Page 51 of A Kiss of Flame
Plan A,she reminded herself, running her fingers along the edge of the display case:Find Vane, play into his arrogance, and coax him into showing off his real collection.Unlikely, but not impossible.
Plan B: scope out his house and uncover anything that might help her recover the dryad ring.
Unfortunately, she’d not seen Vane since sneaking into the party, making Plan B her only viable option. She finished her champagne, sat it on a nearby tray, and tried to rally her nerves by smoothing out the front of her grey gown. She’d wanted to blend in, not stand out, since she’d been sneaking into the soirée, so she’d chosen a more demure ensemble for the occasion. Her curls were no longer pink but a deep merlot and softened to cascade around her shoulders, her makeup light but striking, her dress chic but simple. Barith would have said something cheeky about the low backline and her not being as subtle as she thought, but for Levian, this was as subtle as she got.
She finished her champagne, placed the glass on a nearby tray, and rallied her nerves, smoothing the front of her gray gown. She’d wanted to blend in, not stand out, since she was sneaking into the soirée, so she’d chosen a demure ensemble—a chic but simple dress, her curls darkened to a deep merlot, and her makeup understated but striking. Barith would’ve hadsomething cheeky to say about the low backline, claiming she wasn't as subtle as she thought, but for Levian, this was as subtle as she got.
Her heart gave an annoying thud of sadness at the thought of Barith, and Levian cursed herself under her breath. Doing this kind of surveillance alone felt hollow without him. She’d ignored Barith’s texts and calls for days, feeling horrid, but she couldn’t afford any distractions. Levian took a steadying breath, forcing the dragon from her mind. She needed to focus on the task at hand.
Levian moved deeper into the labyrinth of rooms, mentally mapping the estate's layout, noting cameras, security, and the many gaudy chandeliers. While security was plentiful, it wasn’t top-tier. It had taken only a tiny spell and a flirty smile to get her into the party.
She stopped in front of a large Renaissance-style painting depicting The Fall. The temple of Celaria lay crumbled in ruin while the Shadow Fae city was overrun by Spring Fae and other Folk, all wielding shimmering fae-silver weapons. The Dökk were being slain and cast into a large black Abyssal pit full of shadowy monsters. The Spring King, Lyren, was portrayed like a god, sitting atop a tremendous white glowing pegasus, his silver crown gleaming, his mighty sword cutting down five Dökk at once.
Is that what all the books have told you? The books written by the Fae who overthrew the Dökk and ‘saved us all from the evils of the Abyss and Shadow’?
Merlin’s words rang in Levian’s ears as she looked upon the painting with disgust before a smooth voice cut through her thoughts.
“It’s intense, isn’t it?” he asked.
Levian didn’t even bother to look over her shoulder. She wasn’t in the mood to indulge in flirtations. And his cologne wasoverpowering—far too musky for her tastes. “Very,” she replied flatly.
“Lyren looks rather proud of himself, doesn’t he?” the man continued.
“Quite,” she replied, hoping he’d get the hint.
The man gave a grand sigh. “I sometimes wonder if he and the others ever felt remorse for slaughtering an entire race of their kin,” he added.
Levian turned at that. Vane gave her a charming smile, his dark brown eyes glinting with curiosity. He looked younger than she'd expected, not much older than herself. He was handsome, with sharp features, dressed in a sleek black suit. His hair was dark, his ears slightly pointed—evidence of his half-fae heritage.
Levian glanced back at the painting, forcing her heart to stop racing. Luck was on her side tonight, and the last thing she needed was to blow it because of nerves. “Perhaps some did, but I doubt King Lyren felt empathy for anyone,” she replied coolly. “Not when there was glory to be had.”
“Glory and wealth,” Vane corrected, his tone playful.
Levian returned his smile over her shoulder. “You don’t sound like someone who admires the piece. Yet you likely paid a small fortune for it,” she replied coyly.
Vane smiled and shrugged. “Not all works of art are meant to be adored,” he explained before glancing back at the painting. “This one I keep as a reminder.”
“Of?” she questioned, taking the bait. There was a blatant arrogance to Vane that wafted off him like his cologne.
He slid a bit closer to her, and Levian’s skin prickled. “That those who triumph in war always get to write its history and enjoy its spoils.”
“How sage,” she replied, unable to stop herself. Vane cut her a sharp look, and Levian pressed forward. “Your collection isbeautiful,” she told him, pushing past her instinctive dislike of the man and focusing on her goal.
“I’m flattered,” he replied smugly.
“No, you aren’t,” she countered, throwing out a bit of her own bait. Vane cocked his head, intrigued. “Your collection may be beautiful,” she explained, “but it’s a museum of relics to impress the public. We both know this isn’t the real collection you’re proud of.”
Vane’s eyes narrowed slightly before he smiled. “Is that why you snuck into my party?”
Levian’s shock must have been shown because Vane chuckled. “No need to look so concerned,” he said, still amused. “I hadn’t planned on having you tossed out.”
“No?” she asked, puzzled.
He shook his head, and something in his demeanor shifted. “I’m too curious to discover why Levian Myrddin, Ambassador to the Zephyr High Court and the Wizen Council of Mages, would sneak into a party celebrating a witch magistrate. Though I may be able to better guess now.”
Levian felt a tinge of embarrassment at being called out so quickly but tried to hide it. “I’m not here to play Ambassador,” she said, refusing to be unsettled. “I heard you have something of interest to me, and this felt like the most suitable way to approach you.”
Vane studied her before he replied, “When my security told me someone had snuck in, I was intrigued, but I hadn’t expected it to be Merlin’s daughter here to bargain for something in my private collection.”