From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The cold touch of his fingers when he takes my hand knocks the breath out of me. He pulls me from the comfort of my hidden corner and leads me to the center of the hall, where people immediately stop whatever was keeping their bodies. occupied. They look at him as if he were the sun itself. The moaning fades away, finally allowing the music played by the artists to take center stage. One smile from Ciro is enough for everyone to start dancing, completely forgetting what they were doing before. Naked and half–naked bodies pair off around us.

“Will you dance with me?” He gives a pompous bow and brings the back of my hand to his lips, planting a kiss there without breaking eye contact.

The word is fighting its way out of my mouth, almost as if against my will. I’m about to vomit a “yes” at his feet when the fragrance of night itself surrounds me.

“No,” Cassian answers for me.

Even knowing he’s there, the cold hardness in his voice still startles me. Ciro narrows his eyes at him, and for the first time, there seems to be no trace of amusement in them.

“Why not?”

Even I ask myself that question. I turn to get a better look and see red marks on Cassian’s neck and his shirt even more open than before–there may even be scratches on his chest.

“Because she’s going to dance with me.”

I must still be dreaming–this has to be some bizarre dream. It’s the only explanation for what just came out of his mouth. He avoids being near me at all costs, and now he wants a dance? I’m definitely dreaming.

“You don’t dance with humans,” Ciro replies. “And even less with a feeder–you find it unworthy and disgusting.”

“I do and undo as I please.”

If Ciro says anything else, I don’t hear it. Cassian drags me away with him. Unlike Ciro, he doesn’t ask me to dance or kiss the back of my hand. He simply commands, and I must obey if I want to survive another night. Maybe I should do the opposite–disobey him and embrace death.

His hand settles at the small of my back, pulling me closer until our chests brush. I feel his gaze lower slowly over my face and linger one second too long on the curve of my breasts. Heat rushes to my cheeks–it’s probably visible. His other hand grips mine, and wherever our fingers and palms touch, I feel that same tingling I despise.

No matter how hard I try to look elsewhere, his eyes seem intent on keeping me captive–I can’t escape his gaze. I feel like I’m sinking into the cold, deep waters hidden in those icy wells.

“Ciro’s gift is his beauty,” he says. “One look at his body, and you’ll feel the urge to fulfill his every wish. What do you humans say? Ah yes, looks aren’t everything. Well, Ciro Amery’s beauty is like a carnivorous plant that lures insects into its jaws.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

His grip tightens around my body as we start to spin again and again, drawing more and more attention from the guests. For someone marked by death, he moves through the floor with vitality. His movements are precise and elegant.

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Chapter 38

“Didn’t you feel an attraction to him from the start?”

I’m ready to deny it, but he doesn’t let me.

“I heard your heart speed up. Don’t try to lie to me–those things don’t work with me. I live attuned to your heartbeat.” He seems to realize he’s said something he didn’t mean to and keeps talking. “What I mean is, it’s very easy to fall under Ciro’s spell. Often it’s almost involuntary–his beauty is both gift and curse. Just like Aeron is too intelligent for his own good. His supernatural intelligence will drive him mad someday.”

“And why do you care?”

The thumb of the hand he holds mine with traces slowly down my palm, gliding over every small crease.

“I care if you look like you want to be bitten by an Amery.”

“I didn’t look like anything,” I snap, annoyed. “Stop making things up and stop trying to control me.”

“Controlling you is exactly what I intend to do.”

A wolfish smile forms on his lips, raising the hairs on my neck. I try, in vain, to break free and leave him standing in the middle of the floor–it would humiliate him. It’s useless–he’s far stronger than me. His eyes briefly flick to something over my head, and just as I’m about to turn to see what caught his attention, he surprises me by dipping me backward in his arms. He’s no longer looking at anyone–only at me. His eyes drop to mine, trace my cheeks, linger on my lips, and finally reach the curve of my neck. He licks his bottom lip, and far from scaring me, it makes something flutter in places it never

has before.

The melody fades, giving way to the next song. Cassian, with elegance and feigned chivalry, helps me upright again. I glance behind me, where Ciro watches us with shadowed eyes.

“You smell like blood,” he says casually. “In a different way than usual.”

My thoughts immediately jump to my monthly bleeding.

“I…”

Once again, I fall silent. I’m sick of myself. What’s wrong with me? Am I an idiot? I plant my feet firmly on the ground, lift my chin to banish any trace of shame, and respond with complete naturalness:

“I’m menstruating.”

His gaze lights up, his eyes gaining a depth I’ve only seen in his wildest moments.

“I see,” is all he says. He lets out a small sigh. “It’s time to return. Think you’ve had enough vampire attention for one night? Or do you still want that dance with Ciro?”

I feel the urge to say yes, just to annoy him, but I know that no matter how many spins Ciro gives me, my head will be elsewhere. I nod and let him lead me away from the dance we were clearly disrupting. Ciro makes a move to approach, but he must see something on Cassian’s face that stops him in his tracks and sends him turning back.

“You made a wise choice,” Cassian says almost into my ear. “I still need to punish you for wandering through my wing of the castle.”

The blood in my veins turns to frost, my circulation halts completely, and I feel numb. His laugh tickles my ear. He pulls my

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