Page 68 of Heavenly Bodies
‘Finished,’ Enzo said, pulling Elara away.
‘Alec,’ she gritted out.
‘Nova,’ he replied evenly.
But something dangerous glittered in his gaze, enough of a warning that she turned back to Adrian. ‘It’s been a pleasure,’ she said.
‘No, that was all mine,’ he replied, kissing her hand. ‘I got to dance with the most beautiful girl in the room.’ He winked, then turned away, heading off into the crowd of nearby dancers.
Enzo’s smile dropped, and Elara whirled on him.
‘What are you doing?’ she hissed.
He pulled her in tightly to him, and her breath hitched at the closeness in which he held her as they danced, much different from before.
‘Smile and listen,’ he said through gritted teeth as they began to waltz again, muscle memory taking over. ‘I thought you wanted to find Sofia. Not flirt with Stars or gallivant with snakes.’
Elara sputtered with indignation. ‘I do. And Lord Adrian was no snake. He was a gentleman. Someoneyoucould learn some manners from.’
‘PirateLord Adrian,’ Enzo corrected with a growl. ‘And even if he was a gentleman, is that what you want? A wet blanket to keep you cool at night?’ Flames danced in his eyes.
‘Well, whether a pirate or a wet blanket, both are certainly better choices than a man with no manners or grace, who spends his nights taking his pick of pretty girls every time I see him,’ she spat.
‘Pretty girl? Is that what you’d call Torra?’ He snorted.
Elara shoved away from him, couldn’t stand the feeling crawling over her, nor the charm fuddling her thoughts.
‘You’re right, she’s a goddess. One who latches on to men who have no self-control, like you.’
Enzo’s scowl cleared as he observed her. His hand gripped tighter on her waist. ‘I was trying to read her with my power, see if she knew where Ariete was. Are youjealous?’
She tried to turn, to get away from him as terrible, wanting heat crawled up her throat. But a hand whipped out, wrapping around her wrist.
‘Jealous?’ Elara threw back her head and laughed indignantly. ‘Why would I be jealous?’
He continued to smile back, and the sheer arrogance of it made her want to wipe it off his face.
‘You’re angry with me for flirting with a goddess, when you were stood awfully close to Leyon only a short time ago. Tell me, how many times did he try to fuck you with his eyes as you spoke? Did thatcharmyou, princess?’
‘What would you care if it did?’ She smiled sweetly.
His face fell, and he whirled her down the side of the ballroom.
‘I couldn’t care less. Drop your knickers for whichever Star or lord you wish.’
He continued to spin and spin her, the two orbiting the same corner of the woodland room.
‘I may not have your gift, but I’m not an idiot. I can tell when someone’s lying.’
Enzo stilled, finally. ‘Come here,’ he growled, yanking her off the dancefloor. She stumbled after him, almost tripping on her gown.
‘You know what?’ she hissed into his ear as he tugged her along. ‘Far be it from me to complain when a gentleman wants to dance with me or a Star tells me I look beautiful, since no one else bothered.’ She cut him with her stare. ‘Far be it from me to feel normal for one moment instead of being a pawn in a kingdom’s games. Never a woman, just aweapon.’
‘Will you just be quiet for one Stars-damned second?’
He pulled her down the corridor to the silver carriages lining each side of the grand hall. The carriages were adorned in glitterbugs and firelamps. Most had the silhouette of couples inside.
Enzo yanked her into an empty one, slamming the door as she tripped, tumbling on to him in the velvet-lined interior. Her legs were wrapped around him as he clutched her to break her fall. Elara looked to their position on the floor, both her and Enzo’s masks having slipped. She smiled, removing hers as he pulled his off in one motion, and was ready to make an inappropriate joke about the way she was straddling him—