Spin the Shadows (Dark and Wicked Fae #1) - Cate Corvin Page 0,21

and Fionn was suddenly pressed against my ass, grinding against me.

I kept dancing, gritting my teeth. It was easy to get inside Cress’s pretty, empty little head: just another party-mad nymph looking for a good time, looking for the magical Gentry prince who would pick her up out of the Lesser masses like a diamond in the rough, even though her dreams were just a castle in the air.

Through a sudden part in the crowd, I caught a glimpse of Robin. He was sitting at a table in a dark corner, spinning a nearly full glass around on the table with his long fingers as he watched us.

He didn’t look happy at all. The false face he wore was set in a faint scowl.

Robin blinked and seemed to realize I was staring back at him. The scowl deepened and he looked away, surreptitiously glancing at the balcony where Silke stood guard.

Well, he could scowl all he wanted, but I was the one out here with some Gentry bastard putting his hands all over me.

The image of the photo flashed through my head. The girls’ glazed eyes were burned into my skull. It’s for a good reason, Briallen. Grow a pair and get in that room.

The crowd swallowed us again, and I flung myself back into dancing against Fionn with renewed purpose.

My feet were screaming and my skin sheened with sweat when I finally stumbled out of the fray, Fionn on my heels.

“I need a drink,” I said, my throat raspy with thirst, and Fionn glanced at the bar. His eyes flicked upstairs, an almost imperceptible movement.

He was still pressed against me. I felt his erection through his pants and suppressed a shudder.

Fionn leaned down to talk in my ear. “Let’s go upstairs. I’ll get you a drink there.”

Both excitement and dread ripped through me. I just let my eyes widen. “Oh, my trees, really? I thought you had to be like, a really big deal to get a VIP room here.”

Fionn’s overconfident smirk grated on my nerves. “Babe, I am a really big deal. I’m fifth in line to the Seelie Throne.”

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes and gaped instead. “No way.”

“Absolutely. Come on, pretty girl. Let’s go.” He took my arm and led me to the curving stairs on the edge of the dance floor.

I had the feeling he’d already forgotten poor Cress’s name. He led me up the stairs, and without thinking, I glanced back over my shoulder at the lonely table below.

Robin’s eyes followed us all the way up. I wanted to give him some sort of sign that I was okay, that I was good with this, but Fionn and I were now in full view of Silke.

Her eyes were almost white and icy cold. I tossed my hair over my shoulders and clung to Fionn, wrapping my hands around his arm.

The huldra held up a hand as we approached, as implacable as a stone wall. “Who is this?”

Fionn stared at her for a moment, his mouth opening and closing, confirming my suspicion.

“Hi!” I burbled, holding out a hand. “I’m Cress Willowtree! You’re like, so pretty, why are you up here instead of down there?”

Silke gave me a withering look, her upper lip curling in a sneer and showing a very pointy incisor.

“Yeah, this is Cress. Lay off the ice-queen act, Silke. She’s invited in.” Fionn tried to push past her, but Silke’s hand was suddenly planted in the middle of his chest, forcing him back like he weighed no more than a feather.

“This is protocol,” she said. There was no arguing with that tone of voice.

A moment later the huldra was whisking her hands over me, impersonal and cool. The search was over within seconds, considering the tiny dress didn’t leave much to hide, but she even slipped her fingers into my hair, searching my scalp for hidden weapons.

Her eyes were narrowed when she stepped back. “Open the bag.”

I obediently opened the wristlet, letting out a breathless giggle. Silke peered in at my phone and lip gloss and plucked the fake ID card out.

She held it up, looking from my face to the ID, and her lips flattened.

The huldra handed it back and I made to close the wristlet, but her hand was still outstretched. “No phones allowed.”

A twinge of misgiving went through me, but I had to get into that room. I plucked the brand-new phone from my wristlet and dropped it in her palm, forcing another laugh. “Just be careful! I