Word Count: 2280

~Avila

Vade and I finish up our dance as the song changes, and I excuse myself to the edge of the room.

This time, I actually really need some fresh air. The hot dancing bodies moving about the room have caused me to lose my breath.

That and being in such close proximity to Vade. That man does things to me...

No one stops me as I stalk down the hallway, the music becoming muffled with every step. I don't stop until the cool night air brushes over my skin, joined by the cloying scent of fat, blooming flowers that fall in pink heaps on the back path.

The sound of feet scuffing on the cobblestones from around the corner of the house draws my attention. Standing, I wander around, half expecting to see a couple pressed up against the back walls of the manor, making out.

Instead, I see Emerick.

He leans against the pale bricks, smoking something. Smoky puffs cloud his face before he turns to look at me, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"What are you doing here?" I hiss, glancing over my shoulder to make sure no one has followed me out here.

He's not even dressed to blend in. He's wearing a dark blue tunic and pants with rips in the knee. He doesn't even look like a staff member here and, quite frankly, would scare off anyone who braved the darkness out here.

"Curiosity got the better of me, I suppose," he muses with a shrug, dropping whatever he's been smoking onto the ground, stamping on it with the ball of his foot.

"What does that mean?"

"I've never been to ball like this," he says. "You used to skip them and go out with me instead. We would get hideously drunk and fuck down by the riverside."

I flinch. That's more graphic imagery than I expected to be faced with tonight.

To our left, just around the corner of the manor, I can see the massive windows that show inside the ballroom. Due to the darkness, they won't be able to see us, even if they tried, but from here, we can see everything. Dancing bodies, laughing faces and drunk staggering that makes me wonder why Crimson wants half these people in her house anyway.

"I don't think that's the plan for tonight," I tell him awkwardly, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"It could be if you wanted it to." He steps closer, looking over me with those dark, searching eyes. "Death couldn't have killed your sex drive."

Is he drunk? I don't think he's been this brazen with me yet.

His words make me shift uncomfortably. I'm not ready to have sex with Emerick, even if I have imagined doing the act in general.

"For your information, it hasn't, but I'm promised to another man." I smooth my hands down my dress, which he appears to be devouring the sight of me in.

He screws his face up in disgust. "Don't tell me you've fallen for the Prince."

"I haven't. I'm just honouring tradition," I respond simply.

I think for me to have fallen for Vade, I would need him to like me back. There's no chance of that, therefore, there is no chance of anything blooming between us.

Even if I wanted it to...

"You've changed far too much for my liking, Avila." He shakes his head, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Don't forget the meeting in a few days."

"I'll come. I promise." I intend to go, to make some sense about the rebellion and to see if it's a threat to me.

Also, it might help me decide whether I want to keep communicating with Emerick or not.

His gaze tracks my movements as I shiver from the cold. "You can sneak out one night and come stay over. I need to bring back some old memories of yours."

I scowl at him. "You are far too forward."

He tips his head back and laughs roughly, like my apprehension is amusing to him. I understand that going from having me love him to not knowing who he is will be hard for him, but he needs to know that I don't want to rush anything.

"Not like that," he assures me. "I still have some of your clothes, your jewellery and even some books. Maybe if you looked over some stuff in that environment, you'd remember our love."

"I don't think it's going to be that easy," I murmur.

My memories return to me on their own schedule. Only very abrasive, abrupt moments have triggered flashbacks, and none of them have been pleasant so far.

"Do you have any memories of us?" He steps closer.

"One," I admit, rubbing the back of my neck, which is gathering a layer of sweat despite the rest of my body being cold. "We were kissing and planning something. I seemed nervous about it."

His grin is pure seduction. "We kissed a lot. I'm afraid I don't remember specifically."

"It doesn't matter," I dismiss, glancing over my shoulder again. "You should go. If anyone sees you out here, we are both in trouble."

Emerick only strides closer until there isn't much distance between us. His presence is thick with wanting, yearning. It's almost suffocating.

"Afraid your pretty little Prince will find me?" He tilts his head, dropping his voice lower.

"Kind of, yeah." Vade, Roel, Crimson. Even Pria and Venna. Any of them catching us would ruin me.

"It's time for you to remember who you were, Avila." He reaches out, brushing his knuckles down his cheek, making me jump. "It's time to fix whatever is going on in your head."

I frown. Fix? He's starting to sound like Crimson, who thinks something must be wrong with me to be acting the way I am.

"I don't need to be fixed," I mutter, moving my head so his hand falls away.

"Avila," a firm voice says from behind me.

I whirl around, my heart launching into my throat. Vade stands with his hands seated in his pockets, staring Emerick and I down with a hardened stare.

"Vade..." I squeak.

He approaches, every step graceful. Emerick has stiffened, backing up a step in a way that makes it obvious our proximity is anything but innocent.

To my surprise, Vade steps up beside me, gliding an arm around my waist.

"The ball is wrapping up, sweetheart," he leans close to murmur it in my ear. "It's time for you to thank your guests for coming before we head to bed."

Shivers dance over my skin as his breath coasts along my neck and ear.

"Oh, of course," I stammer, my voice broken and hoarse sounding.

Emerick and Vade, mere inches away from each other, is a terrifying sight. Emerick looks mortified, cowering back while Vade stares at the side of my face like he's passionately in love with me.

The doting Prince. It's a role he's expected to play.

He sweeps his gaze to Emerick, pinning him with it. "Something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," he responds quickly.

"Is there any reason my fiancée is out here with you?" Vade doesn't sound accusatory, but it's firm. There's something frosty in that gaze, in those beautiful silver eyes.

"We were just becoming acquainted," I force out. "I never caught your name."

Emerick's brows draw together, and for a moment, I think he's going to tell Vade all about our secret affair. It's innocent now, but it wasn't before I died.

"Don't worry about it," he says instead, tucking his hands behind his back before he bows his head. "I'm just a humble servant to the King."

"If there's nothing more to say, I suggest you leave." The bite to Vade's tone is unmissable.

Emerick swallows thickly before he nods at me. "Goodnight, Avila."

I watch as he vanishes into the shadows, likely intending to put as much distance between him and Vade as possible.

"Do you know him?" Vade asks gently as I turn to face him.

His jaw is tight as he stares out into the darkness, like he can still see Emerick departing. I've never seen him act like this, like he's...jealous.

"No." I laugh breathily. "He just introduced himself to me and yet didn't tell me his name. Apparently, he remembered me from somewhere."

Vade's gaze zeroes in on me, murderous tension playing out on his features.

"Where?"

"He never got the chance to say, although I suppose from a newspaper or a painting." I scratch under my ear, my knuckles brushing against the dangly earrings I'm wearing

I hope he can't see my blatant lie for what it is.

"Shall we go inside?" Vade asks through a long sigh.

"Do you two know each other?" I question. Something about the way they looked at each other suggested there was recognition, but I could just be losing my mind.

"No," Vade responds quickly. "Perhaps you shouldn't come out in the dark like this. Who knows what lurks out here."

"Are you okay? You seem agitated."

He keeps looking between me and the darkness, something playing out in his mind that I'm not privy to. It seems everyone harbours too many secrets they don't wish to share with me.

"No, I just..." He closes his eyes for a moment, and releases a breath before opening his eyes again. The quiet storm has quelled, leaving behind a heart-breaking softness. "I am so very ready to marry you, is all."

"Really?" I still can't fathom the truth in his words, but he appears nothing but honest.

He nods. "I am."

My gaze brushes down to his lips. I can't help myself. They are so full, so invited, and he looks so effortlessly good tonight.

I lurch forward on my tiptoes and kiss him.

He stills beneath my touch as my hands grip the sides of his face. His skin is so smooth, his lips so soft, and he smells divine.

I tease my tongue along his lips, the intuition of kissing returning to me with ease. This is a mouth I've kissed before, and yet it feels so much more addicting outside of my memory.

One moment he is unmoving; the next, he is grabbing my waist, turning to pin me against the wall.

The rough movement has me gasping into his mouth, but not nearly as fervently as when he presses his body against mine. Every hard ridge digs into my skin, the feeling so blissful my legs nearly cave beneath me.

His tongue sweeps into my mouth, claiming me with a passion that is overwhelming. While my hands entwine in the wavy lengths of his silken hair, his hands shift up my body, one holding the side of my face, the other the back of my head.

I can't get enough of him. The urge to tear his perfect suit off, to see what muscle dwells beneath, is so overwhelming it hurts.

He kisses me like he's in pain, like it hurts so good.

I tug slightly on his hair, and he groans into my mouth. It takes everything in me not to press my hips back into his, wanting to feel if he's as aroused as I am.

His hand trails from my cheek to my jaw and then to my neck. I gasp as his hand wraps around my throat, pressing just enough for me to feel a pleasurable burn, to feel the extent of his control over me.

"You're mine, Avila," he murmurs against my mouth. "No one else's."

I barely have room to nod as he kisses me again, deeper, harder, making me feel like this kiss should be happening on a bed, in privacy.

He's not letting me go. His free hand comes down to the skirt of my dress, starting to tug the thick fabric up.

I pant against his mouth, wanting him with every fibre of my being. I want him close to me, I want him inside me. I don't want to wait for our wedding.

Someone suddenly crashes out the door, stumbling onto the grass near us.

Vade drops my skirt, pulling his mouth from mine to look at the intruder who ruined this wonderful moment.

"Oh!" the lady shrieks, covering her mouth. The flushed cheeks and wavering form suggest she is very drunk.

"I'm sorry-"

"No need," she holds her hand up, quietening Vade, who steps away from me. "I'm glad to see you're in such good health, your majesty."

"Thank you," I say, embarrassment flooding my cheeks with heat.

"Get back to it. We're expecting an heir," she says before stumbling back to the backdoor, spilling half her drink on the ground as she does so.

Vade's breathing is harsh as he looks back at me.

I nearly moan at the sight of him. The mussed hair from my explorative fingers, the swollen lips and eyes heavy with desire.

He wants me.

My eyes travel slowly down to his pants, where his arousal is very evident. My mouth pops open at the size of it, trepidation waring with excitement in me.

"Let's get inside," he exclaims roughly. "Before I take this too far."

He doesn't wait to see if I follow, stalking inside quickly.

I let out a long breath before I follow, my fingers brushing against my throat, still feeling the weight of his hand there.

What just happened?

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