Storm Born Page 0,98

exhausting as this."

"And so Tucson goes undefended, eh?"

"Roland's on it, much to my mother's dismay. I just hope I've drawn a lot of the action here instead of back there."

We sat quietly for a while, watching the party. It reminded me of the bar. Alone but not alone. Like any other party, people were getting more drunk as the night progressed. That unabashed sexual contact popped up more and more frequently, and a number of people danced wherever they found room. They moved in graceful strides, reminiscent of ballroom styles I knew.

"I've been thinking...about last night."

I looked up at him. "Yeah. I've thought about that a few times myself."

"You were...I don't know. I've never seen you like that. Not that we've done it all that much, but...wow. You marked me up pretty good."

"Is that a bad thing?"

He smiled. "No. I don't think so." His fingers brushed my chin and tipped my face up. "But what was going on? How'd a nightmare bring that on?"

I turned my face away. "It wasn't exactly a nightmare."

"What, then?"

"Just a dream...or a memory. It was about my father. And magic."

"What happened?"

"I...well, it's hard to explain."

"Eugenie - "

I kept my demeanor light and playful. "Forget about it. For tonight at least, okay? It isn't the right time. We can talk later."

He hesitated, then nodded. I moved my face closer, and he brushed his lips against my forehead, down to my cheek. I closed my eyes and sighed, luxuriating as his lips moved delicately down the side of my neck. We turned toward each other, our mouths drawn by some unseen force. And as we kissed, I forgot all about the crazy propositions tonight. There was only this. Me and Kiyo.

"No groping," I warned, seeing his hand slyly move toward forbidden areas. "I don't care how many other people are doing it. Or how much attention we don't draw to it."

"Then let's go somewhere private," he murmured, trailing kisses along my shoulder.

"I can't. You know I have to leave with Dorian. Nothing's going to happen," I added, seeing him open his mouth. "It's just for appearances. We can get together tomorrow."

He considered and nodded. "All right. But I'm giving you a good sendoff tonight."

He moved back, and we continued our kissing for a bit until a voice said, "The gods know I've seen some strange things in my life, but never did I expect to find a kitsune trying to make himself ruler over all of us."

We looked up in surprise. I hadn't expected another suitor while clearly busy with Kiyo.

Aeson stood there.

Chapter Twenty-One

I shot up, anger coursing through my body as I stared at that smug face. A heavy, bejeweled crown sat atop his brown hair, and he wore a close-fitting black satin dinner jacket.

"Don't look at me like that, Lady Markham," he told me in a voice both pleasant and hostile. "Dorian will not protect you if you start trouble in his home, no matter how advantageous you are as a lover."

"Fine. I'll just have to kill you somewhere else."

"Your plan didn't work so well last time."

"Neither did yours."

He leered. "That dress is exquisite, you know. It outlines every part of your body beautifully."

I crossed my arms instinctually. "Don't waste my time with compliments."

"Just tossing in my own bid for your body, just like everyone else here."

"Yeah? Haven't you paid attention? None of their compliments have worked either."

"Bah. They're petty lordlings and leeches scraping for power," he said with a sneer. "The general consensus is that you've refused everyone simply because you've yet to be approached by anyone worthy." He cut a glance at Kiyo as he spoke.

"Or maybe because I'm with Dorian. Not that it makes any difference. I'd fuck that trowe over there before I'd go anywhere near you."

"I think I'd like to see that, especially considering he comes to your knees."

"If this is the part where you tell me how well-endowed you are, save it. There's nothing you can say that would get me near your bed, so just give it up and leave."

His features hardened, a cold and sardonic smirk turning up his lips. "I suppose I can't argue with that. Not that it matters. I won't be alone tonight."

He stepped aside, just barely, and inclined his head. I followed the motion across the room. Jasmine Delaney stood among a group of gentry nobles. She was watching us, an unreadable look on her face. A long dress, heavy with brocade and jewels, draped her slight form, and her gray eyes