Chapter 44
CHAPTER
FORTY-FOUR
Iris
M y heart and insides twist.
Killian’s smiling and full of charm as he takes Alicia’s hand and guides her onto the dance floor.
What a man-stealing, piece of sh?—
“Ow,” Anton Decker says when I step on his foot.
I swing the short man a glare, and he just smiles like a fool. The only reason I know his stupid name is because it’s on the list Heath gave me. He’s rich, short, and according to Heath’s notes, perfect mate material.
Gag.
“Sorry about that,” he says. “My foot got in the way.”
Then he seems to notice where I’m looking, he whispers, “Poor guy. He doesn’t stand a chance. She’ll eat him alive.”
This Anton is probably nice. A banker, and at the moment living on the mainland. But he’s moving back to the island to take over the Sabine Holdings Bank. He’s known to make money, wise investments and…I think I lost interest around there when reading.
“I hear she’s quite the catch,” I say, trying to not let my hatred seep into my tone.
He seems to consider my words. “I like substance.” As the music ends, he starts to walk me back slowly to my family. “I hope I’m not too forward, but I’d like to see you again. I’ll schedule through your brother.”
With that, he kisses my hand, and to my right Heath stands, watching like my personal jailer.
“Well?” he demands the moment Anton finishes making small talk with my mother and goes off to the refreshment table. “He’s a good one, don’t you think?”
My cheeks heat as those around us fall a little quiet. “Not too shabby.”
“Good, we’ll discuss this week’s updated itinerary when we’re home.”
“Heath,” Mom says, stepping in and taking his arm.
“This isn’t the place.” Then she turns to me.
“Iris, dear, why don’t you go out for some fresh air and you time.
Take…” She looks at Mari, and then at Violet who’s sitting next to Stephan, looking longingly at the dance floor.
“Actually, Mari, go make keep Violet company. Maybe convince Stephan to take her out for a quick dance. And Iris, you take Rue.”
Heath is about to protest, but Mom uses their linked arms to tug him the opposite way, smiling. “Come on, dear. I think you’ve done enough.”
“OMG, he was so handsome, wasn’t he? Mr. Blackwater? Dark, mysterious, and little too charming. Probably a black sheep?—”
“Suits the theme of Season,” I mutter.
“—with a tragic past. It’ll be a tale of redemption.” She stops out in the garden, sighing dramatically. “It’s a crime I’m not old enough for all the fun. Ooh, I wonder if the QB has anything to say.”
Rue bounds off, and go to I follow, but someone grabs my arm and I’m yanked to a stop.
“Hey, saw you getting cozy with the other Black Briar dude,” Jerome says, smirking, reeking of booze.
I pull at my arm, but he grips it tighter. “Let go.”
“Don’t let her go, Jer. Silly slut owes us.” Donegal walks out of a shadowy place between the trees.
The two of them bring a nasty, bitter taste to my mouth because I remember what they tried to do to me at the other ball. We’re in the delicately lit garden, down by a pond, all around us laughter and chatter rises; the glow of the house isn’t that far. Music dances in the air, too.
But I’m not on a path, just the grass, and Rue is skipping ahead, blissfully unaware she’s left me behind.
As Jerome reaches for me, I kick him in the shin with my pointed heeled shoe, but Donegal grabs my hair and yanks.
Tears spring to my eyes at the pain, but I refuse to show these two cretins fear.
I twist and drop, swinging my elbow right into Donegal’s balls. He squeals like a pig, and the sound gets Jerome to loosen his grip.
Jerome growls. “Stay down you bitch.”
“Let my sister go,” shouts Rue, who’s got her phone up, the flashlight on the back shining brightly down on us. “Or I’ll plaster this video everywhere. I’ll send it to the QB, or…or the police!”
The two Alphas freeze and their eyes go wide, but it’s not because of Rue’s threat.
It’s because of the big, silent shape emerging behind her.
The two guys let me go immediately and run.
Grinning, Rue lowers her phone. “Yeah, you better run!” But then she turns around and looks up to see Xavier standing there, menacingly. She ‘ eeps’ and jumps back, almost tripping over me as I try to stand again.
“Who-who are you?” she stammers.
Of course he doesn’t speak, but his expression softens a little.
“Uh, he’s one of the caterers,” I lie. Sort of. I try to fix my dress and hair. “I saw him bringing in the liquor was the party started.”
“Oh.” She lifts her phone again and snaps a quick picture of him.
The sudden flash of light is blinding. “OMG you’re tall!
Maybe the tallest person I’ve ever seen!
And you scared off those jerks.” She waits for him to speak, but when he doesn’t, only hovers, she goes on, “Thanks for your help. They are probably pissing their pants right now. And I got it all on video!”
Xavier nods and walks away, back toward the house.
When we’re alone again, Rue hugs me close. “Wow, he was a strange one. A giant but strange. But we’re lucky he was around.”
Tell me about it.
She lets me go and bounces with excitement. “I can’t believe I got those losers on video. That was sooo cool. Bam! Release this and they’re mud!” Glancing at me, she frowns. “Maybe we should just go back.”
I’m trembling, and I hate that those two affected me so much. “No, I’m not letting them ruin my night. Let’s go check out the pond.”
Rue nods, and we get back on the lit path.
My heart starts to slow back to normal when my mini lights up. I hold it close, and everything goes into freefall.
Xavier
Mr. Scarsby wants his cupcake to know that she’ll never have to be afraid again. Miss Cupcake and Miss Firefly are safe for as long as he’s here.
I think I fall for him, then and there. Totally and completely.