to dance with me, Peasant.”
The iPod played Talk to Me by Stevie Nicks, and I frowned as he stood looking at me oddly. He smiled, moving to the beat as the music grew louder. I spun toward it as the man held the iPod in the air, and waves shot into the sky. Turning back to Greer, I watched him dance.
“Oh, Meat Suit, you got moves, mister,” I said, watching him. My eyes took in the large crowd observing us as if we were aliens that had just shown up and announced we were taking control of the planet. “Everyone is watching us.”
“Who cares? I’m a meat suit, and you’re a peasant. We can do whatever the hell we want,” he announced, rocking his hips as he held out his hand for me.
Smiling, I accepted, lifted my arms into the air, danced with Greer, rocking and moving until the middle of the song. He dipped me back, holding me there, then slowly brought me up against his body. He smiled, taking in the warm glow of my eyes from the dancing.
“Thought you might enjoy something familiar,” he chuckled. “You get one more song, so pick well, Peasant.”
“Ava Max’s, Kings & Queens,” I said, smiling as he nodded.
“Your taste in music sucks, but luckily I have it.” Greer nodded at the guy holding the iPod, and my eyes slid to Knox. He studied me, sitting back in his large chair beside the bonfire.
When the music started, we danced, and I made a point of singing the lyrics loudly, so Knox caught the meaning. I was halfway through the song when a little girl tugged on my dress. Her big brown eyes were fixated on me until I bent, picked her up, and began dancing again, only slower so I didn’t drop someone’s kid on their head.
When the song ended, I smiled unguardedly at Greer and moved closer, kissing his cheek. “Thank you, Meat Suit. I needed that,” I swallowed, returning the little girl to the ground, only to notice more of the kids had gotten closer to me.
One held a rose into the air, so I kneeled, accepting it with a smile before I kissed her forehead and thanked her for it. The entire camp went silent as the music cut off. Lifting my eyes, I found Siobhan observing me with Soraya beside her. The children moved forward, crowding me, and with a smile and wide eyes, they touched my dress with dirty hands. I laughed as one lifted a strand of material to her nose, and then more did the same.
Standing, the children bowed, and the surrounding witches kneeled, causing my stomach to churn with unease. I stepped back as their heads lowered to the ground. Spinning on my heel, I left the fires and walked to the tent, my throat tightening until I thought I’d die from asphyxiation.
Stopping in front of the tent’s opening, I paused, feeling someone behind me. I turned, staring at Lord Carter, where he watched me from the shadows. Swallowing past the swelling in my throat, I turned, giving him my back and straightening my shoulders, repeating what Knox had done to Aden. Killian and Brander stepped from the shadows at the sound of Lord Carter reaching for my exposed back. I didn’t wait to see if they hurt him since I was merely a witch, and my life was forfeited.
Inside the tent, I retrieved the nightgown I’d worn the night before, carefully stripping out of the dress and placing it back into my pack. I tilted my head, noticing the scent of Knox. Turning, I took in the lust dripping from his eyes, but there was uneasiness there too. He came further into the tent, running his fingertips over my spine slowly.
“You’re charming the witches,” he admitted.
“I was just trying to dance, Knox,” I argued, turning to look at him.
He smirked, slowly sliding his hungry eyes down my body. I spun, but he grabbed me, kissing my neck before running his lips over my shoulder, holding his mouth against the spot that had once held his mark. We didn’t speak, but then we didn’t need words to know that we both wanted this, and yet we wouldn’t let it happen.
I shifted away from him, and he allowed it as I retrieved the nightgown, slipping it on. Knox moved toward me, and my heart kicked into overdrive as he turned me, removing the jewels from my hair and my body, handing them to me.
“Thank you,”