I feel like I am floating as my feet move one after the other down the empty corridor. "Come, Nova, come our way," a voice whispers and I stop in my tracks, scouting the corridor for a source of the noise.

"What... what do you want?" I feel like I am spinning in circles, each corridor getting longer but looking the same. Deception and lies. This is not real. The floor swirls and the ceiling looks like the night sky... so pretty.

"Lend us your power, let us siphon off of you," the voice speaks but it surrounds me this time like it wants to swallow me whole. I walk over to the window as though I am being coerced towards it, as though someone is guiding me this way.

"No, I can't give you my power... who are you?" opening the window, I speak into the night air. It's here, I know it's here. Out there something lurks, someone lurks and it's getting closer.

Someone grabs my hips, yanking me back from the window and I'm suddenly dragged back into reality. The ringing in my head stops and I feel like I've been pulled through a bush, a very big bush.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Darian says through his teeth as he pulls me to his chest and closes the window. My mind feels like it is trying to process a million things but nothing at the same time. Darian is going to think I'm going crazy.

"It's... it's nothing," I press my thumb and forefinger to my temples. Pushing against Darian's chest, I continue walking down the corridor - I need to sleep and get my head straight.

Darian steps in front of me, both hands on my cheeks. "That was not nothing. You were speaking out of the window into thin air as if it would respond," he states the obvious.

"It doesn't matter, my mind is just playing tricks on me," I look into those crimson eyes that I have grown so fond of - admittedly too fond of. Something different is in his eyes though, something has changed and I have found that recently those eyes don't look at me the same.

"It does matter. I watched you leave that hall and you looked exactly like yourself but so different... you didn't look you," Darian tucks my hair behind my ears and shakes his head.

"You'll forget this in the morning," I try to move out away but he wraps his arms around me in such a comforting way that it doesn't feel real. What really has happened to Darian?

"It's complicated... I just," Darian takes his hands off of me and I want to rip my own hair out. Why does he have to be so complicated? One minute he wants to touch me and be sweet then the next he is cold and distant.

"You know what... I am so done with this and you," maybe it's the drink talking, hell I have no idea, but it's something that needs to be said. "I can't deal with your sudden mood changes and why half the time you are so vague that it makes my head want to explode!" I shout and begin walking away.

"You are not done and you will not walk away," Darian seethes and I continue walking. "That is an order!" I stop in my tracks and slowly turn on the spot.

"Seriously? You are ordering me," I scoff. "When I didn't think you could become any more of a dick," I spit and he begins striding towards me, his tall figure looming over mine.

Darian's hand wraps around my neck, not tight, just keeps it there as his forehead touches mine. "Why are you doing this to me... why?" he whispers. "It should be treason - the effects you have on my heart," nothing but anger fills his voice.

"Why do you even care? I'm nothing to you remember... just a business transaction," I mock him, nothing but disgust laces my tone and I push him away from me again.

Darian runs his hand over his face. "You aren't nothing. I merely said that because... it's doesn't matter," he takes a deep breath and I am filled with so much anger I can barely contain it.

"Here you go again. You know what, just forget about it. Forget about all of it - it's what you do best right?" I spit and can't help the tears that sting my eyes from the pure amount of rage coursing through my veins.

"I won't just forget about it because I can't. I can't forget this no matter how much I drink myself into oblivion, no matter how many times I push you away, no matter how many times I convince myself that it's all in my head - I can't forget!" he shouts and paces the width of the hall.

"Forget what?" I yell so loud I taste blood.

"I can't forget that I love you," Darian says so quietly I barely hear it. "If I even know what that feels like..." he trails off and I don't know what to say. I am completely speechless.

All I know is that I want him and that was the only confirmation I needed to let myself accept that feeling, that want. Before I even know it, my body is gravitating towards him like my life depends on it.

As soon as I am at arm's length of his body, I crash my lips on his. It's a hunger, it's a need that I have been depriving myself of for longer than I'd like to admit. Darian's hands immediately find my waist and I tangle mine in his hair.

"I want you so bad," Darian groans as his hands roam my body. He guides me backwards until my back hits the wall and he is pushed flush against me.

"What if someone sees us?" I ask breathlessly but Darian only continues and moves to kiss my neck. My hands move from his chest, down his stomach to finally reach Darian's belt. I feel Darian smirk against my neck as I unbuckle it.

"I don't care and by the looks of it you don't either," Darian pulls away and squeezes my hips. I notice a tapestry on the wall opposite us and I grip Darian's blazer, pulling him with me. "Well, you're going to have to be very, very quiet."

"I think I should be telling you that," I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.

As soon as we are behind the tapestry, Darian pushes me up against the wall. "I'll change your mind about that," his hand snakes up under my dress and he pulls down my underwear. Darian spins me around so that I am facing the wall and he pushes my dress to the top of my hips, bearing me to him.

Before I can even get another word in, he is inside of me and I have to gasp from how full I feel. His thrusts are slow and rhythmic - complete ecstasy.

"I don't want another man to touch you ever again," Darian leans down to kiss my neck and I moan in delight. "Promise me that you won't ever be with another man," he says breathlessly as he quickens his pace.

I feel Darian wrap my hair around his fist and tug my head back. "I'm not one for... promises," I joke - barely managing to say it as I find it immeasurably hard to stand. It's a good time when goading Darian on.

"Promise. Me," Darian slams into me as he tugs my hair harder. I have to squeeze my thighs together from the extent of the pleasure coursing through me. It's as though I can feel him so much deeper.

"I... promise," I breathe and press my fingers into the wall. My hips ache as Darian digs his hands into my hips and thrusts deeper. I bite my lip to suppress a moan - remembering my surroundings and remembering how out in the open we are.

"Do you have any clue where Sire has run off to?" Manin speaks outside the tapestry and Darian immediately stops and puts his hand over my mouth.

"I was just in the middle of looking for him, a matter of fact," Killian speaks and I wish I would just disappear. I have never been more thankful for a piece of material in my whole entire life.

I almost topple over when Darian begins moving again as though they are not standing right outside of the tapestry. His hand is tight over my mouth as he brings me closer to him and picks up his torturously slow pace.

"It's important we find him and lady Amour otherwise I'll have to send an alert," Manin sounds panicked out of his mind.

"Don't make any noise," Darian whispers in my ear and then turns my face to kiss him. I let him swallow my moans as my legs become weaker. I feel the fire burning deep in my stomach and each thrust pushes me closer to the edge.

"I'm sure they're fine... but I thought that Darian was supposed to be doing a speech of some sort," Killian continues the conversation and my eyes roll back. If I could even stand properly, I would tell them to get lost but I can barely even think straight.

"You're doing so good," he groans in my ear and reaches his hand down to where our bodies meet. I see stars when he begins circling his fingers over me in the most sensual way that I can no longer breathe properly.

Darian slams into me so deeply, I can't hold back any longer. Darian's lips meet mine and I finally slip over the edge so quickly, falling so hard it feels as though I have fallen into another dimension.

I pull away from the kiss and press my forehead against the cold, stone wall. It takes me a while to fully recover and Darian pulls out as my ears ring. "That was..." I barely manage to say as I turn around and pull my dress down.

There Darian is holding my underwear on his forefinger, dangling them with that same smirk on his face. I snatch them out of his hand and shimmy them on.

"Are they still out there?" I ask, still trying to catch my breath. I feel intoxicated by both Darian and the alcohol but I can't tell what is making me feel higher.

"I think your loud moans ran them away," Darian says with a smug grin and I smack his chest, my cheeks reddening. "Time for my very wise speech," he moves the tapestry to the side and checks both directions before gesturing the way.

I rake my fingers through my dishevelled hair as we walk down the corridor - well I waddle. I can barely walk after Darian's magic show.

Darian wraps his arm around my waist as we walk towards the dais and sit in our previous position. My thigh twitches at its own accord and Darian flashes his usual smirk as he runs his fingers over the inside of my thigh.

"At least I know I did a good job," Darian's voice is deep and raspy as I roll my eyes. If that's what he calls a good job, I'd love to know what is better than that.

"It was okay," I shrug, not wanting to feed into his ego.

His hand rubs soothing circles. "I'd say that says otherwise," his lips touch my jaw and I shiver from the electricity that buzzes through me.

"Don't you have a speech to be preparing for?" I question, remembering the crowd of people drinking and dancing before us. I'd almost forgotten that there are people out there who live a normal life.

"That I do."