31. Raven #3
Chace quietly dragged his gaze over them, his expression controlled.
“Please,” Neive added, apparently not above begging.
She pressed her hands together at her chest.
Chace shot me a questioning glance, and behind his back, Neive fanned herself and feigned fainting. I rolled my eyes and chortled.
“Neive and Lucas,” I said by way of introduction.
“So…this is Lucas.” Chace studied him more thoroughly.
Lucas’s eyes widened as if confused and shocked over Chace’s reaction. I felt much the same. I couldn’t recall mentioning the manservant-turned-friend to Chace. Had Winter mentioned him for some reason?
I decided to skip those thoughts and come back to them later. “If it weren’t for these two, I would have died of loneliness in the palace.”
A welcoming smile bloomed across Chace’s mouth. “Well, then, saviors you both must be. We would be most honored to grant you both a dance.”
Chace winked at me and then offered his hand to Neive. Twirled her away on the dance floor.
I regarded their exit. I’d never seen Chace so happy…so alive.
Lucas stood at my side, the two of us watching Chace and Neive dance for a full minute before Lucas turned and offered me his hand. We broke into a dance of our own.
Lucas’s gaze flickered to Chace and back. “I’m really sorry to have interrupted that.”
My only response was a tiny chuckle.
“Okay, then…” He exhaled. “I have four things for you. First, the royals will be making their appearance at half past midnight.”
Odd timing.
“Thank you.”
Before dressing for the birthday ball, I had asked both Lucas and Neive if they knew the royal schedule as it pertained to the party. They had not, as it was not public, but Lucas put whatever investigative skills he had to work, and he’d come back with the goods.
If the royals were appearing at half past midnight, then the royals and all their guards would be in the hall, making it the perfect time for me to investigate the tower. I flicked my gaze to the massive clock face mounted on the wall above the royal box. I had time.
“I’m not done,” he said and twirled me under his arm. “Second, and possibly more importantly, you look absolutely…wow. Just…wow. I have no other words.”
My smile strained across my lips.
“Third, Winter looks truly murderous. Have you seen him lately? Or have you only had eyes for that one?” He lifted a pointed chin in Chace’s direction.
Chace had Neive’s eyes wide with wonder…and, I suspected, a healthy dash of lust. I snorted, but Lucas tapped my shoulder, drawing my attention back to him…and thoughts of Winter.
Poor Winter. I’d neglected his feelings by dancing endlessly with Chace, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop. And…well…my avoidance was best for Winter…and my agreement with the queen.
Lucas lowered his voice. “Remember what I’ve told you about Winter.
Beware the ice king slumbering within the winter prince.
Now, fourth and finally, but definitely not the least important…
that one there…” His gaze shifted to Chace once more and became slightly unfocused.
“Holy gods above.” He sighed. “That male is an image I could jerk—”
“Stop,” I blurted. “Don’t finish that sentence. I don’t want to hear it.”
Lucas grinned wide enough to brighten the room. “Oh, sweetness. You needn’t ever worry about me. That hunk of hotness clearly only has eyes for you. What I do fantasize about will never be a threat to you.”
Was it true? Did Chace only have eyes for me?
My heart swelled and filled all the spaces of my chest cavity. I feared I might burst. And I… I needed to stop focusing on such things. I needed to change the topic.
I glanced down at Lucas’s costume. “What are you dressed as?”
“Oh.” His shoulders wiggled. “Classic elf whore. Because, you know, those of us with hints of fae blood aren’t exactly fond of them.”
I coughed a laugh and wondered about the cause of the dislike.
Elven kind, fae kind, reaper kind—they all had good and bad elements. No one species was better than the other. They were merely different and (hopefully) learning to get along. Whatever bright bits of energy any one race had to share with the others should be considered both joyous and exciting.
The music slowed and changed, bringing our dance to an end.
Lucas took my hand in his and patted it, his gaze sweeping over the approaching Chace and Neive.
“Winter and your secret male hunk.” He sighed.
“Two gorgeous loaves of bread. What a glorious sandwich that would make.” He glanced at me sideways and winked.
“Have I told you how much I envy you, sweetness?”
I blinked. Then bubbled with laughter. I wasn’t sure I could believe my hearing. I deposited a quick kiss on his cheek, then bid him and Neive goodnight.
“That was fun,” Chace said without a whisper of enthusiasm.
He watched the servants’ departure.
“Tell me about it,” I prompted and, using my fingernail, swirled a design on his vest.
Chace’s eyes warmed. “Maybe later.” He tilted his head toward the doors leading into the garden. “Walk with me?”