Ursula sucked in a breath, gaping at the enormous hall. They walked forward onto a small balcony, and she peered down at a stairwell that curved to a dance floor below. Fae danced and drank over a floor carpeted with wildflowers and grass.
Still, her eye was drawn upward. Great columns of wood, as thick and sturdy as the trunks of redwood trees, supported a ceiling so far above them it disappeared into darkness. Glowing orbs lit the hall, some as small as insects, others as large as horses, swirling and dancing in the air above their heads like sea creatures buffeted by an unseen tide.
“How does this place exist?” Ursula breathed.
Kester slipped a hand around her waist. “Magic,” he whispered.
She glanced down at the crowd, at the fae dressed in stunning styles she’d never seen before—flowing silks of sapphire, plum, and fern green; limbs ensconced in curling gold jewelry. One woman sported hair that pulsated blue and green like the lights of a deep-sea fish. Another, dressed only in gossamer film, spun in a circle, sparks of magic streaming from the tips of her fingers like summer fireworks. Around the edges of the hall, leather clad men sat in wooden chairs, watching beautiful women dance in nothing but a few strategically placed seashells and flowers. Deep, resonant music filled the air, vibrating through Ursula’s body, and she inhaled the rich scent of moss and lilacs.
Flipping heck. She hadn’t even drunk the alcohol, and she was already getting seduced by the atmosphere.
“Stay focused.” Kester grabbed her hand, leading her down the stairs. “Abrax will be skulking somewhere near the king.”
As she stepped onto the dance floor, fae brushed against her. They moved effortlessly, their bodies swaying in perfect rhythm to the beat that trembled over her skin. There was a charge—an energy—in the air; it intoxicated her, and she had to remind herself why she was here. I’m here for Zee.
Kester slid his fingers down her arm, leaving a trail of tingles, and grabbed her hand. “Scan the crowd, but he’ll probably be in the king’s inner circle. He doesn’t trifle with commoners.”
“What are you going to do when we find him?”
His jaw suddenly tightened, and a hint of violence glinted in his green eyes. “I’m going to try not to rip him limb from limb, but I make no promises.” The terrifying look on his face was enough to shove the lingering waves of pleasure to the back of Ursula’s skull, and she let him lead her between the dancers.
They threaded their way through the sea of writhing fae as she scanned for Abrax. They moved deeper into the hall, and the men’s clothing changed, becoming more formal—stiff golden brocades and ruffled lace collars. The women, of course, still wore transparent gowns and scraps of lace. As Ursula watched the ladies dance, it was hard not to let her own hips sway, or feel a thrill at Kester’s body brushing against hers.
She leaned into him, whispering. “What’s with the Elizabethan ruffs?”
“These fae are part of King Oberon’s court.”
Just as she was going to ask what the king looked like, she glimpsed something between the dancers: surrounded by armed males dressed in golden armor, a tall fae sat enthroned on a low wooden dais. His pale hair shone in the light, his body radiating a shimmering golden glow.
Ursula gaped. “Is that the king?”
Kester stepped in front of her. “Don’t look him in the eye yet.”
“What’s the matter?”
“You’re new here. And you stand out. If we want to get into his inner circle, we want him to notice you, but not claim you.” He slipped one arm around her back, touching her cheek with his other hand. “I need them to know you’re here with me.”
With Kester standing so close, it was hard not to breathe in his delicious loamy aroma, and she wanted to wrap her arms around him. The music trembled over her skin in rushes of pleasure. Part of her mind screamed that Kester had an arrogance problem, that she hated guys like him, that she needed to stay focused on… something. Only she couldn’t remember what. Her gaze landed on a beautiful blond fae dressed in white lace lingerie, dancing for one of the fae males. It would be so great if I could just let go…
The slow, sensual beat reverberated through the hall, hypnotizing her, and her gaze flicked to Kester’s stunning mouth. She glanced up at him, licking her lips. God, he was gorgeous, and the carnal glint in his eye was driving her crazy. Her pulse raced.
The music rippled over her body, sending thrills through her as the beat slowed down. With the rhythm pulsing, Ursula let her hips sway against him. She slipped her arms over his shoulders, pressing her body against his solid muscle. Delicious warmth radiated through his clothes.
Slowly, he leaned down, tracing his soft lips over her throat, his thumb lazily stroking her back.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, her pulse racing faster.