Chapter Twenty-six

The room was stifling. Anytime Yasmin opened her eyes, it swam around her, making her stomach revolt. A flash of heat rolled through her body.

“I’ve got you,” Ravi said, winding his arms around her again. “Just breathe.”

She was attempting that very thing, but every second, another place on her body screamed in agony. The song of the stones became so loud that it felt like her eardrums were about to explode. Yasmin covered her ears, but touching them became impossible. They burned and sizzled as if a hot poker were being held against them.

Yasmin had no idea how long she endured the torture before it finally began to ebb. When she opened her eyes, she was on the floor, leaning back against a strong, familiar chest while Ravi held her. She tipped her head to his shoulder and released a shuddering breath.

“Yaz?” His voice was laced with worry.

She looked down to find her hands holding his. It took effort to relax her fingers so they weren’t digging into him, but she couldn’t force herself to release him. “Aye.”

“Fuck. You scared me.”

“How long was I out?”

“Moments. I’ve never seen anyone have that kind of reaction.”

“Do you have humans who take it?”

There was a beat of silence before he said, “I know they have, but I’ve never seen it.”

“I see.” She sat up and reluctantly let go of his hands.

“I was told there might be some pain but that it would be minimal.”

“They lied.” There was no heat in her words. It wasn’t Ravi’s fault.

He leaned to the side as he peered closely. “How do you feel?”

“Worse than I did after you revived me from drowning.”

Relief crossed his face. He stood and held out his hands. “Are you ready to stand?”

She accepted his help and was soon on her feet. “How different do I look?” she asked when she couldn’t stand his staring any longer.

“See for yourself,” he said and turned her to the mirror.

Yasmin kept her gaze down as she walked to the sink. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. When she was little, she had dreamed of being an elf. Would she be a Wood Elf? Maybe a Sun Elf. Or even a Sea Elf? After all these years, she would finally get to find out.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze until she stared back at a reflection that was her but different.

Her hair was no longer black but a deep blue. Her eyes were such a light shade of blue they were nearly white. Her skin was paler and now had a silver tint. Those weren’t the only differences, though. Pointed ears stuck out of her hair.

She reached up and touched one of them. Sensations coursed through her body at the simple stroke. She ran her fingers over her cheek, mesmerized by the silver sheen of her skin. It brought out the embroidery in her attire. It was like she glowed from within.

Her gaze shifted to meet Ravi’s in the mirror as she dropped her arm. “When I was a child, I used to imagine what I might look like as one of you.”

“You look good as a Moon Elf. How do you feel about it?”

“I don’t know.” And that was the truth.

She used to believe that if she had been born an elf, she wouldn’t have had the problems she did, but as an adult, she knew that everyone had something to bear. Would things have been different had she been an elf? Maybe. There were never any certainties about anything.

“May I?” Ravi held out his hand, showing the silver tips.

Yasmin nodded. She gripped the sink when he gently slid first one and then the other onto the points of her ears. She needed to see all of herself. She walked to the dressing room and studied herself in the full-length mirror leaning against the wall. The purple hue blended nicely with the silver and blue of her coloring. She didn’t recognize herself. Surely, no one else would. She could stand there all night and stare in wonder, but they had work to do. When she turned to look for Ravi, he stood leaning a shoulder against the doorframe, watching her.

“Can I pass for an elf?” she asked.

He pushed away from the door and closed the distance between them. “I think you could do anything you want. But, aye, you more than pass as an elf.” A small frown marred his features when she touched her ears. “Are they bothering you?”

“The stones became louder than I’ve ever heard them during the process.”

“And now? Can you hear them?”

Panic clutched Yasmin’s chest. She had been so focused on her appearance that she hadn’t thought about her ability. With determined steps, she made her way to the wall and put her hand on the stones. She immediately heard their hum. She silently asked them if it was clear to leave. Their answer was instantaneous.

“I can,” she told him with a smile. “It’s clear. We should make our way upstairs.”

“You said there are guards at every stairway. How will we get past them?”

She grinned. “Some staff are meant to be seen, but many are not. There are hidden passages throughout Shaldorn so they can move about.”

“And they don’t have guards watching them?”

“Everything is guarded.”

He gave her a pointed look. “How will we get past them?”

“I’ll get us past.” She walked out, leaving Ravi to catch up to her.

“Yaz,” he said in a low, warning tone.

“The voices are already getting louder above. We don’t have time to waste.”

“You don’t have a plan, do you?”

Not yet, but hopefully she would by the time they reached the main floor. The stones once more led her through the corridors to one of the hidden passageways. The top of Ravi’s head brushed the ceiling and he had to bend slightly, but they weren’t in it for long. They exited into another hall. Yasmin held them back as staff hurried past without noticing them. Then she led them to the left and up a flight of stairs before halting.

“What is it?” Ravi whispered in her ear.

She shivered at the feel of his breath against her cheek. “On the other side of that door is where we need to be.”

“I’m guessing there’s a guard there.”

“There is.”

“Will he leave?”

She shook her head. Her hair felt odd against her new, pointed ears.

“Some guests came a day or so early, aye?”

His hand was near hers on the railing. She looked at his long fingers, recalling how they had held her. “Aye.”

“Have any of them ever ventured into the staff area?”

“On occasion.” She turned to look at him over her shoulder as she realized his plan. “Brilliant.”

He grinned, and she was conscious of just how close they were.

Yasmin cleared her throat and turned around. “We’ll play innocent.”

“I had another idea.”

“Oh?”

He walked around her on the stairs. “Do you trust me?”

Funny how a few days before, the answer would have been a firm ~nay~. “I do.”

Ravi held out his arm. She didn’t hesitate to put her hand against his large palm. He held her as they walked up the last few steps. He leaned back against the wall and tugged her closer. Yasmin’s heart beat double time as she found herself standing between his legs. He placed her hand on his chest before he loosely set his on her waist, his fingertips touching bare skin. Shivers raced over her flesh at the contact.

“We could do as you suggested and say we got lost,” he said softly. “Or…”

“Or?” she prompted when he didn’t elaborate.

His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Or…we could get caught.”

It took a moment for his words to register and decipher what he meant. He wanted them to get caught kissing. The thought sent a thrill through her. She would finally know what it was to kiss Ravi.

“I’ll act surprised when this door isn’t one to a bedroom,” Ravi continued. “We just need to look flushed with desire.”

That certainly wouldn’t be a problem since that’s exactly what she was. She nodded in agreement as she looked at his mouth.

“Just play along,” Ravi urged.

She had no time to respond as he laughed loudly and banged his elbow against the door. “We’re almost there, love. Then you’re all mine.”

Ravi went to turn the handle when the door flew open. A guard stood above them, his frown intense as he eyed Ravi and then her. Yasmin quickly looked away for fear the guard would recognize her.

“Apologies,” Ravi said as he tugged her against his side. “We snuck away to find some alone time. I think we took a wrong turn.”

“You’re in the staff area,” the guard stated.

Ravi swung his head to her and ran a finger along the side of her face. “We’ve been thwarted, but not for long.” He turned his attention to the guard. “Can you show us the right direction to the main area?”

Yasmin remained silent as the guard directed them. Ravi kept his fingers intertwined with hers as they walked away. Once they turned the corner, she expected him to release her, but he didn’t. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“He didn’t know me,” she whispered.

Ravi grinned. “Told you.” He scanned the area. There were only a handful of people. “Where to now?”

Yasmin didn’t need to ask the stones which way. She and Ravi were mixed in with the other guests. Eyes darted their way. She knew she looked different, but she couldn’t stop wondering if someone would still recognize her.

“Keep walking,” she said.

Ravi took her hand and looped it into the crook of his arm. They continued down the corridor toward the sound of conversation and music. The closer they got, the harder it was for Yasmin to continue walking.

Ravi’s hand covered hers on his arm. “You can do this.”

She squared her shoulders. She had promised him that she would be fine. She shot him a smile as they entered Shaldorn’s main greeting area. There was a dazzling display of clothes and jewels from males and females alike. Food and drink flowed freely as guests mingled about the room.

Alongside them were staff members. Those moving through the throng wearing all white and holding the highly polished trays with beverages and fare were unseen by the guests. Yasmin’s gaze latched onto a human boy about Sameer’s age who had to hurriedly step out of the way as one of the guests backed into him and nearly caused him to drop the tray.

Then there were the other staff members. Those in the same attire as her and the other guests in attendance. The only difference was that they were human and marked as Shaldorn’s property. Yasmin stopped herself from touching the tattoo on her neck when Ravi turned to face her.

“Don’t,” he whispered, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles.

How had he known what she was about? Was it etched on her face?

He steered her toward one of the giant pillars and turned her back to it. He searched her gaze. “Forget the mark. You aren’t that person tonight.”