CHAPTER 5

Vita

THE HIGH CONSUL WAS a lovely dancer.

As the musicians started their next song, he lifted his arm and led Vita through an elegant waltz. She had never danced formally, though it was easy enough to follow his lead as he spun her through the intricate steps.

Her crimson dress flared out like the petals of a rose, the music showering them in its melody. The scent of flowers wafted past her face as they swirled around, completely in sync.

She caught the eye of Amulius more than once, who had a furious glare aimed towards her. Vita tried to push away the thoughts of his likely retaliation, exhilarated by the fact she was dancing with the High Consul!

Verian would never believe this .

They moved as one, even with her lack of experience, and she felt as if she were in one of her fairy stories. Those ruby eyes stole all the breath from her lungs as he studied her.

"Are you from Shadowholde?" he asked, deftly leading them through the steps.

"No, but I've lived here since I was a child."

He released her waist and whirled her away from him before pulling her back into his embrace. Her breath caught once more as he gazed at her, a look of hunger in his eyes.

"Did you deliver your offerings to Aona today? One must be dutiful to our holy virgin Goddess."

A strange emphasis on the word virgin, almost accusatory, though there was a glint of laughter in his voice, like he could peer right into her head and see all the memories of her past sexual encounters.

"Of course I did."

Only priestesses of Aona were required to remain virgins, though many would scorn Vita for the things she'd done as an unwed woman.

"I knew you were a good girl," he said, that smirk never leaving his face as they swirled about the dance floor.

The words jolted her, the good girl having the effect she'd thought it would if uttered by someone other than Amulius, tension coiling in her stomach, her head swimming. The High Consul spun her again, pulling her back flush with his chest and running his icy hands up her body. A seed of pleasure rooted in her core, sending tendrils of electricity through her lower half and bringing a hot flush to her face.

As he spun her back around to face him, the intensity in his eyes was shocking. "And you work for Praetor Amulius?"

Vita stammered a response, trying to answer the simple question despite her head whirling from the insinuations and the dance. "I-I do. For the past five years."

He hummed, an unreadable expression on his face. His hand had returned to her waist, the tight grip sending bolts of desire through her body.

Oh, no .

Vita's power welled as she swirled about the dance floor with the High Consul. She tried to breathe, to close the door to the surge that she sensed was coming.

Not now.

"Does he treat you well?"

The question caught her off guard as she gritted her teeth, trying to focus on containing the swells of power.

"Y-Yes, he does."

Suddenly, the High Consul pulled her close, his face mere inches from hers and both hands now clasping her waist.

"Do not lie to me. Does he treat you well?"

Vita gulped at the proximity and the power that was threatening to overtake her. How had he known she was lying?

The High Consul clenched his jaw, and though he had slowed his graceful steps, he still spun with her as he awaited a response. Unblinking eyes peered into her soul.

The words spilled out of Vita's mouth, no matter how desperately she tried to contain them.

"Praetor Amulius has threatened me. He has put his hands on me and made vulgar suggestions. I'm frightened, but I cannot leave. I have nowhere else to go." Her eyes widened as she spoke, unable to stop herself.

She swallowed a surge of energy as her hands grew warm. Please, not now.

The High Consul just hummed again. His eyes darted to her cheek, and he cupped her face with a slender hand, thumb running along the scar.

The music was gone, though Vita was unsure whether the musicians had stopped playing or if her heart was beating too loudly to hear anything else. His touch was cold, and yet it filled her with a pleasant warmth. What did he want from her?

He grasped her hand once more, then picked up the pace, every move precise and confident. She was stiff as she tried to contain the roar of power surging under her skin. She needed to get out of here. He spun her once more, then suddenly dipped her low, one hand supporting her back as the other circled behind her neck.

Vita's chest heaved as he gazed at her, his lips just inches from hers. Was he going to kiss her? She grasped for his arms, gaining purchase on his lithe upper body. Time seemed to stand still as he held her until the smirk reappeared and he raised her from the dip.

All eyes were on Vita and the High Consul.

She took a shaky step back before giving him a deep curtsy. The surge was threatening to overtake her as she rushed away, searching for a place to hide, any punishment for this breach of etiquette far better than what would happen if her magic was revealed.

Vita stumbled out a side door, propped open to let in the warm night air. The full moon gleamed overhead, and she realized she was in a rose garden. She rushed through the arched pergola, leading her farther into the tangle of flowers, hoping she would be alone.

Rows upon rows of roses lined the walkway, golden yellow and blood red, some as pink as a kitten's nose. The scent was almost sickly as she hurried by, hands warming in the familiar way as she waited for the surge to pass. Vita saw no one, though she couldn't be sure she was truly alone.

Sweat clung to her brow as she tried to breathe, holding her hands out to liberate the contained magic. Illusory butterflies and flower petals rained down from the sky, surrounding her in a glittering swarm.

Oh, thank the Gods!

This one had happened before, just once. Fanciful butterflies and flowers were much preferable to burning any item she touched, or to some unknown magic she hadn't seen before. She enjoyed the show as they fluttered around her for a minute until dissipating into the dark night. That definitely could have been worse.

The skin on the back of her neck prickled, and Vita whirled around as she realized she wasn't alone in the garden. There he was, the High Consul in all his glory. Had he seen the illusion? No, it seemed not, his expression betraying nothing but cool indifference. She hid her hands behind her back as if a residue of magic still clung to them.

"Are you enjoying my rose garden?" he asked, his voice lilting and endlessly expressive.

Vita curtsied as he approached, keeping her eyes on the ground.

"Yes, High Consul, it is lovely."

"I wish I could take credit for it, though that would be my dear Aurora."

He stopped in front of her, but still, she kept her eyes on the ground.

"I apologize for my hasty retreat. I was in desperate need of fresh air." She hoped the half-lie would suffice, would explain her impertinence.

A finger grazed her chin, and the High Consul pulled her gaze up to meet his.

"I thought I had offended you in some way."

Vita took a gulp of air as he studied her face, pausing on the scar once more. He ran a thumb across it, sending an icy shiver down her spine despite the humid night air.

"Now, what are we going to do about the Praetor?" Though his voice was calm, she could sense the threat behind his words as he mused.

"High Consul?" Vita's brows furrowed in confusion, mouth clenched in a tight line.

The full moon illuminated his pale skin so that it glowed with an ethereal beauty.

Time stood still as he held her, just as it had before, fireflies flitting about their heads like twinkling stars. The hum of crickets thrummed all around them, rose scented air breezing against their faces.

His eyes were glowing as he pulled her against his chest and Vita's heart was beating fast, certain he was going to kiss her this time.

Footsteps. Thank the Gods there was someone coming. The High Consul was beautiful, had given her the gift of a dance she'd remember forever, but there was something strange about him, like an internal battle was going on behind those ruby eyes.

Hope turned to dread when she saw who the footsteps belonged to. Her employer.

"Vita?"

The High Consul turned to Amulius with a sneer.

"If there is something you need, Praetor, one of my employees would be happy to oblige." His words were pleasant enough, but his voice was cruel, mocking.

"I was just looking for Vita," Amulius said casually, though he clenched his jaw, his hands in fists at his sides.

The High Consul glanced back at her, running his thumb across her soft lips. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach from the intimate touch, so different from the way the Praetor assaulted her.

He spoke to Amulius, but his eyes stayed on her.

"Well, it looks like I found her first."

Amulius grumbled, his eyes shooting daggers at them.

"Vita, I think it's time you come back. My wife needs you," he said, an obvious lie.

She wasn't sure what was preferable, the known danger of Praetor Amulius or the unknown of the High Consul.

"I will send her back in when I'm done with her," the High Consul hissed as he took Vita's hand and pulled her further into the garden.

She glanced back at Amulius, his mouth agape as he watched them walk away. Oh Gods, she would pay for this later.

The High Consul silently guided her through the tangle of roses, one hand on the small of her back. Vita tried to relax, the dual sensation of fear and pleasure rushing through her body.

What did he want with her?

She knew very little about this man, though that was true for most citizens of Shadowholde. He had come to power years ago, and left most decision making to the Praetor and council members, rarely appearing at any city functions as far as she could tell.

The mystery only added to his intrigue .

Vita shot a furtive glance his way, noticing the tight line of his mouth. The sly smirk had vanished, and he clenched his sharp jaw as he walked. But was it in anger? Annoyance? It was impossible to know. His slightly upturned nose complemented his pointed features, as did the whispers of wrinkles under his eyes.

He was truly breathtaking, more elegant than anyone she'd ever met. His hair hung down his back, tidy save for the few tendrils that framed his face. He caught her gaze, and she jerked her head forward, her cheeks flushed. That mischievous smile returned as he stopped near the edge of the garden, a view of the moonlit mountains beyond.

"What do you think of my home?" he asked suddenly, breaking the silent tension.

She saw something in his eyes, something she couldn't quite place. It was a pained expression, despite the smile and beauty.

"It is incredible, High Consul. Truly. I will be forever grateful for this evening."

Vita worried she had said too much, but it was the truth. It was like she was in one of her fairy stories, the handsome princeps by her side as they wandered the romantic rose garden.

"My name is Renatus," he said, turning to her.

"Renatus," she breathed, shyly meeting his eyes.

She bit her lip, willing herself to stay calm. She had no reason to believe he was going to hurt her, do anything that she didn't want to do. But what did she want? She imagined his lips on hers, on her neck, her breasts, her… But no, those were thoughts for later.

Suddenly, his face turned dark, a grimace and furrowed brows replacing the smirk from a moment ago. Had she upset him? He's the one who asked her to use his name. And what a lovely name it was.

"Perhaps it is time you return to your employer," he said, and her heart sank.

Of course, she didn't really think he was going to kiss her, but it was titillating to be around him, her head swimming with dizziness as he exuded raw confidence. She must have upset him, because why else would he lead her all over the garden, just to return her to the Praetor?

"Y-Yes, High Consul, you are right. "

"I trust you can find your way back."

His words caused Vita's heart to sink even further, the excitement of the evening vanished. He looked away, eyes watching the mountains like a sentinel. He said no more as she stepped backwards, then turned and hurried towards the palace, her mind racing.

Why was she acting so surprised? He was the High Consul of Shadowholde, the leader of the city, and she was a mere servant. It was foolish to think the dance had meant anything. This wasn't one of her fairy stories.

Shame filled Vita as she entered the palace, reluctant to find Amulius after all that had transpired.