9. Maldenis #3
Her hair was slightly loosened from the elaborate styling. Her makeup softened from the long night. Her brown eyes open and honest in a way they hadn’t been in front of the crowd. There was no guarded sarcasm there now. No performance. Just her.
And she was looking at him the same way. Like they were the only two who actually understood how insane the whole day had been. Slowly, almost without either of them deciding it, they leaned toward each other.
It felt…inevitable.
Two beings caught in the same ridiculous storm, finally standing somewhere quiet together. The only two in the building who knew how crazy everything was. How badly they both just needed a moment.
A little comfort.
For a moment, they simply hovered there, close enough that he could feel her breath against his chin. Then one of them moved. Later, he wouldn’t have been able to say who started it. Maybe it was him. Maybe it was her.
It didn’t really matter because leaning into each other felt…natural.
It was the way he had always gotten through things—throw himself forward, deal with the consequences later. And from everything he knew about Liora, it seemed like her way, too.
After all, it was exactly how they’d ended up in this situation to begin with.
Their lips met, but the kiss wasn’t careful. It wasn’t staged like the ones with cameras clicking and being told where to stand. This one was just feeling. Just the two of them leaning into the moment and into each other.
His arms tightened around her as the kiss deepened, instinctively pulling her closer.
She responded immediately, her hands sliding up to the back of his neck as she drew him toward her.
Every small shift seemed to bring them closer still, bodies fitting together as if the rest of the world had narrowed down to this single point between them.
His hands settled at her waist, pulling her closer while she leaned into him, warm and steady against his chest.
“This probably isn’t a good idea,” she pulled back just enough to look at him, her breath a little uneven.
“No?” he murmured against her neck, his lips brushing warm skin. “It feels good.”
She exhaled slowly, her fingers still curled in the fabric of his jacket.
“I mean it,” she said, trying again. “We should keep things simple, right?”
“Uh-huh,” his voice was distracted, low, and when his mouth brushed her neck again, he felt a shiver run straight down her spine.
“Hey,” Liora slapped his arm. “Listen.”
Maldenis lifted his head, feeling mildly offended.
“Stop kissing me,” she said, her face arranged in what was clearly meant to be a stern expression.
He looked down at her, studying the attempt, the tight set of her mouth, the little crease between her brows, and felt a grin tug at his lips. She was trying very hard to look serious. It was cute, but, unfortunately for her, he knew better.
He raised a brow. “You stop kissing me and I will.”
She stared at him for a second, then leaned forward and kissed him again.
He laughed softly against her mouth before pulling her closer, and he felt her relax into it, the earlier tension from the party finally melting away. Her fingers traced along the back of his neck, and he let out a quiet breath against her lips.
For a little while, they simply stayed there, wrapped up in each other. His hands were about to drift lower…Then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound echoed loudly through the quiet suite.
They both froze.
A second later, the knocking came again, this time louder.
“Maldenis!” a voice called from the other side of the door. “Open up!”
Maldenis groaned softly. “Makron,” he muttered.
Liora pulled back just enough to look at him, her hair slightly tousled now, her lips curved in reluctant amusement. “He sounds persistent,” she said.
Another knock rattled the door. “Maldenis, you can’t hide from us!”
“And Charlie,” he sighed. He knew he would have to open the door for his cousins. There was no way they were going to go away.
“You should probably get that,” she said.
“Yeah.”
Neither of them moved. Instead, he leaned in again and kissed her, and she kissed him back immediately.
Outside, the knocking became louder.
“Maldenis!”
“I guess we should find out what they want,” he grumbled.
“Mmhmm,” she replied right before kissing him again.
He laughed softly against her lips before finally pulling back.
“Stop kissing me,” he said, though there was no real conviction in it.
She laughed, the sound warm and genuine in the quiet room.
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the interruption hanging between them but not quite ruining the mood.
“It’s for the best, I guess,” then she stepped back and straightened her dress, smoothing the fabric and fixing her hair as best she could. “We really shouldn’t be doing this.”
Maldenis adjusted his jacket as he went to open the door. Makron stood there with his arms crossed, Charlie leaning casually against the wall beside him.
“Finally.” Makron rolled his eyes.
Maldenis raised a brow. “You could try knocking less like you’re breaking the door down.”
Charlie smirked.
“The other families want to talk,” Makron said.
“Oh, good,” Liora said behind him. “We need to know.”
Maldenis glanced at her and nodded. “Right,” he said. “Lead the way.”
Makron grinned like he had just been waiting to hear that and turned down the corridor. Charlie followed, clapping Maldenis on the shoulder as they moved.
“About time we found you,” Charlie said. “You disappeared.”
Makron snorted. “We figured you’d need at least a minute before the family started dragging you into meetings.”
Maldenis rolled his eyes. “You two could’ve given me more than a minute.”
“Not tonight,” Makron laughed. “You’re the center of attention.”
They made their way through the quieter wing of the building, the distant sound of music still drifting from the party behind them.
Makron and Charlie fell into easy chatter as they went, the kind of casual, familiar talk that made it seem like they hadn’t seen Maldenis in a while.
Even though it was just a couple of days.
“We still need a drink with you,” Charlie said. “A proper toast.”
“And the cousins are all asking where you disappeared to,” Makron added. “You can’t escape.”
Maldenis groaned. “I was hoping the party covered that.”
“Not even close,” Makron said cheerfully.
“You’re doomed,” Liora chuckled quietly beside him.
“Apparently,” Maldenis muttered back.
They turned a corner and approached a large carved door. Makron pushed it open without knocking. Inside, the atmosphere was very different from the noisy celebration.
The conversation in the room paused as they entered. Maldenis glanced around the table and realized there were four mothers present, including his own. The other three he didn’t know, older basilisk females with scales in varying shades.
Elian, Zara, and Hektor stepped in behind them a moment later, the door closing softly as the small group gathered.
Hektor spoke first.
“We’ve been looking for Zeus’s progeny,” he said.
“Melora has told us about the situation,” one of the mothers said softly.
“We should clarify something first.” Two of the females exchanged a look before continuing. “We were not among the basilisks who bore children by the god. But, that doesn’t mean we cannot help.”
“There are other mothers,” the first continued. “Other families who may know more.”
Zara leaned forward slightly. “If we can find them, we can begin identifying the children.”
“And warn them,” said Liora.
The room fell quiet, and Maldenis felt the weight of it settle because he knew they all understood exactly why that mattered.
Melora folded her hands on the table and looked at the other women before speaking. “We’ve discussed it,” she said calmly. “The four of us will begin reaching out to the other basilisk houses. Quietly at first. We’ll speak with the mothers, the families we trust, and get the word out.”
One of them nodded. “If there are children of Zeus among us, their mothers will know.”
“We’ll find them,” another added. “And we’ll make sure they’re prepared.”
“That’s all for tonight,” Melora turned her gaze back to him and Liora. “Go back to your celebration.”
The dismissal was clear.
Makron and Charlie were already shifting toward the door, clearly ready to return to the party. Maldenis gave a small nod to the mothers at the table before turning with the others.
They emerged into the hallway, with Elian, Hektor, and Zara, the tension of the meeting easing the moment the door closed behind them. Zara immediately slipped into step beside her sister, already chatting with her in a low voice as they headed back toward the noise of the party.
For a moment, Maldenis stayed beside Liora in silence. The urge to reach for her hand tugged at him, but he held himself back. He glanced at her, noting the faint furrow in her brow as she processed everything that had just been said before looking away.
It’s probably for the best.
They just had to get through one year of being married. One year of appearances, obligations, and this whole ridiculous arrangement.
After that, things would go back to normal.
No need to complicate it.
Why would she want to get tangled up in the mess of his life anyway, the expectations, the elders watching his every move, the pressure of not becoming the family disappointment again?
Better to keep things simple.
Better to remember what this really was.
Just a year.