“Aqua,” Breck breathed against my mouth.
“Don’t stop.”
I tightened my grip, and Breck responded by breaking the kiss. “I need to be alone with you,” he said in a husky voice.
I let him pull me up the stairs along the catwalk, and down to the second story loft. My back tingled with the sensation of being watched, but when I turned to look, I saw no one familiar.
Breck ducked into the first empty privacy cube, and I followed, whirling to face him as he spun me in his arms. His hand, rough with callouses, cupped my cheek. Those piercing blue eyes rooted me where I stood.
My breath whooshed out of me.
I’d break the law for Breck if it meant seeing him look at me like that again. In this moment, I already had.
The walls of the privacy cube glowed blue-green around us, casting our skin in a soft light that reminded me of the sea. It was a stark reminder of what I was—and what I’d be when this night ended.
Before I could let reality sink in, Breck kissed me again.
Strong hands pressed me down against the mattress, and I sank into its softness, reaching for Breck and pulling him down with me.
My dress rode high, and Breck’s fingers brushed over the exposed skin of my thigh before slipping underneath the thin fabric. My muscles tensed in anticipation. When he stroked me, I nearly came apart right then.
“Mmm, I missed this,” he said against my ear, and I shivered.
I missed it, too.
More than he knew.
With a grip that bordered on desperate, I held on tight as his hands explored places that hadn’t been touched since we were last together.
“Breck,” I uttered as he coaxed me toward a release that had been building for five long years.
“Come for me,” he breathed.
I nearly had when Breck’s body jerked in surprise. He stood up, moving quickly.
“What’s—”
I fell silent when I saw what had startled him.
Or who.
My eyes widened in horror at the familiar figure standing in the pod’s entrance. “Priscilla.”
“Princess.” Priscilla’s eyes narrowed. “Though not for long from the look of things.”
She smirked at me, a devastating smile that left no doubt she’d seen more than enough.
I scrambled to my feet, fully aware of how disheveled I looked. “I can explain.”
“No need. I have firsthand proof that you’ve violated our kingdom’s law by associating yourself with a foreign being.”
Breck said nothing.
Anger rose, hot and swift, with fear alongside it. My hands balled into fists. “You won’t get away with this,” I vowed.
But Priscilla only lifted a brow and added, “I’ll be taking this up with the royal council tomorrow. I do hope it was worth it.”
She offered Breck an approving glance. “Good work. Our deal is secured, halfling. Finish up here, and then come find me to be escorted back.”
Priscilla walked out, leaving us alone, but I kept my gaze trained on Breck. Horror washed over me as understanding dawned.
“Aqua,” Breck began. “I can explain.”
“You did this?” I asked. “You betrayed me?”
“No, of course not. I came here tonight, looking for a way into Nerida. My mother was water fae; do you remember me telling you that when we met?”
I suddenly felt way too exposed in this slinky dress. “What does that have to do with me?”
“Nothing. I made a deal with Priscilla. A task. A favor in exchange for admittance into Nerida.”
“I would have given you entrance into Nerida,” I nearly shouted.
“I realize that now, but I saw Priscilla first. And I never expected to see you here. Hurting you is the last thing I ever wanted.”
“But you just did.” I gestured after Priscilla. “She’s right. I’m not allowed to be with anyone but my own kind.”
“I’m half-fae,” he said.
“Half isn’t the same as whole. Not for royalty. When the council finds out, I could be arrested. Or worse.”
“We’ll fix it. I’ll talk to her,” he said.
I shook my head. “Priscilla’s always wanted my crown. Now, she’ll get it.” My eyes burned. “Because of you.”
I shoved past him and out the door, leaving my past and my future behind me.
Chapter Nine
Breck
Priscilla had played me. I should have seen it coming, but I’d been too caught up in Aqua. Being with her again had blinded me to the bigger picture. I had to fix it. Even if we couldn’t be together, I had to at least save her from the council’s punishment. Aqua didn’t deserve to be labeled a criminal.
Priscilla was nowhere to be found downstairs, so I doubled back, making my way past the band’s platform and up to the roof. It was more crowded than before, and I shoved my way past couples dancing close enough to warrant a privacy pod. On the other side of the crowd, the dragon’s fire lit the night in various shapes.
A flash of black caught my eye.
There.
On the edge of the dance floor.
I slid past the other couples, barely catching Priscilla as she shook off an eager dance partner and headed for the bar.
“Hello, again, halfling. Come to catch your ride home?”
“We have to talk,” I said.
“I’m not sure what’s left to say. You did your part. Now, I’ll do mine.” She pressed against the bar and flagged the female bartender.
“What can I get you?” the girl asked, her rainbow-hued hair swinging as she moved. Her scent hit me, nuanced and strange. An animal shifter, but not one I’d smelled before.
“Your specialty, please, Nova,” Priscilla said. “I do love trying all the fun concoctions.”
“Sure, and you?” she asked.
“Nothing for me,” I said, knuckles white with tension.
“One Revenge of the Unicorn coming right up,” she said before heading for a glass.
I blinked. Unicorn? Really? Huh.
I turned back to Priscilla. “We need to talk about Aqua.”
Priscilla’s eyes narrowed fractionally. Her tone became icy. “She’s no longer your concern.”
“You’re going to use our encounter to remove her from the throne,” I said.
Priscilla’s silence was confirmation.
The bartender returned and set a rainbow-colored drink on the bar. “Enjoy.” Then she moved off to the next customer.
“Are you a member of the council or a royal?” I asked.
Priscilla scowled at me. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business, halfling.”
“You’re right except I have a feeling you’re neither.”
“You’re overstepping, halfling,” she said in a warning tone.
“Look, as it stands, it’ll be your word against hers. And I don’t know how it works in Nerida, but in my world, unless you’re a member of that council or a royal yourself, no one’s going to believe you over a princess.”
Priscilla said nothing.
“You could use an eyewitness.”
The barest flicker of interest flashed in her eyes. I forced my posture to remain relaxed and simply waited.