Chapter 21 Scarlett
CHAPTER 21
SCARLETT
S carlett sat at her vanity while Tava curled and pinned a final section of hair into place.
“We haven’t been to a party in ages,” Scarlett mused, locking eyes with Tava in the mirror. “Aren’t you at all excited?”
“It will be like any other party, Scarlett,” Tava said, rolling her eyes.
“That’s where you are wrong, my friend. Parties at the Pier surpass any and all other parties. They are wilder and more freeing. Better music, better wine, and far less snobby nobility lingering around,” Scarlett replied, her eyes dancing with excitement.
Tava laughed. “ We are snobby nobility, remember?”
Scarlett twisted to face Tava, her hair finished, and said with a wink, “ You may be nobility, I suppose, but far from snobby.” Tava laughed again, rising to finish getting ready in her own room.
When Tava had left, Scarlett crossed to her full-length mirror near her closet. It would be good for Tava to get out. She had been aloof and quiet for weeks now, ever since hearing Sorin’s confession that he was Fae. She’d promised Scarlett she hadn’t said a word to her father, that she trusted Cassius and Scarlett to do with the information as they wished. She was still nervous and skittish, though, especially during the weekly dinners with the commanders.
Scarlett, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed the weekly dinners as of late. She spoke to everyone except Sorin, making it a point to actively ignore him, along with Mikale, of course. The few times she did speak to Sorin, her comments were snide, once even earning a slight clearing of the throat from Lord Tyndell. Although when she snuck a glance at him a few moments later, the Lord had an amused smile on his face.
Scarlett ran her hands down her sides and hips. The dress had been delivered along with a note last night from Nuri. Her attempt at an apology Scarlett supposed. The note had informed her of the party being held at the Pier, and the dress was simply stunning. It hugged her in all the right places. A gorgeous shade of red, the dress hung just to the floor and had deep slits up the sides revealing slivers of thigh when she moved. The back dipped dangerously low. Oh, she would certainly have to sneak out of the manor in this attire. Nuri’s love of finery and luxury was definitely a perk when it came to presents.
Scarlett knocked gently on Tava’s door before letting herself in. Tava was just sliding her shoes on, her turquoise dress striking against her tanned skin and blonde hair. Her dress revealed slivers of skin along her slim midriff and had a tight neckline that left her shoulders bare and exposed. Scarlett handed her the cloak hanging near the door, while slinging her own around her shoulders.
“Shall we?” Scarlett asked with a wide grin.
“I will admit, I am looking forward to it,” Tava replied hesitantly.
“Then let’s go dance until our feet ache and then push through the pain,” Scarlett answered, a real smile filling her face for the first time in weeks.
The party was already in full swing by the time they finally made it to the Pier, and it was better than she had anticipated. The music was loud and wild, the wine sweet and strong. Scarlett was not surprised to find Cassius there along with Drake, Mikale, Nevin, and the rest of their group of friends, which included, to her chagrin, Sorin. She ignored the sharp intakes of breath and sweeping eyes of men as she and Tava walked up. Scarlett didn’t say a word. She just glanced pointedly at Sorin then at Mikale, took the glass of wine Cassius extended to her with a wicked grin, downed the entire thing, and grabbed his hand, dragging him to the dance floor. Every time a tray came by, Cassius grabbed two more glasses of wine, and so they drank and danced.
“This, my darling Cassius, is why you truly are my favorite person in all of Windonelle,” Scarlett purred when he handed her yet another glass of wine.
“Thank goodness. I was starting to think someone else was taking my place,” Cassius replied with a wink.
Scarlett scowled at him, taking a deep drink of the wine. “Don’t ruin a good thing.”
Cassius chuckled, taking her now nearly empty glass. He placed them on a nearby table, then took her hand and pulled her close to him once more. The music was fast-paced, and Cassius whirled Scarlett around the dance floor again and again. “Is she coming tonight?” he asked after a time.
“I don’t care,” Scarlett answered, resting her head against Cassius’s shoulder.
“I know what she did was awful, Scarlett, but if we’re going to figure this out, you’re going to need to talk to her eventually,” Cassius said, leading her comfortably through a beautiful waltz.
Scarlett sighed. “I know, Cass. We’re working on a meeting with Callan right now. I just don’t want to see her until I have to.”
“Perhaps it would be wiser to clear the air before you meet with him, so you’re not facing two sources of heartache at once,” Cassius suggested gently.
“Perhaps,” was all she said as she closed her eyes and got lost in the music.
She didn’t know how long they’d been dancing, at least an hour or two, when Cassius leaned in and said over the noise, “I’ll be right back. We need more wine.” With a wink, he was swallowed by the crowd.
Scarlett turned and slid into the rhythm of the next song, dancing by herself without a care in the world, relishing the buzz of wine and freedom. She could see Tava across the room, sitting at a table and laughing at something someone had said to her. Scarlett smiled, glad to see her friend back to her old self, even if just for a night. Scarlett spun to the music, and the smile was quickly wiped from her face as Sorin stood before her.
She stopped dancing, swaying slightly from the alcohol, and watched as his eyes roved over her slowly. “Like what you see?”
Sorin smirked at her. “You have no idea.”
Scarlett rolled her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“Cassius sent me to keep you company.”
“He would do no such thing,” Scarlett snapped, scanning the crowd for his brown hair.
“He is attempting to keep Mikale…occupied. He also anticipated you being upset and sent me with these as a peace offering,” Sorin said, holding up two glasses of wine.
“I don’t need a keeper,” Scarlett said, glaring at him.
“This I know well, Love,” Sorin replied with a chuckle, “but tonight, in that dress and all the wine, a keeper wouldn’t hurt.”
“I told you not to call me that.” Scarlett eyed him a moment longer, than took a glass of wine from him. “I thought you were going home?”
Sorin seemed to flinch slightly. “I said I needed to return home soon . Soon is a relative term, is it not?”
“It would seem so.”
The music began to change to a slower-paced ballad, and couples started pairing off around them. Before she could make an excuse to leave the dance floor, Sorin said lazily, “Don’t look now, but your favorite suitor is on his way over. Apparently your beloved Cassius failed.”
“What?” Scarlett started, sloshing wine out of her glass. She turned to see Mikale heading in her direction.
Sorin laughed under his breath. “Easy, Monrhoe. Do not waste such sweet delicacies.”
“Shut up, you ass,” Scarlett hissed, panic setting in. If Mikale asked her to dance, she could not refuse him. He would cause a ridiculous scene and draw attention to them. Shit, shit, shit. The crowd was thick and slowing his advance, but he’d be here within the minute.
“I could dance with you, you know,” Sorin mused, twirling the stem of his wine glass between his fingers.
“Then why aren’t you?” Scarlett hissed.
“You have not asked,” Sorin answered simply.
“Dance with me,” Scarlett said through gritted teeth.
“No please?” Sorin asked, a grin spreading across his face.
Scarlett glared at him. Mikale was ten feet away.
Nine.
“ Please dance with me,” Scarlett said, sick at the desperation that sounded in her voice.
Setting down his glass on the table behind him, Sorin grabbed her hand and tugged her to him. He slid his other hand to her upper back, his fingers on her bare skin giving her gooseflesh. “I thought you would never ask,” he purred into her ear.
Dancing with Sorin was simple and easy. He led her through the steps comfortably, as if he’d done this numerous times before. Scarlett glimpsed Mikale standing at the edge of the crowd, a scowl on his face, watching them make their way around the dance floor.
“You know he will just ask for the next dance,” Sorin said into her ear, his fingers making slow, lazy circles down her spine.
“And what do you propose I do about that?” Scarlett snapped, a shiver following his touch.
“Make it appear as if you have other interests tonight,” Sorin whispered, sliding his hand down to her waist, fingers grazing the top of her backside.
“Hmm, and I suppose you think I should pretend you are my other interest?” she asked, a sensuous smile filing her lips.
“I would not object to having to fill such a role,” he murmured, nipping at her earlobe.
She looked up and met his gaze, glimpsing the hunger that glazed his golden eyes. “Are you sure you can handle such an act? I’m really quite persuasive when I need to be,” she purred back, pulling her hand from his and sliding them both up his muscled chest, looping them around his neck. She felt him stiffen slightly as she leaned in to nuzzle his neck, and his other hand came up to gently cup the back of hers.
“I have managed around worse,” he replied thickly.
She pulled back far enough to look into his eyes before pressing her lips to his. A chill went along her entire body as she tasted the cloves and honey again. His hand slipped into her hair while his other pressed her harder against him. He deepened the kiss as the song came to an end and another began. The new song was faster paced, but neither of them noticed. Sorin held her close, their eyes staying locked on each other, and they danced to their own song, not caring that anyone else was in the room.
“You are an excellent performer,” he whispered, bringing his mouth right next to her ear, after a third song began.
Scarlett huffed a low laugh, then crooned back, “I’d say the same to you but that desire shining in your eyes is anything but an act.”
She felt a rumble of laughter in his chest, then he leaned down and dragged his teeth along the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder. She felt her stomach dip and her body heat in response. His hand brushed her cheek, and she glimpsed two small marks on his wrist. She rubbed her thumb along them. They looked like puncture wounds. “What are these?”
“A necessary annoyance,” he said with a hint of irritation. Scarlett peered up at him and was about to question him further when he whispered, “I need some air. Come walk with me. Please.”
Scarlett hesitated, but her eyes again fell on Mikale. If looks could kill, she and Sorin would both be bleeding out on the floor right now.
“As long as we bring the wine,” she conceded with a sigh.
Sorin laughed, and took her hand, interlacing their fingers as he led her to the bar. He asked for two glasses, but before the server could pour them, Scarlett reached across the bar and plucked the full bottle from his hand. The server protested, but Sorin snarled, “Do not deny my Lady something she desires.”
The server gave a bow of his head and went on to help the next person in line. Scarlett took a drink straight from the bottle then said, “Lead the way, General.”