my leg.

Aiden growled again, as if ordering me to ignore it. But it happened again.

My eyes blinked open the same moment our lips parted. His panting breaths soothed my swollen lips. My heart thundered in my ears.

Another projectile bounced off my shoulder.

I tore my attention from his gold-streaked mouth and found a sweaty Maz standing in front of the closed vault with the loaded cart, a handful of gold coins, and an expression somewhere between elated and exasperated.

“Gods damn it, you two,” he said, shaking his head. “I will personally donate twenty of my gold coins to rent the best room in Aquinon for you to devour each other. But can we please finish stealing the coins first?”

A high-pitched giggle burst out of me, and I slapped a hand over my mouth.

Aiden glanced down at me with such a smoldering grin that I would’ve melted to the floor had he not been holding me. He looked wrecked. My gold paint was streaked over his face and neck. Gold flecks winked at me from his tousled black hair.

Slowly, he eased me back on my feet and picked up one of the coins Maz had thrown at us.

He flicked it at Maz, hitting him in the chest. “Only if you stop throwing them at us like we’re your entertainment for the evening.”

“Do forgive me,” Maz said dryly, picking up the fallen coins as he wheeled the cart toward us. “But I thought that’s exactly what you were doing—putting on a show for the two servants who walked by. Or did you forget about them? And me? And the heist? And?—”

“Enough!” Aiden cuffed him on the back of the head as he passed.

Maz ducked away, whistling and wheeling our stolen treasure down the hall.

But it was like a cloud had passed over, dripping cold rain into our warm bubble.

“Was he right?” I whispered. “Was that just for show?”

Aiden’s face turned solemn, but his touch was gentle as he stroked my cheek with his thumb. “Not for a single moment.”

Relief coated me like his clawberry paste—sealing the wound that had already begun to hurt.

He kissed me once more. A tender, heart-wrenching kiss before he ripped himself away with a harsh sigh. “We have to go. I have to get the guard before he wakes up.”

“But... but your face.” I tried to dab off some of the paint from his lips with my silks. “Everyone will know?—”

He caught my wrist and leaned into my palm. “Let them. If I had my way, I would end the night wearing every speck of your paint.”

My blood hummed with desire until the realization hit me. “Gods! My paint! I’ll have to fix it before... before...” Going back to Asher.

Aiden’s jaw clenched. “Go, then. Do what you must. I’ll be waiting for you.”

I had fled only two steps when he called out, “Kiera!”

He caught up with me, his helmet tucked under his arm, and pressed my hairpin knife into my hand. “Thank you for not stabbing me.”

A lump formed in my throat as he spun around and marched in the other direction. The dangerous truth was, I couldn’t bear the idea of stabbing him.

But betrayal cuts deeper than a blade.

My heart twisted, afraid. With trembling fingers, I jammed the sharp hairpin back in my hair.

Instead of going back to the party, I raced up the stairs to our dressing room. I stood in front of the mirror, trying not to stare too hard at the streaks in my body paint—a map of Aiden’s desire for me.

I quickly slathered on more sparkling gold paint and made sure my mask was secure. Then I slipped into the decidedly more drunk crowd. The musicians continued to play in their corner as if people were still paying attention.

Melaena’s bright eyes found me as she spoke with several nobles. One of whom was Garyth. Were they sharing secrets again?

I gave her a tiny nod and kept moving.

Asher still lounged in his alcove, completely oblivious to his missing key and the robbery that just took place in his vault. Tullia and Jayde and several other dancers were sprawled around him on cushions now stained with food and wine. They laughed loudly at something Asher said, and my heart lifted with hope.

Perhaps he had found another who interested him. Perhaps he wouldn’t require me to dance for him. After all, I only needed to get close enough to clasp his key necklace around his neck.

Tullia spotted me first, and her whole face lit up in a smudged, golden grin. “There you are! Where have you been, K?—”

“Just playing a little game, Tullia,” I spoke over her loudly in case she forgot my new name.

She giggled, waving her skirt at me. “Come join us!”

“Yes, please do,” Asher said in a deep, slightly slurred voice. “Then I can tell you I’ve won our little game.”

My stomach clenched, but I maneuvered through the mess and sank down next to him. “And how is that, High—Asher?”

“I want that dance,” he murmured in my ear, his breath hot on my cheek.

I swallowed. “And you shall have it. At the end of the night.”

He grinned, somehow looking ten years younger. “Fine, fine. Until then, we drink!”

The dancers cheered, and a servant carrying a jug filled everyone’s cup. But I continued to take small sips. Asher’s glazed brown eyes blinked slowly, as if sleepy.

Dear Mynastra, if only I were so lucky.

“I have decided!” Asher announced, startling Jayde, who sloshed more wine on her skirt. “You will all spend the night here!”

Gasps echoed around the alcove as my heart sank.

“Yes! Oh, that sounds lovely! How kind of you!” the women chirped over each other.

Asher grasped my hand in his sweaty palm. “Please say you’ll stay.” He threw back his head and laughed. “Gods, I should’ve been a poet! Yes?”

I smiled weakly and nodded.

“Yes! She’ll stay! I’ve... gotten my way!” He beamed proudly.

I took another fortifying sip of wine.

“Yes, everyone can take a hot bath,” he continued. “And I assume you all have other clothes with you? If not, I’ll send for some. Oh, this will be perfect. And breakfast in the morning!”

I gritted my teeth.

Why in the deep, dark, wandering hell did he have to be a chatty, overly friendly drunk? There was no gods-damned way I was taking a bath or changing my clothes here. This costume was the only thing keeping him, and others, from recognizing me.

A minute later, Melaena glided over and smiled at Asher. “A truly marvelous evening, Asher, but I must get my dancers home soon.”

He brightened and told her his plan and that we had all agreed.

Her eyes darted to me. “All of you wish to stay?”

I tried to silently signal her with my eyes that I had not .

She gestured to me. “I’ll just take this one back. I need her assistance at the club.”

Asher pouted, throwing his arm around my shoulders. “But she’s promised me a dance, and I intend to collect.”

Melaena’s eyes widened the slightest bit. Tullia looked confused, while a few of the other dancers—the ones I didn’t know very well—scowled at me.

My stomach hollowed out. Gods, he made it sound more salacious than I meant it.

Melaena cleared her throat delicately. “Very well.” She glanced at me. “A word.”

I rose and followed her to an empty corner of the room. No one gave us a second glance as some guests had departed already and others were indisposed in alcoves.

“What is going on, Kiera?” she whispered through a tight smile.

I turned my back to the room, unable to keep my expression relaxed. “We were successful, but I still need to get the chain back around his neck, which is more complicated than taking it. A private dance will help. Otherwise, one of the women will notice my fumbling.”

“I understand.” She sighed. “I’ll leave the back door of The Silk Dancer open for you. Will you be able to sneak out of here and get to the club unseen?”

“I’ll manage. The Wolves rarely come through this quarter, so I shouldn’t run into any trouble.”

Melaena nodded. “Very well. But be careful. Asher is... not a bad man. He’s used to getting his way, but he won’t force you. Just don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

I suppressed a shiver, the heat of Aiden’s kiss still lingering on my lips. “I won’t.”

“Wake me when you get back, and I’ll take you to Aiden.” She stepped forward as if to embrace me, then remembered our painted skin. Instead, she squeezed my hand with an encouraging smile.

We headed back to Asher, and Melaena said her goodbyes.

Once she was gone, Asher clapped his hands. “I think it’s time we also settled down for the night, yes?”

Everyone eagerly agreed. We flocked out of the ballroom and followed Asher upstairs.

“A few of you may use this bath,” he said, pointing to the room we’d used to get ready. “The bedrooms and additional bathrooms are down this hall.” He waved his arm at the glossy wooden doors lining the dim hall.

Amid sighs of gratitude that escalated to squeals of excitement as the dancers opened every door, Asher extended his arm to me, swaying a bit. “Come with me?”

I swallowed, my throat dry as parchment, and threaded my arm through his. We walked to the end of the hall and turned left, traipsing another hall that lined the back of the mansion.

He stopped in front of a set of gold-tipped doors painted with his insignia. His bed chamber.

My heart tapped against my breastbone like a caged bird as he flung the doors open.

A fire burned merrily in a hearth larger than the room I shared with Ruru. It cast a warm glow over a bed chamber the size of a small house. An enormous bed with four wooden spires and lush violet curtains was wedged into a corner near a floor-to-ceiling window. Another set of double doors was carved into the glass, leading out to a wide balcony that overlooked more gardens at the back of the mansion. I could almost see beyond the city wall from here.

Aware of him staring at me, I thanked the gods my mask hid half of my expression. “It’s beautiful, Asher.”

He shrugged, a loose grin on his handsome face. “It is. But you are more so.”

He reached for me, but I seized his hand. He blinked at me curiously.

I tugged him over to his bed and gently guided him to sit on the edge. “Would you like to watch me from here?” I whispered.

Understanding dawned on his face, and he nodded eagerly.

Trying to breathe evenly through my nose, I sauntered backward, keeping my eyes locked on him, a small smile on my lips. When my bare feet brushed over the warm stones in front of the hearth, I stopped.

Was this a terrible idea? What if Melaena was wrong about Asher’s nature?

Don’t make promises you can’t keep.

But still I hesitated. For one wild moment, I wanted to bolt through those doors and drop the key somewhere for Asher to find it. But Aiden wanted him to be oblivious for as long as possible.

Aiden.

Perhaps if I pretended this dance was for him...

Closing my eyes, I drifted back to that hallway . . . Aiden’s hands caressing my body . . . his mouth making love to mine . . .

Heat pulsed through my veins. I opened my eyes.

No music, but I didn’t need it. I freed my silks from their bracelets and began to weave them around my body as I’d practiced with Melaena hundreds of times.

I stepped forward, twisting my hips. I lifted my arms and gently twirled. I thought of Aiden’s smoldering grin instead of the entranced look Asher displayed.

An easy smile curled my lips, and I sank to the floor with split legs, one in front of me and one behind. Thank the gods and Melaena my flexibility had improved.

Asher was gripping the bed with white knuckles now, leaning forward, his heavy necklaces swinging. But it was Aiden’s muscled chest I saw. Those green eyes that played tricks on my mind.

I swayed forward and back, exposing my throat to the ceiling, my breasts to him. My silks floated around me like lazy flames.

Carefully rolling, I twirled to my feet. I danced closer and closer to him. My chest heaved with each breath. Sweat gathered under my heavy hair. My skirt brushed his knees.

But then the wrong hands gripped my waist. The wrong scent—rose oil and mint—snapped me out of my wishful haze.

Asher’s wet lips were a breath from mine when I stumbled away from him.

“Forgive me,” I gasped. “I—I forgot myself.”

He shook his head, his smile kind even as disappointment flickered in his eyes. “I am the one who needs forgiveness. I fear I have done the very thing I promised I wouldn’t by frightening you.”

When he continued to sit there looking like a wounded puppy, my anxiety slowly calmed. Melaena had been right. As usual.

I smiled and sat next to him on the bed. “Of course, you’re forgiven. It’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment.”

“Indeed,” he murmured, rubbing his temple. “Also, a bit more wine than I’m used to, I think.”

“Here, let me help you,” I said, grasping his Arduen crown. “May I?”

He nodded wearily. I eased it off his head and set it aside. An idea struck me.

I scooted back on the bed’s satin covers. “Lay your head in my lap, and I’ll try to ease your pain.”

“You’re very kind,” he mumbled, obliging.

My heart winced. No, I wasn’t. I simply wanted access to his neck.

Once he was settled with his head propped on my crossed legs, I began to massage his neck and shoulders. “Close your eyes and relax,” I whispered.

He sighed heavily, already half-asleep.

While slowly rubbing one of his temples, I eased the vault key on its chain out of my breast band.

I gently nestled the key among his other necklaces and guided the two ends of the chain around his neck.

His deep breathing shifted the key the tiniest bit, and it clinked against the other necklaces.

I froze, waiting, a dozen excuses filling my mouth. But his eyes remained closed. I circled my thumbs over his neck while catching the dangling chains. Holding my breath, I pinched the two ends together. The clasp slipped through my sweaty fingers.

Gods damn it! Fucking Four! Help me!

I dug my knuckles into his neck, bracing against him to fumble with the clasp again.

Asher bolted upright, yanking the chain from my fingers. I gasped. He twisted to face me, his eyes wild.

And the key tumbled from his neck to land between us.