The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(23)

When he strode into the room, he found it crowded with exuberant masked courtiers eager to guess everyone’s identity. He cursed himself for not asking Ritasia what Alicia was wearing to the ball.

At least he’d paid enough attention to know Ritasia wore her favorite peach gown. The unusual color looked well on her. Very rarely did he ever see anyone wearing that shade but her. He assumed he’d find her easily. And where she stood, he’d find Alicia.

Because of the crowd, a good twenty minutes passed before he spied Ritasia. He vanished and reappeared next to her. “Ritasia,” he said taking hold of her hand.

The lady giggled and he released her hand at once. “If you wish to me to be the princess, my lord, I would be glad to take her place.”

His skin chilled. Where the hell was Ritasia? She wouldn’t have changed again unless…

Maybe she was fighting with Alicia to get her to change clothes. He took a deep breath and hurried out of the ballroom with a quick stride toward Alicia’s door.





CHAPTER 12





Alicia feared for her life more than ever, knowing that she was half dragon fae. Others, including the Denkar, hated her….or her kind. Which would mean they hated her.

And all because she had wanted to protect her friend, Cassie, from the attentions of a gorgeous, drop dead, dark fae at the beach on their vacation. Next time, she’d let well enough alone.

If there was a next time.

She slipped into the sea green gown, hoping that no one but Deveron and Ritasia would know who she was. “Thank you for letting me borrow another of your gowns, Ritasia, especially knowing what you do about me.”

“I have to admit, Alicia, you are not at all like I would imagine the dragon fae would be. Maybe it’s because you were not raised by them. Or perhaps even my perception of them is incorrect. All I know is I truly care what happens to you. And so does Deveron.”

“He has an odd way of showing it.” Alicia smoothed down the wispy sheers that floated into place with seeming reluctance.

Ritasia clipped Alicia’s blond hair back with diamond studded hair fasteners. “I’m sure the shock of which fae kingdom you originated from upset him some. I’m not certain either of us would have ever suspected you were a dragon fae.” She returned to the chest and shook her head as she pulled two feathered masks from it. “We would never have suggested you take part in archery had we known. Though, I suspect if you came from one of the close lines of Denkar fae, he would be as ruffled.” She waved the masks at her. “Either of these? I have others.”

“The silver would be fine.” She considered Ritasia’s words further. “Why would it bother him if I were one of your close relations?”

Ritasia smiled a strange little smile, then handed her the silver mask. “Perhaps Deveron could explain better.” She attached a golden mask to her own face.

“I thought you hated me because I was a dragon fae.”

“No. Only we’re concerned, and rightly so, that the dragon fae will take revenge because we have taken you—with us—for your own well-being, of course. Only they would not see it that way. Are you ready to go?”

Alicia took a deep breath, trying to massage her raw nerves.

“Whatever happens, stay with me at all times.”

Alicia had every intention of doing what the dark fae wanted her to do. Despite seeming upset that she was a dragon fae, both Ritasia and her brother appeared to genuinely want to help her. Besides, what choice did Alicia have but to trust them?

Ritasia took her hand, but there was no smile on her lips. Alicia imagined the ball was going to be like entering the lair of the dragon fae for the Denkar kind. Only it was Alicia who had to worry about the Venician fae’s intentions.

One wrong move…and Alicia was history.

***

Deveron arrived at Alicia’s door. Rather than barging in this time, he knocked, not wanting to catch Alicia half-dressed and have her bite his head off in reaction.

When there was no answer, he shoved the door open. The women were gone. Panic spread through him like a twister tore across a Texas plain in the stormy spring.

He returned at once to the ball.

“Are you Joslo?” a lady asked as she grabbed his arm and smiled broadly.

“No, my lady.” He pulled away.

Then to his further alarm, he saw Micala, not in costume, of course. A guard was trying to remove him from the ballroom for not wearing a mask.

Deveron appeared next to Micala, then hurried him outside of the ballroom. “What’s wrong? Where’s Cassie?”

“Can we go to the privacy of your guest chambers, my lord?”

Had the royal guard come after Micala, looking for more answers about Alicia? Deveron took his arm and they appeared inside his guest quarters.

“Cassie is back at her home, my lord. But that is not the problem.”

“What?”

“Alicia’s mother came searching for her. Apparently, she was supposed to spend a couple of days with the girls, but she came early. Here I am entertaining Cassie instead, and there’s no sign of Alicia.”

“Then what?” Deveron’s heart raced as it was, worrying about the women. But if Alicia knew her mother was concerned about her whereabouts…

Yet, Micala would have used his fae magic to make Alicia’s mother forget about her. The look on Micala’s face indicated it wasn’t the worst of their problems.