Maddox clicks his tongue again, and his horse breaks out into a much faster gallop, and of course, my horse does the same. This time, I keep my head down, my hair whipping around in the air as we speed through the forest and down the roads. I lose track of time, even as my hands start to feel frozen to the reins, and my thighs burn from the ride. But not wanting to be a laughing stock, I hold on all the way until we get to the edge of the town where Maddox slows down. My horse slows down at his side as I hear music playing.
“Why are we here?” I ask with some nervousness. For all I know, this could be a mass murder party, and knowing Maddox, the chances are high that it is. Or something worse.
“I have to collect something here before we return home,” he answers as we get to the first row of houses. Anyone we pass immediately falls to their knees on the street, even the few human children I spot around. Maddox doesn’t even notice them, steering his horse through the streets and past a party. The party music is so loud, being played on several loudspeakers, that they don’t notice us. The humans are dancing in a tight group of at least a few hundred, and their laughter makes me smile for a second. Other than their dresses being so different from anything I’ve seen people wear, it is almost normal. I feel myself aching for that life I once had, where going to parties and dancing like this with Sophie until the sun came up was normal.
My horse comes to a halt, and I look over to see Maddox is jumping off his horse. He comes over to me and nods his head to tell me to get off before he pulls his hood up over his head.
“I can stay on and wait for you,” I suggest, because I’d rather sit here watching the party than join in collecting whatever he is here for.
“Off,” he instructs. I glare at him, which only makes his lips tilt up, and let him wrap his hands around my waist and pull me off the horse. He purposely slides my body down his, making me feel every hard inch of him, then lifts my hood up, tucking a wayward strand of my hair behind my ear. My cheeks are bright red as he gives me a devilish grin and takes my hand in his, tugging me along with him. I jog a little to keep up with his long strides all the way into the crowd of humans, and I shortly realize there are a few vamps in the crowd, dancing with each other or humans as we pass them. All the air leaves my lungs as Maddox wordlessly pulls my body against his and cups the back of my neck, arching my head up so he can look at me.
“What are you doing, Maddox?” I all but breathe out. My heart pounds as I stare at him, noticing how inhumanly beautiful he is. His soft black locks of hair float just above his shoulders, the silver rings and red small crystals catching the light, and his eyes are so strange, but there is no other word for them except enchanting. The red and black mix together like a hurricane meeting land, and yes, he might be the most insane person I’ve ever met, but I will admit to myself that he is hard not to think about. Not to stare at. Not to notice how good he smells, a mixture of cedarwood and almost cinnamon-like smell. It reminds me of home, of my mum’s cooking.
In Maddox’s arms, as he forces us to dance like two lovers, I feel safe.
And that is more frightening than anything on this island.
“Maddox...what are you doing?”
I repeat my question, needing to know his answer. His hips move in time to the beat, and his hands move my body along with his. Damn, he can dance.
“I am not sure,” he answers, breathing the words into my ear. “But I will never regret this moment with you.”
“But I might,” I whisper back.
He laughs, the deep throaty laugh making me shiver. “Dance with the monster, Riona. Just dance.”
And goddamn my sinful soul, I do. Pushing all thoughts aside about how wrong this is, I wrap my arms around his neck, his soft hair brushing my wrists, and I let him control the dance, our bodies plastered together. We fit. So perfectly, so naturally, and it feels so good to be this close to him. I close my eyes and move closer, resting my head against his shoulder, and his hand circles my waist under my cloak, his fingers brushing against my bare skin, making my skin break out in goose bumps. If anyone knows it is the prince, they don’t seem to care; they are all lost in themselves and their partners, in the music, in the dance. I watch them for a long time in Maddox’s arms, and I realize they are happier than I thought they might be. Yes, they are trapped and used as food, but their spirit is not broken.
“We must go,” Maddox reluctantly tells me as a song comes to an end, and he pulls away from me, his expression turning cold again. “Come.”
“What are you getting?” I ask once we are out of the dancers, and I try to pretend none of that happened even as every bit of where Maddox touched me is burned into my memory. Of course, he doesn’t answer as we head down street after street and around tiny corners, under archways, and finally come to a stop in front of four houses with their own little gardens around them. Maddox pushes the white picket fence gate open and walks down the path towards the house, but before he can get to the steps leading up, the door opens and a man walks out.
“This will get you what you wish, Prince Maddox. I do hope you keep up your end of the bargain,” the man coldly states, and in front of Maddox’s feet, a tiny red box appears.
Maddox picks the box up, sliding it into his pocket and turning around, walking away without saying a word, dragging me along by my hand. “Maddox, what was that? Is it to do with the children?”
Maddox shakes his head, pulling me into a nearby alleyway, pushing me against the wall with his body. “Careful what you say in public about that subject. Too many ears are listening.”
“Then tell me what was in the box,” I counter.
He leans closer. “Are you bribing me?”
“Trying to. Is it not clear?” I sarcastically reply.
His laugh almost, almost, makes me laugh with him. My lips pull up though, even when I can’t stop it. “For that little move, I am going to make us ride back up the mountain instead of taking the carriage. Don’t think you have any power over me, little human. I am always going to be the prince, and you will always be the human.”
He lets me go, roughly taking my hand and dragging me through the streets. I try to fight his grip, but it’s impossible, and all I do is hurt my own hand when he won’t let go. “You’re a bastard!”
He laughs. “I know.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Ah, oui, madame, I missed you this week,” Hector claims when I walk into the kitchen, my legs still sore from the hours of horse riding up the frigging mountain yesterday. I barely remember walking into the castle or finding my way to my bed. After a warm shower this morning, I feel a little bit better, but I’m still pissed. Hector slides a cup of tea and a plate of pancakes with fruit over to me. “Make you smile, oui?”
“You’re too good to be working for Maddox,” I tell Hector, and he winks at me before going back to cooking.
“You should eat with me,” Maddox says as an introduction as he walks in the room, Cross at his side. Cross softly smiles at me, and I vaguely remember saying hello to him yesterday and him handing me a hot water bottle to take to bed. “This is the kitchens.”
“Maybe I prefer to eat alone and not with the man who forced me to ride up a mountain yesterday,” I reply, cutting up my pancake. I place a bit on my fork, and Maddox steals the fork from my hand, shoving the pancake in his mouth before handing me it back. “You’re an asshole.”