A seemingly never ending shiver went through my whole body. I could feel myself...changing.
"Erm guys?" When I opened my eyes I gasped. Clara and Tanner where standing before me but it wasn't them, at least it didn't look like them. Claras red hair was now blonde and she was taller and Tanner had dark hair and his skin was pasty white instead of the sun kissed golden colour I've always known him to have.
"Woah" Tanner looked two the both of us wide eyed.
"What do I look like?" I asked looking down at myself I noticed I had wavy black hair.
"You still look hot" Tanner said causing me to roll my eyes. "Shall we?" He stepped to one side and gestured to the building.
We laughed as we made our way past the security barriers and into the already booming party. Fae of light and dark mingled with one another. You wouldn't think the light and dark fae have been hating each other for thousands of years by the way these fae so intimately partied together. If only the fae outside these parties could get along so well. The base of the music sent vibrations through my body. The first sip of alcohol sent a thrill through my body that made me loosen up. Memories of the good times with my friends came flooding back. I could have this one night to forget who I am and everything that's happened. To have fun.
The drinks were flowing, the music drowned out conversations. Clara and Tanner dragged me to the dance floor. We laughed as we spun each other around the designated dance floor area. Tanner's attention was soon caught by a pretty brunette, he gave us a wink before they both disappeared into the crowd.
"Hey!" I heard over my shoulder and spun to see Nash with an awkward smile on his face.
"Hi." I said brushing my hair from my face.
"Aurora. I'm so sorry. For everything. He...the prince...he threatened my family."
I signed, I don't know if it was the alcohol coursing through me but I was in a particularly forgiving mood.
"Get in here you idiot." I grabbed his arm and pulled him in our dance circle. The relief on his face showed me how sincere he was.
"Aurora. There's something you should know. He's here." Nash whispered.
My heart sank to my stomach. "Where?" I asked.
"In a room upstairs. Playing poker with some high fae." He said.
A wave of fury washed over me. The thought of him sitting around playing poker enjoying himself didn't sit right with me. Not after everything he's done.
I spun around and started to make my way out of the crowd. Nash grabbed my arm
"Aurora. Don't."
"Stay here. I'll be back I promise." I said before storming off to find him.
I grabbed a tray of drinks from a waitress heading that way and honed my hearing until I heard the sound of narcissistic males. I knocked on the door and entered. There he was, Azra sat so casually with a hand of cards and Spike sitting next to him.
"Finally some drinks. What took you so long." A voice snapped me out of my violent thoughts. I began making my way around the table putting a drink in front of each of the men. I hesitated when I reached Azra. His scent, his dark power was overwhelming. None of the men at the table seemed at all concerned by the raw power radiating off him. I hoped they couldn't sense my power either. I leaned in and quickly placed a glass in front of Azra aware those piercing ice blue eyes where following my every move. What the hell was I thinking coming in here. I turned to leave.
"Since when do staff look like that." One male said. I smiled and stepped towards the door but the guy opposite Azra grabbed my wrist. If I wasn't undercover right now I'd smash this tray over his head and make him eat the table. If I was going to get out of this situation I had to play along.
"Why don't you stay sweetheart. I like a bit of eye candy while I'm playing." I held back a look of disgust, flicking my hair over my shoulder I smiled my best innocent smile and sat in his lap.
"Sure, I can be your good luck charm." I said taking a sip of his whiskey for encouragement.
The man chuckled and they all continued to play poker. After playing a couple of games, some of the males left taking their loses. I stood and began refilling glasses.
"How about the next round we up the stakes." Azra said. His deep voice sent my heart racing with rage.
"How much we talking?" The creep who's lap I just climbed out of asked.
"Not money" Azra flipped the cards in his hands looking up through his dark lashes. "I want to know what business you had with Jarius."
My heart stopped in my chest at the mention of the one that betrayed my father. I spun and made myself look busy and not apart of the conversation.
"I don't know what you're talking about." The creeps chair creaked under his weight as he shifted uncomfortably.
I peered over my shoulder to see Azra smiling his devilish smile, strands of dark hair falling over his forehead. Ugh I could just stab him. "Don't play dumb Melroy I know you were meeting with him in secret." I wondered how on earth Azra even came by this information.
The guy I now know is called Melroy, attempted to stand up but was dragged back down and pinned in his seat by dark shadows that silently swirled around his arms and up his neck. The two remaining players sat wide eyed. Terrified to move incase Azra turned his deadly shadows on them too.
"Please don't kill me. I have a family." Melroy begged rather pathetically. I slowly unsheathed the dagger I had snuck in here, keeping it close to my side and out of view.
"I'm not going to kill you. You just need to tell me what you know." Azra said leaning back in his chair like interrogating someone was something he regularly does.
"I can't. Please." Melroy stopped breathing heavily when he realised I was holding a knife to his throat. I acted out of impulse but I'd be damned if I was going to stand here and watch Azra be the one to take information about the people that plotted my fathers death.
I yanked his head back and pressed the knife to his throat "If he won't kill you then I sure as hell will" I spat each word in his ear. My anger began to take over and my power took on a life of its own. The walls around me began to shake.
"You little bitch, I'm going to.." Azra abruptly stood from his chair cutting Melory's insults towards me off. There was a brief moment of surprise in eyes before his expression changed back to its usual smug state. He adjusted the cuffs of his black shirt, his demeanour calm and unbothered.
"Careful Melroy. You're speaking to the light queen" Azra said and everyone stilled. I looked up at Azra who was unusually calm considering I was a ticking bomb who didn't care if I killed them all. He tilted his head, his eyes roamed the length of me as though he could see me beneath this disguise, until those familiar icy eyes met my own.
"Hello, trouble." His eyes lit up as the disguise I was wearing slowly vanished revealing my true face. "What are you doing out of the palace?" his lips switched into a slight smile and the magic coursing through my veins, threatening to explode within me grew more intense. The walls continued to shake even more violently, items started falling from shelves smashing as each one hit the ground one after the other.
I yanked Melorys head back "Tell me what you know" I demanded.
"Nice to see you still like breaking rules Aurora. Even as queen you're still sneaking around getting yourself into trouble."
"I'm not the queen." I spat. Not yet
"Not yet" he mimicked my own thoughts.
"I asked you a question."
Azra sighed. "Drop the knife and reign in your magic before you destroy this house and kill everyone in it. And then I will tell you what I know."
I tried to push it all back down but the magic wouldn't listen to me. It never bloody listens to me. I started to panic. I really was going to destroy this whole place and while I didn't care for a soul in this room, this place was full of innocent fae. I had to leave before I brought this whole building to the ground. Fuelled by rage, I flipped my knife around in my hand and flung it at Azra. It met with dark wall of magic that Azra had concealed around him and Spike. I ran for the door and sprinted down the corridors. Picture frames fell from their hooks as I ran by sending shards of glass sprawling across the dark wooden floor. I barely had time to register the worried faces as I hurried past them in search of my friends.
I gripped Clara and Nash.
"Where is Tanner?" I asked dragging them towards the exit.
"He left with that girl a while ago." Nash said.
"We have to go." I insisted.
"Shit Aurora. What did you do."