Page 45 of A Touch of Poison
“I’m…” I couldn’t. Not when touching him would kill him. Fairly sure that went far,farbeyond a diplomatic incident and into all out war. “I’m afraid I’m not able to dance at the moment. My illness, you see.”
“Well, that’s a shame. We would’ve looked quite spectacular on the dance floor together.” The way he ran his hand through his hair, preening, told me plenty about how to stay in his good books.
“I’m sure Your Highness will look spectacular on the dance floor with or without me.” I forced out the honeyed words. If he thought me nothing more than a charming human aristocrat, that would keep me safe.
He made a low, approving sound and straightened, giving me a sidelong glance. “Oh, Ilikeyou. You can stay around forever if you’re going to compliment me like that.”
Rose cleared her throat. “We’re here.”
We stood outside a glass-fronted shop. In the window stood a gown that threatened to make me keel over as it stole my breath so thoroughly. Its glittering skirts seemed to shift colour as I watched, changing from deep purple-black to darkest blue to blackened gold.
“Hmph. Another waste of time.” The prince leant towards us and put on a playful tone as he went on, “I’d prefer it if you both came in nothing at all. I’m sureeveryonewould.”
He winked dramatically, and I chuckled. Rose made a similar sound—just as forced as mine.
“Ah, but I must be off. Things to see, people to do.” He laughed like he had an audience, though this was a street dominated by Dusk and most people only glanced at him as they got on with their days. “I look forward to seeing you at the ball, though I’m not sure how I’ll survive until then without your charming company, dearest Rose, loveliest Katherine.” He placed his hand over his heart as he backed away.
As I smiled and waved, out the corner of my mouth I asked, “Is he always like that?”
Rose turned and pushed the shop door open with a deep sigh. “Yes. He’ll screw anything that moves. Total idiot.”
“Who’s a total idiot?” As I entered, a young woman with white hair and amber complexion looked up from an embroidery hoop. Her ears were rounded like mine, but that white hair had to be a fae mark, betraying her magic.
Rose closed the door and glanced around the shop. “Cyrus.”
“Oh. Yes.” The young woman nodded. “Total idiot.”
Probablynotbehind unCavendish, then.
As I moved further into the shop, I froze. Next to her chair stood a white hound.
Its eyes burned with red flame. Its ears, paws, and tail, too.
I’d only ever heard of such creatures in stories—the terrifying kind where the Wild Hunt chased unwary souls across eternity, aided by their hunting hounds.
But that flaming tail wagged as it trotted up to Rose and shoved its head under her hand. “Fine, yes, scritches for you. Sorry, I’m neglecting my human duties too. Ari, this is Kat. Kat—Ari. Ariadne, if you’re feeling fancy.”
Ari’s smile had dimmed, but she came and greeted Rose with a hug. “Is this…?”
“Yep.ThatKat.”
“Oh.” Ari’s dark eyes widened as she surveyed me, her fingers knotting together. “Nice to meet you.”
The hound sat, looking up at me with those fiery eyes.
“Don’t mind Fluffy.” Rose gave me a reassuring nod. “She’s such a softy, she was kicked out of the Wild Hunt.”
Fluffy? I arched an eyebrow at the hound, whose gaze became twice as beseeching.
“That isn’t what happened,” Ari muttered.
But Rose shrugged off her objection. “Let her give you a sniff, and she’ll be your best friend in no time.”
I did as instructed, finding Fluffy’s nose was damp, like any other dog’s. Ari whispered something to Rose while I stroked Fluffy, setting her tail wagging in double time. Her flames didn’t burn.
“Ari wants to know if you’ll join us for tea later.”
Ariadne gave a shy smile.
