Hollow Hearts (The Harkwright Trilogy)

Daria thrusts something into my hands before rushing to close the door and I look down to see a square box with a card attached. I peel it off with shaking hands and read the script on the other side.

I look forward to seeing these draped around your neck, no matter which dress you picked, I will be the one dancing with you when the night comes to an end.

“There’s no name,” I say, as I pass the card over to Daria and open the box, a soft gasp falling out as I take in the jewelery.

Daria all but squeals when she sees the moon charm with an L engraved on the underside, sitting on a pale chain. There are also a pair of star studs with a crystal dangling from each and a moon and stars charm bracelet.

It’s too much, I can’t wear this. On the other hand, I don’t have much of a choice. Daria helps to put the necklace and bracelet on and I take one last look at myself before we leave my room, walk through the corridor and down the spiral staircase. All I can think about is who sent me the jewelery, and what the fuck does it mean that they did?

We head towards the ballroom and Bradley is waiting outside the doors, his eyes already on Daria and it’s like he can’t bring himself to look away for a single moment. He’s ignoring whatever Sam is saying as he walks to stand beside him, followed by Scott, Shane and Aeron.

“You know you won’t get a word out of him,” Shane says with a sneer as we get closer and his eyes rake over me, and I feel almost dirty under his stare.

I don’t feel safe around him and it isn’t just the way he’s treated me or the things he says, it’s the vibe he gives off. It’s funny that I’ve been in the presence of the big bad Prince and yet this is the guy that I fear the most.

“If it isn’t Thirty-Four, I lost out on a good fuck because of you,” his voice chills me, I can feel his hatred radiating from his body and I don’t understand it.

He steps closer but Aeron gets to my side quicker, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me into him.

“Let’s go Little Zero, I’ve got a bottle of jack calling my name,” he leads me away from the group and through the doors leading into the ballroom.

The space is immense, chairs and tables are against the walls and the curtains are held back letting the moonlight and stars shine their way into the room. The ceiling is an arched dome with three grand chandeliers hanging down from it. The decorations are cold and captivating, almost as though danger is lurking in every corner with the pure white and jet black color scheme they have going on. They’ve somehow managed to make it look as though ice is crawling up the walls with smoke billowing across the floor. It’s only a light layer but it’s so fucking surreal. The glasses and plates are as black as obsidian, even the waiters are dressed in all black except for an ice white shirt and they’re carrying pure white trays.

“What’s with the colors?” I ask, over the soft ballad that is filling the room.

“Couldn’t say, the Prince chose it himself,” he’s smirking as usual but there’s no humor in his eyes. That’s the thing with Aeron, he’s almost always high and jovial but the laughter and smiles very rarely touch his eyes.

“It’s a shame you didn’t choose my dress, but I can see why. You look... ravishing,” he’s showing way too many teeth, but it still makes my blood heat.

“You sound as though you’re planning on eating me,” I say and I have no idea why his eyes are wider and his nostrils are flaring. Was it something I said?

He slips his mask on, before leading me over to one of the windows, before standing behind me and resting his chin on my shoulder. “Believe me, I have so many plans that involve tasting everything you have to offer.” His breath spreads over the side of my neck before he crouches down and grazes his fingertips over my leg and skates them up to my knee.

“Aeron, get up,” I don’t know who’s shouting that but he does as he’s told, only now he’s standing in front of me, with his hand rising higher and higher on my inner thigh.

He places his other hand on my hip before he gyrates his hips, rocking his pelvis against me and I can’t take my eyes off him or my mind off the fact that his hand is now as high as it can go. With one of his fingers grazing across my panties and hitting my lips with every stroke.

“It’s a party, Little Zero,” he says as he starts moving my hips in time with his - but it has to be to music only he can hear - until we’re flush against one another and his hand is rubbing against my clit. He hasn’t slipped beneath my panties yet and I’m relieved by that… I think.

“Wrong dance,” I breathe out, knowing we should be swaying to the music, not gyrating and thrusting and everything else he’s doing against me. We may as well be having sex with the way he’s moving and making my body move. He’s making my skin heat and my breath catch.

“Who the fuck cares,” he brings his head closer to me before sliding his tongue up my neck and stopping just below my ear. “I want to trace every inch of your body with my tongue and fingers, what do you think? Do you want to feel my tongue over every plain and column of your body, leaving no part untouched?”

I can’t even breathe, excitement coursing through me at his words and even my inner voice is suspiciously quiet. I guess she wants Aeron to do all of that as well.

“I could make you sing,” another lick and then a bite on my lobe has me whispering out, “yes.” Right before he’s pulled away from me and slammed against the wall.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, maybe if you went one day without a joint you’d see that,” I don’t know why Tom is so angry with him but I’m more than ready to slip away and that’s exactly what I will do.

I merge with the people dancing, slipping through and heading towards the drink area, I’m not one to drink alcohol so I grab an ice tea instead - they really do have everything on offer - and just stand here leaning against the bar and watching as the faceless people dance and lose themselves in the music.

I can tell who Maddox is straight away and Tom is the only red head so he’s easy enough to spot but the others are so similar in height or build and even hair color that without looking in their eyes, I can’t figure out who Tucker, Scott or even Shane is now. That last one scares me and I hope I’ll know him before he gets too close.

&n

bsp; Aeron’s mask had been a deep red to match his waistcoat and Tom had a plain black one that just covers his eyes and nose. But some of the others are impossible to describe, gold, filigree patterns, feathers and half face masks, some that arch downwards and come to the chin, leaving only the mouth uncovered. A few have chosen that style but most of the guys are more similar to Aeron’s and Tom’s. Plus it makes it easier to work out who’s under the mask when they wear those.

Someone stands beside me with dark hair and a black and gold mask that lies over his nose and eyes, it spreads down the sides of his face and has gold spirals working their way all over it. Honestly, it seems a little over the top to me but it suits his gold waistcoat, and I’m even more relieved I didn’t wear that god awful gold dress that Aeron picked out for me.