Page 76 of When Eden Falls

“Her condition?” I asked. Cora groaned from below. I didn’t miss the look Yuska and Zamya exchanged.

“She’s still suffering from the aftereffects of the bluepox,” Zamya said. “It’s her stomach.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” Eyeing Zamya with scepticism, I walked forward and squeezed Cora’s shoulder. “Shall we get you back to the apartment?” I asked her. She nodded and attempted to stand.

“I’ll take her,” Yuska insisted, literally pushing me out of the way. “You two stay and enjoy the ball.”

“I don’t mind….” Yuska shot me a hard look. I swallowed down the words. “Very well. You may take her.”

Speaking softly to Cora, Yuska coerced her to stand. We watched them amble towards the archway into the fortress. She’d be safe with Yuska. I had no doubt about that.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Slowly removing my eyes from Cora, I turned to Zamya. Her face told a thousand stories as she shrugged. “You’ve had a lot on your plate.”

“We all have.”

“Not all of us have nearly died…twice. Plus, the attempted rape thing.”

“I…” I tried to deny her comment, but I couldn’t. I had been through a lot. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would’ve kept Cora’s condition to myself as well. I huffed a sigh and glanced about the area. Akquarians were everywhere. I felt out of my comfort zone again. “I’m gonna get a drink.”

How long I stood by the drinks table, I didn’t know. My thoughts drowned out everything around me.

Dybgo—what did he want with me? The more I thought about the token clipped to my bracelet, the more prickles of uneasiness cascaded down my body. Was it simply an act of affection, perhaps an obsession? What if him claiming me in this way caused a lawful bond, one I wouldn’t be able to break? Rules. Havav loved rules. Was this one of them? One, I hadn’t realised I’d become tangled up in. Rooke was already concerned Havav had a plan for me. What if Dybgo claiming me was the first task setting the wheels in motion? What if…

I drank another morish pink drink. I needed to speak to Rooke, but I hadn’t seen him since he went to speak to Oz.

Under the peculiar ambience of the blue lights shining through the darkness, I continued to watch the dancers twirl and sway. It was only when I noticed Zamya speaking with Bibska that I was pulled out of my trance. The sight of Zamya’s attendant shocked me. I couldn’t believe how stunning she looked now she was exposing a little more flesh and her silky blonde hair was removed from the usual stark bun. Several tokens dangled from her wrist. I smirked to myself. She was going to have fun over the next few days. Yuska had mentioned the females weren’t restricted to only one mate. I wondered how many Bibska would entertain?

Lost in that vision, I looked back at the dancers, entranced by their movements once more.

I didn’t know how many drinks I’d consumed, but I knew they were taking effect. Unlike the alcohol I was used to, my vision hadn’t become fuzzy. In fact, it felt sharper, more focused. And instead of feeling numb, my body and mind felt alive, tantalised. All my senses felt energised and aroused.

The longer I watched the dancers sway to the sensual music, the more I saw, the more I felt. The closer I listened to the continuous, enchanting rhythm, the stronger it called to me. There was a confidence growing inside me, making me feel invincible. I wanted to dance. I wanted to let go and show them all how captivating I could really be.

As if I was floating on a soft breeze, I entered the dancefloor through the threshold of blossom trees. My skirt flowed behind me, gaping at the thigh, exposing my long, slim legs. The confidence oozed out of every pore as I glided through the dancers, taking in the connections between the couples. Several male and female hands reached out to touch me as I floated past, some meeting my eye with a hazed pleasure surrounding them. They were lustfully drunk on the music, so close to taking the final step in completing the reason why they were here.

Closing my eyes, the music flowed through my body, coercing the primitive part to move in time to the slow, sensual rhythm. My hips rotated. My hands skimmed the outline of my hips, waist, rising along my neck and through my hair. Nux, I felt sexy, and I didn’t care why. I enjoyed the freedom, the poise stirring within.

I opened my eyes and took in the Akquarians standing around. Several males had already noticed me. I didn’t care what they thought. I wanted the attention. I felt amazing.

The slow hip movements and accentuated twirls came naturally, sending me into a spiral of insatiability. Under heavy, lustful eyelids, I noticed Dybgo watching from the balcony wall. To my surprise, I wasn’t repulsed by his attention. I liked him watching. I liked the way his eyes roamed my body. He desired me. I smiled at the thought. If I could attract a powerful male likehim, I could attract anyone. But I didn’t want anyone. There was only one person I craved.

Like following a homing beacon, my eyes clocked Rooke in an instant. He wasn’t hard to find. The only dark-haired person standing among a court of blondes. He looked small compared to the Akquarians, but he was far from small. He was strong and clever, every part the commander.

Standing by the balcony, he spoke with Havav and two other Akquarians. He looked relaxed, confident, perfect.

As I continued to dance, my eyes devoured every inch of him. Raking them over his handsome, shaven face, down the lean, toned body hiding under the Akquarian suit. I pictured the tattoo on his left arm. I’d always wanted to trace my fingers along the intricate detail from his collarbone to mid-bicep. Nux, the thought of his body was driving me crazy. I wanted him to see me, to find me as attractive as I did him. I wanted him to be drawn to me, to come to me.

My breath hitched when his eyes flicked in my direction. By the way he was smirking, he’d already seen me dancing. I ignored it, continuing to let the music guide my movements, attempting to allure him in. Closing my eyes, I turned my back on him, slowly losing all awareness of where I was. My mind was only focused on one thing—the man I cherished, adored. Needed.

I was unsure how many minutes passed before I opened my eyes again. But as if it was perfectly timed, warm hands rounded my hips from behind, and a familiar rumble was in my ear, low and seductive.

“What are you doing to me?”

I smiled at the implication, rotating my hips backwards into him. “I’m trying to get you to dance.” My voice matched his sensuality.

Rooke’s breath tickled my neck as his chuckled. “You know I don’t dance.”

“Yet here you are on the dancefloor with me.”