Chapter Three - Desiree
Jaxson glares at Vane like he’s stolen his favorite toy. Me.
Vane is deep in conversation with Ry, ignoring how Jax is sizing him up, as if he could somehow throw my six-five vampire husband out the nearest stained-glass window and into the Acheron River below. I shift uncomfortably. What’s his problem? I thought we were all friends.
I scan the ballroom for Jaxson’s boyfriend, Anselm, to help me run interference. I’ve seen pictures of him on Jax’s social media, but he’s not here. My stomach drops. He was invited. Wasn’t he? I don’t recall seeing him at dinner either.
If they broke up, Jax would have told me—unless they ended things because of me. That could explain Jax’s hostility toward Vane.
Jax and I broke up years ago. We don’t see each other often, but we talk regularly on the phone.
Not once has he mentioned still having feelings for me or ending things with Anselm.
I wouldn’t even imagine it, but the haunted look in his whiskey-colored eyes tells me he has something painful to say, and once he does, there’ll be no taking it back.
I cross and uncross my arms, trying and failing to listen to Vane talk about the live performer we booked for Little Death. I can’t focus with Jaxson standing there. The energy coming off him is overwhelmingly suffocating.
I should either say something or pull Jax aside and ask him directly what’s going on.
I haven’t seen him this anxious since right before he dumped me because he was worried Wilder would find out we were dating.
He’s hiding something, and I can only hope I’m wrong and it has nothing to do with me.
Because there’s no way I can hurt him again; he’s my best friend.
I’m fully committed to Vane, but I want to let Jax down gently. I couldn’t live with him hating me.
I put distance between myself and Vane. No point in rubbing salt in the wound if Jaxson still has feelings. This weekend isn’t about us. It’s about Leigh and Wilder. I won’t make a scene.
“I didn’t see Anselm at dinner. Is he coming tonight?” I ask to test the waters.
“He’s not,” Jax says, his tone uneasy.
Why not? Is it because he got held up at work, or because he’s no longer Jaxson’s plus-one?
Vane glances at the space I’ve put between us, his eyes narrowing. I smile awkwardly.
“Ah, look, there’s Vyvyan,” I say to divert Vane’s attention until I realize Vyvyan is glaring at Jax, who is back to scowling at Vane. Good heavens. If she stirs up drama, I’ll have to leave my brother’s party. I’d rather chew off my own foot.
“Vyvyan, I can see your boobs,” I practically shout, and as intended, everyone’s attention shifts to her chest. “That dress is so sheer. You might as well be naked.”
Vyvyan grins, soaking up the attention. Vyvyan and I have a history.
She once tried to kill me when she was the vampire queen, worried I’d threaten her partnership with Vane.
We’ve gotten past that, and now both of us carry the Bathory royal name.
But she’s still fiercely protective of him.
She tolerates me, and I do the same for her.
“It’s as if you’ve never seen a woman’s body before, Desiree. I thought you were some kind of healer?” Vyvyan deadpans, not taking her eyes off Jax, who has his arms crossed and is staring at his feet.
Vane follows her gaze. My unease intensifies.
Vane can sense emotions and thoughts, sometimes even glimpses of the future. He’s definitely reading all of Jaxson’s thoughts right now. His eyes are unblinking and focused, as if he’s dissecting each of Jax’s secrets with a surgeon’s skill.
Jax glares at him. Vane grins back—that knowing grin that says, I know all your dirty secrets.
Jax’s fists clench.
The air between them crackles with years of unresolved issues, mostly involving me.
Vane Turned me, Jaxson wanted me to take the cure and be with him.
Again, I thought we had moved past this.
Vane’s grin widens, challenging him. Jax’s shoulders bunch up, muscles tensing like a hungry animal ready to pounce.
He’s moments away from swinging his fist at Vane’s pretty face.
My heart pounds against my ribs. A few guests have started to notice, their conversations faltering as they sense the shift in the formerly jovial atmosphere.
Dammit. They can’t do this. Not here. Not now. This is supposed to be a party, not their battlefield. I know Jax is hurting—the breakup, if that’s the reason behind his sour mood, must’ve destroyed him—but he needs to back the hell off.
Vane’s not the one who broke his heart.
Anselm is, and Jax is seeking comfort with me because I am familiar and safe.
Vyvyan bares her fangs. “Do you have a problem, Jaxson?”
“Not with you,” Jax says tightly to the tiny vampire.
“Then you should stop staring at Vane like he’s cheated you at cards if you don’t want to have a problem with me.” Her nails look poised to strike his face.
“Vyvyan,” I warn with forced lightness. This is all a misunderstanding. “I’m sure he wasn’t.”
Ry flashes me a sympathetic look, then quickly moves toward Pallas across the room, leaving me with this hostile mess.
I consider begging him to stay. I’m not trying to get between Vane and Jaxson.
Choosing sides between my husband and best friend would create a bigger rift between them, but if Jaxson is upset because of me, then I need to try to diffuse the situation. I want us all to get along.
“I beg to differ,” Vyvyan snaps at me. “My eyes are sharper than a tack. He was staring like he was plotting to gut Vane, then toss you over his shoulder and make a run for it.”
“He was not.”
“I’m just enjoying the party,” Jax replies calmly, but the turbulent look in his eyes betrays his calm facade. “But, Desi, could we—”
“I don’t blame you, Jaxson. Desiree does look delicious tonight.” Vane reaches for me with a predatory smile. He tugs me closer, lips grazing my ear as he whispers, “She tastes delicious, too.”
Every muscle in Jaxson’s body goes rigid. I’m too stunned to speak.
“We’ll talk later, Desi,” he snaps before storming off.
Fuck. I need to fix this. I don’t want Jax mad at me. Vane didn’t need to say what he did.
“Congratulations,” I hiss at Vane. “You won Jerk-Off of the Night.” I’m not embarrassed by Vane’s comment; I’m open about our relationship.
I hate having to remind Jax that I’m married to someone who can read his mind and use it against him.
Jax is upset about something, and I want to find out what it is.
If it’s about me, I’ll remind him why we don’t work, and he will realize he was having a lapse in judgment.
I follow Jax. Vane sighs behind me.
“Don’t walk away from your king,” Vyvyan snarls.
“My king can handle it.” Fucking vampires. Their territorialism rivals mated wolves.
“Ask him for the truth, and we can all move forward,” Vane calls after me.
I walk away, flipping him off as I go. I hate it when he messes with people’s minds and plays games with what he finds out. Vane may be immortal, but it wouldn’t hurt him to show some human compassion.
I catch up with Jax on the nearest balcony, where he’s brooding over Glaucus’s modern-baroque cityscape. Mountains rest beyond, and the Acheron River rushes below, its sound barely covering his anxious heartbeat.
When Jax turns to face me, my breath catches. Anguish etches jagged lines into his face.
“I just need a minute, Desiree.”
“What the hell is going on with you?” My hands are on my hips. “And don’t you dare lie.”
We aren’t toxic exes. We respect each other.
“Desiree—”
I flash my fangs. “Answer me.”
Jax huffs but still says nothing.
“Vane and I are together. I thought you were okay with that. It’s been years.”
Jax opens and closes his mouth. “Vane is a dick, but he’s not why—” He groans. “Look, what I’m about to say may seem out of the blue, but I—”
“Jax, please tell me you and Anselm didn’t break up because of me. You were so happy …”
“Desiree, you should know that Anselm and I … I’ve wanted to tell you for so long, but—”
“That doesn’t look like Vane Bathory unless you’ve replaced him with a younger, more volatile version,” a male voice interrupts.
I turn, fangs bared, and spot Alden, the Wolf King of Lua, grinning like a fool with his beautiful wife Tanith by his side. She’s piled her long, ebony braids into a bun on top of her head. Alden looks sharp in a crisp navy-blue suit—too bad he’s anything but.
I squeal and launch myself at them. “I missed you two!”
“We missed you, too, Desi,” Tanith chimes in with her sweet voice.
“Where’s little Conall?” I ask, pulling back.
“With the nanny,” Alden replies, nuzzling his wife’s neck. “I get to enjoy Tanith all to myself tonight.”
Tanith blushes, the scent vibrant yet vulnerable, but she doesn’t push him away.
The wolf couple is painfully in love—not that I blame them.
Alden nearly lost her forever when his older brother, Zeus, had her Turned into a vampire to jumpstart an invasion Alden wanted no part of. My blood restored her werewolf nature.
“Alden, later,” she whispers. “We have an audience.”
“So? I’m a king, you’re my wife. Plus, you love performing.”
I shudder. “Alden, do us all a favor and keep it in your pants.”
I’m hyperaware of Jax standing inches away—I’ve always been too aware of him.
“Are you sure? Maybe Jax needs a release for all this obvious stress,” Alden quips.
Jax smiles slightly, but then his phone dings. He checks it, and a muscle twitches at his temple.
“Shit. I have to go.” He’s already moving toward the door.
I stare after him, torn between following and dealing with Vane’s smug expression back in the ballroom before Jax and I face each other again.