The Royal Elite: Mattias by Danielle Bourdon

scant attention to the twists and turns of the corridors, laughing quietly at this or that quip and adding a few of her own. What she meant to accomplish with this clandestine rendezvous, she didn't know. It wasn't like her to hop into bed with random strangers yet here she was, allowing him to guide her to an unknown destination. It wasn't his suite, considering they were headed in the opposite direction of the stairway.
    “So tell me what made you attend that party anyway. It doesn't seem like your kind of gig,” the man asked. He led her onto a dimly lit, small terrace still wet from the rain. Rain that had, temporarily, stopped falling. Puddles collected here or there on the concrete, which he guided her skillfully around.
    “I don't know. I kept hearing about them, so I thought I would see what it was about. Rather tame compared to the rumors,” she said.
    “Tame at the time we left. In another half hour, maybe less, things will get a lot more risque. I guarantee it.” He guided her down a set of stone stairs and around the corner of the house.
    “Think so? Maybe. I guess we should have stayed to see for ourselves.” Alannah stumbled and gripped the man's arm tighter. He stabilized her effortlessly and she whispered her gratitude. Darkness hung over the gardens and landscape, making it difficult to see beyond the narrow path they currently walked on.
    “Or we could make our own show, hm?” The stranger flashed a bright, charming grin her way.
    Laughing, Alannah trustingly followed her escort through a nondescript side door along a wall covered in ivy. A sense of space opened up around her, broad and tall and expansive. Bay windows allowed enough light to penetrate the gloom, creating a dull shine on chrome detail. She knew before glimpsing the gleam of paint on cars that they had entered a garage. Sleek vehicles of all makes and models sat in neat rows, waiting for their owners to return.
    “Wow.” Alannah temporarily forgot about shows and parties and everything else. It wasn't the expensive vehicles that had her attention so much as how many fit into the garage itself. She thought there must be fifty cars, all told.
    “This is just one of a few garages on the property and the only one attached to the manor. The rest are separated. I'm sure you've glimpsed them out the windows.” He guided her unerringly to a gleaming Jaguar with custom, red paint.
    “I haven't noticed,” Alannah admitted. A niggling sense of unease penetrated the haze of alcohol when he unlocked the passenger door and gestured her inside.
    “Wait, we're leaving the house?” she asked, frowning. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. She didn't want to leave the grounds themselves or the relative safety of Barrett. Who, she lamented silently, was nowhere to be seen after she'd staunchly dismissed him at the doors to the party.
    “Actually, no. There's a small lake further back on the property with a gazebo and miniature lights and everything. Very cool. I visited yesterday in the company of a Morano daughter. I thought we could watch the moonlight on the water and talk.” He smiled, keys jangling in his fingers.
    He seemed so harmless with his carefree, boyish answers. Alannah decided to throw caution to the wind and check out the lake with him. What would a little talking and fresh air hurt? Except she secretly wished it was Mattias instead of a stranger. She wanted to explore these things with the Prince, watch his reactions to their surroundings. Dismayed that she continued to lament over Mattias, she firmly turned her attention back to the present. Reaching up, intending to remove the mask, she paused when the stranger touched her wrist to stall the motion.
    “Leave it on. I like the mystery. Maybe we can take them off later.” His voice dipped into a quiet purr.
    “All right. We can visit the lake for an hour, no more.” Putting a time limit on the sojourn made Alannah feel a little better.
    “Of course.” The