Aisling (POV)
Aisling watched Kenna walk away. She felt kennas anger. She didn't blame her at all. After all, her mate was flirting and touching other women. Only the Gods knew how far her sister had gone with Lord Devon. Aisling had seen them in the carriage. Beth draped across the mated male, his hand snaking under her dress. The look he was still giving her as he kissed Beth's neck.
Aisling sighed and wandered into the room. The lights were bright and the sounds of all the voices were overwhelming. She felt out of place. She knew it was obvious she didn't belong here. She felt the stares. Her skin crawling as people stared at her. She heard their whispers but couldn't understand as the blood pounded in her ears. Her heart racing, as if it could leap right from her chest and run from this place.
She whirled on her heel, she needed air. She needed out of the room. It was too much. The sounds. The scents. The lights. Her breathing became shallow and rapid as she tried to make her way to an open door. Her eyes stung and her entire body began trembling as anxiety and fear flooded her, consuming her entirely. She felt more eyes on her, heard the hum of more whispers as she made her way to the door.
Once outside, she felt less trapped. The cool spring air slicing through the anxiety that had consumed her moments ago. Taking in gulps of the air to her aching lungs, she tilted her head back. Hands gripping at the railing to help keep her upright as her knees shook.
"There you are." Lord Devons voice sliced through the silence like a knife. Aisling tensed. This couldn't be good. At all. Aisling turned and her eyes widened. Lord Devon was looking at her like she was prey. She was his victim. The breath caught in her throat and she went to step back, only to bump into the railing behind her.
"Lord Devon. How can I help you? Lady Kenna is with her brother." Aisling whispered, trying to keep the fear from her voice as the man took another step towards her. Her hands burned with the magic that she had kept hidden. Devons nostrils flared as he inhaled and he groaned.
"You smell of fear. Such an arousing smell." Devon groaned and Aislings heart started beating faster. Her palms beginning to sweat. She was frozen with the fear he was causing. It was all consuming, locking her knees.
"Please don't... you're mated to my friend." Aisling whispered, her voice trembling and breaking with fear. Lord Devon only laughed darkly and pulled a dagger from its sheath at his hip. He brought it to her throat and ran his nose along her collar bone, inhaling deeply. He groaned and wrapped a hand around her neck.
Aisling found it harder to breathe as he choked her, his hand squeezing on her neck, the knife nicking her skin. Tears streamed down her face at the feeling of her blood trickling down her neck. She knew the cut was small. Not enough to kill her, but enough to keep her frightened at what the male wanted to do. Devons eyes shimmered with his lust and he leaned forward, his tongue flicking out and lapping at her skin. A sobbed tore its way from her throat, and Devon licked the blood. Another groan escaping him at the taste.
"So delicious. I am rather glad Kenna choose you to be her lady this year. The things I want to do with you." He groaned and grabbed himself. Aisling knew then, she was right. As she always was about thr lord. He was deranged. It surprised her Kenna hadn't sensed the madness in him through their bond.
Without a second thought, Aisling brought her knee up and rammed it into Lord Devons groin. She watched his eyes widen as he realized too late what she was doing. He dropped to the ground with a grunt of pain, clutching at himself. Not waiting for the man to gather himself, Aisling screamed and ran. She knew the sound would get someone's attention.
Her breathing ragged and mind filled with panic. Her panic fueled her as she ran, lungs burning and begging her to stop. Figures rushed past her and she slammed into a few people. She was jostled by the crowd and glared at for her behavior. But she had to find Lady Kenna. Aisling spotted her standing and chatting with a man. She glanced behind her and Devon was making his way closer, eyes rage filled.
Aisling pushed through the crowd and ran, ignoring the skirt of her gown. She forgot her footing and the gown caught under her just a few feet from her destination. She tilted toward the ground, a cry wrenching from her as she hit the tile with a loud thud. Aislings head cracked against the floor and she slid the last few feet, stopping at a pair of feet. The black dress shoes shining and her blood dripping on to them. The room was silent as she raised up on her arms, panting. Her head pounding from smacking the tile just a second ago.
A hand reached down and she took it. She was pulled to her feet and slammed into a hard wall of muscle. A groan slipped from her lips at the pain in her head. She looked up to try to figure out who she'd managed to bump into, and met the most startling violet colored eyes. They were unfocused, seeming to look right through her yet at nothing at all at the same time. The man swallowed thickly and his lips parted.
"Mate..." He murmured with wide eyes, wonder filling his face. Aisling felt the connection then, the pull to the man clutching at her waist. She glanced further up and noticed the golden crown atop his head. The king. Shock filled her and she tried to step away.
"No. What has you so panicked? I can... smell it. And your blood. Are you hurt?" He asked urgently, voice laced with fury at the thought.
"I'm... I've had worse. I'm fine. Kenna?" Aisling turned her gaze to Lady Kenna who was stunned and staring with awe on her face at the pair next to her.
"What happened to you, Aisling?" Kenna whispered, her eyes scanning Aisling. Aisling felt lightheaded and weak. She knew her mate could feel her trembling in his grasp.
"I got cornered... he attacked me.." She rasped and tears streamed down her face. The man, her mate, tensed and his fingers dug into her hips as rage filled his face, distorting his beautiful features.
"Who, Aisling? Don't tell me..." Kennas voice shook and Aisling nodded.
"Who? One of you better tell me.." The Kings voice was filled with his anger. He did not conceal it and Aisling shuddered.
"Lord Devon... he attacked me. He tried... tried to..." A sob ripped out of her lips and without thinking she buried her head in her mates chest to muffle her cries. His arms wrapped around her and her hands fisted in his shirt, wrinkling it as it soaked her tears.