Chapter 1
Calanmai
It was my first time attending the official Calanmai celebration of the Spring Court. Apparently it was also the first Fire Night the High Lord was actually going to participate in after the war with Hybern two years ago. Not that I cared much about that, I was not here because of him. I was here because I wanted to experience one of my mother's favorite celebrations. The very celebration where she had first met my father.
I glanced around at all of the Fae dancing around the fires and enjoying the feast, especially the wine. It was certainly a sight to see. I snagged a glass of wine from the table and nursed it as I strode around, my leafy green dress hissing in the grass. I could feel the stares of a few fae males. I paid them no mind.
Which was my first mistake.
A brown haired male with a permanent smirk on his face swooped in and placed his arm around my shoulders. His cronies cheered him on in the distance. I stopped in my tracks and looked up at the male.
"What do you think you are doing?" I hissed.
The male blinked. "Courting a lovely female, what else?"
I rolled my eyes. "Courting? What makes you think for a second I would be interested in an idiot like you?"
His eyes dipped to my breasts before answering. "You're here on Calanmai. The high lord gets to pleasure a female so why not the rest of us?"
I grasped the male's arm that was still draped on my shoulders and shrugged it off. "And what does that have to do with me?" I asked tightening my grip on his wrist.
He glanced between me and my hand. "You are a female are you not? Which means you are on the menu." He said licking his lips while returning his attention to my breasts.
My frown deepened. "I am not on anyone's menu."
"Of course you are," He insisted while his other hand reached for my chest.
"Oh, I don't think so," I said with a laugh.
His smirk faltered as smoke hissed into the air from where I held his wrist. He yelped and yanked his arm away from me and stood a few steps back. "You little witch! You burned me!"
I fake-pouted and batted my eyelashes. "What? Was I too hot for you to handle?"
The male looked startled as he held his burned limb to his chest.
"Aw, you poor thing," I said before a smirk played on my lips. "Why don't I help you cool off?"
I then proceeded to dump the entirety of my wine glass on him.
The male looked absolutely baffled and ridiculous with wine dripping down his hair.
"Don't you ever try anything with me ever again." I said before turning my back on him to go retrieve a fresh glass of wine.
My display had decidedly deterred anyone else from approaching me with ill intent. I could see many males glancing my way with weariness while they whispered to their buddies. Despite not liking that situation, it had served its purpose. But the time of the Great Rite was quickly approaching.
I sipped at the last of my glass of wine, relishing the sweet tang on my tongue. The atmosphere of the celebration changed as I retrieved a fresh glass, the drums began to beat quicker. I drifted forward with everyone else, but hung back as I spied the cave that was surrounded by Fae where the Rite would take place. The high lord was likely already inside.
A few minutes passed and then out stepped the most gorgeous male I had ever laid eyes on. His golden hair shone in the moonlight. His muscles rippled under the whirls of blue woad on his chest. And his eyes. I could see them even with the distance. They were an intense green that was feral with the magic of the Rite.
Tamlin, the high lord, was sniffing the air and prowling forwards. He passed many females, much to their disappointment. He sniffed the air around one female a little longer than the rest. I was happy for the woman if that's what she wanted. But then he moved on to my surprise.
And looked right at me.
A jolt went through my body as his pulsing green eyes met mine. A single word echoed in my mind, but I pushed the ridiculous idea away, It had to be the wine. But I could not stop myself from holding his gaze as he prowled through the throng of Fae females towards me.
He was in front of me quicker than my mind could process. By the time it did, he had captured my mouth in a possessive, savage kiss. I stood stone still, eyes wide as he deepened the kiss, going as far as to bite my lip. He began to rove his hands across my bare arms. His touch sent shivers down my spine.
I had half a mind to shove him away. The other half relished it. But what I knew, was that if he really did choose me, there was nothing I could do about it. If I fought back, it would be the greatest offence. To him, the court, and even myself. It would end in disaster. So I let him do as he would.
His instincts must have noticed my resignation as he became more fierce. He quickly scooped me up without hesitation, causing me to yelp. He swept in for another kiss as he walked back to the cave. Once inside as he laid me down on a bed of furs, I grinned.
I decided something that I would later blame the wine for. I decided I might as well have fun with this. I looked up into his blazing eyes and captured his mouth in a brutal kiss. I slipped my hands into his golden hair and deepened the kiss just as he began to rip off my dress.
