Chapter 21 #2
We move farther into the ballroom and more eyes turn to watch us.
The attention makes my cheeks pinken, and I can’t help biting my lip nervously.
The dress I wore like armor reveals more than is probably appropriate for the gathering, but it also makes a statement.
I am back and I am not going anywhere. The top material is see-through, blending easily with my pale skin.
The skirt is slightly flared at the bottom, all black in color with a black, long, tree branch design that reaches up past my torso, and splits across my chest and arms. The skin on my breasts and torso are visible through the branches.
The back is completely bare and dips low to the top of my ass.
Baylee is draped in a deep, blood red gown that is more mermaid style with a slit up to her thigh.
While my best friend’s dress is simple, the real show stopper is her jewelry.
Rubies encrusted with diamonds. The stares we are garnering aren’t really that surprising.
Music plays the farther we move into the ballroom and a flash of excitement tears through me. This feels familiar suddenly. My brow furrows and I lean into Baylee. “Did we come to the Harvest Ball together the year I was here?”
Baylee’s eyes widen. “No. We had planned to, but…things were starting to go bad with you and Madden.”
My heart clenches, and there’s a small flicker of pain in my mind. Rolling my shoulders back I make the choice that, tonight, I’m not going to worry about the past. I’ll dance, have fun with Baylee and simply take in the holiday party.
“Oh, don’t freak out, but here comes your dad,” Baylee breathes out behind a nervous smile on her lips.
“Skallan.” My dad’s voice is cool, smooth, and refined when it falls on my ears. My body turns to face the man who gave me half my genetics. I wait for a rush of emotion, family connection, but there’s none. Just a hollow feeling when I stare right through him.
“Dad,” I say and give him a polite, practiced smile. “How’s Sera?”
“She’s fine. Around here somewhere,” he answers, wearing a forced smile while he nods his head at other influential people in town.
“I heard you’re training at the Gate,” he says, stated as a fact rather than a question.
My spine straightens, and my shoulders tense. “I’m sure Heath and Madden have mentioned it.”
“I haven’t seen them. Seems all my children these days are avoiding their familial responsibilities.”
Silence stretches between us and I have to fight not to roll my eyes, reminding myself of our audience. Through the crowd, I can see Baylee, and she’s waving me over. “Well, Dad, I’ll keep on training and let you know how it goes.”
His gaze runs over me before drifting back to the crowd, another practiced smile on his lips. “See that you do. And, Skallan, I expect you at the family dinner next week.”
“I will see if it fits my schedule.” I tip my head at him respectfully before rushing off through the crowd toward Baylee.
The crowd pushes in at the same time I’m trying to squeeze past, blocking me in all directions. Turning to my left, I slam straight into something solid. Air rushes out of my lungs, and my mouth opens to apologize when I’m instantly caught up in eyes as black as coal.
“I love when you run into me, little devil.” Killian leans down, smirking at me. His pale blond hair is brushed back, styled, and looks almost golden when paired with his all red suit.
My arms cross over my chest and I take a step back. “Is the devil your inspiration for the evening?” I ask, motioning to his formal attire with my hand.
Killian smiles, a mouth full of white, perfect teeth. “Never met the big guy, actually. His hounds are scary enough for me.”
My body tenses at his mention of the Hell Hounds and the other night at the cemetery. I still haven’t forgotten the one who looked back at me or what that could mean. Feeling a chill run down my spine, I turn back to Killian. “Well, this was fun. See you around.”
Killian steps in front of me, blocking my escape. My breath catches, and my gaze snaps back to his. “How are your memories, Skully? Any luck yet?”
My head tilts, and my brow rises. I can feel the blood rushing to my head, and I snap, “Why are you so concerned about my memories? Why does it matter to you, Killian?”
“Just concerned for an old friend.” He shrugs his shoulders lazily, his eyes intense on my face.
“Were we friends? Or is this just amusing to you?”
A flash of something sparks in his eyes, turning them rich brown before his mask of indifference slides back into place. “Guess that depends on who you ask, little devil.”
I want to ask questions, demand more about what he wants from me and why it seems like we’re playing a game I don’t know the rules to.
My lips part right as a warm, strong hand slides across my stomach.
Heat instantly seeps into my skin, and I’m firmly held in place with his big, solid chest resting against my back.
Madden. My head tilts back, and my eyes clash with stormy gray ones before he flicks his stare back to the other man in front of me.
“Killian, I thought I already told you to stay away from my girl.”
His words may sound soft, but they’re delivered with deadly determination and laced with icy warning. Killian chuckles, running a finger over his bottom lip, his eyes never leaving me.
“Didn’t know she was your girl, Danvers. She never said.”
Madden’s arm around my waist tightens. I wonder if he’s even aware that he moved closer into me.
I can feel his legs against the backs of mine, the hardness of him everywhere, his woodsy, spicy sandalwood scent.
I hate that I wait for Madden to say more, to confirm what he’s said.
My heart twists in my chest, and my hands, suddenly balled into fists, start to feel clammy.
The familiarity of this scene seeps into my consciousness.
“You should walk away, Killian.” My voice comes out light, aware of the few curious looks we’re drawing. Madden goes still behind me and the man in front of me drops his stare back to mine. Something flashes in his eyes, surprise maybe, and a smirk twists his lips.
With a nod and one more flick of his dark gaze to Madden, Killian turns and disappears back into the crowd of people.
The tension in my shoulders eases and my body relaxes further into Madden’s hold.
I almost forget for a second that he’s holding me and about our ongoing animosity toward each other.
Despite the truce we have at the Gate, I’m not naive enough to think it extends beyond that.
Turning in Madden’s hold, my feet take a step back, only I’m yanked back into his hold. This time his hand expands across my back, his strong fingers digging into my bare skin.
“Let me go.”
His eyes harden, and he leans down, taking one of my hands in his and bringing it up to his chest. “I don’t think I can.”
Before I can argue, his body moves into mine, pushing me backwards through the crowd and right onto the dance floor.
Madden spins, causing my dress to flare around his legs.
The music bleeds around us, a hymn of romance laced with darkness.
He moves us with ease, taking my body through the steps with his.
I follow his lead like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Realization dawns on me, and my gaze snaps up to him.
Except Madden is already watching, waiting for me.
“This means nothing,” I tell him, my tongue wetting my lip nervously.
Madden shakes his head. “Your mind and your mouth may say one thing, Skully, but your body knows differently. Just like when you train at the Gate. It’s not fast learning; it’s instinct. Muscle memory. You don’t need to remember the past.”
Fire ignites in my stomach and spreads up my chest. Awareness tugs in my chest, and my magic goes haywire with his nearness with the way his voice wraps around me. “I don’t want to remember.”
His face tightens, and we’re swept back around the floor to the farthest edge. My breath catches when Madden pulls me with him through the edges of the crowd, tugging me out of the room and down a candle lit hallway.
“Where are you taking me?”
I yank my hand in his, but his grip is strong, and he isn’t letting me get away.
Voices carry from the other direction, and my eyes widen.
Soon we won’t be alone and maybe I’ll have the opportunity to escape.
No sooner do I have that thought before I’m shoved into a hidden alcove.
The voices draw nearer, my lips part, only to have Madden’s huge hand land over my mouth silencing me.
Even in the dark shadows, I can see the way his silver eyes shine, the way they narrow as he studies me.
I glare right back at him. Once the voices pass by us and his hand doesn’t move, I sink my teeth into the skin of his palm.
With a grunt, he pulls his hand away and cages my body against the wall with his own. “That wasn’t very nice, Skully.”
“Neither is trapping me, Madden,” I grit out, attempting to shove at him. His body is like trying to move a boulder, and he goes nowhere. His lips tip up in a cocky smirk.
“I’ll let you go, once you answer my questions.”
My eyes roll, and my body deflates, sagging against the stone wall. “What if I can’t?”
Madden tips his head, eyes assessing me in the way he always does, as if he can see through me, like he knows my thoughts better than I do. “Why was Killian talking to you?”
A laugh escapes, and I bite my lips to stifle another. “Sorry.” I shake my head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you’re going on about this again. I have no idea why Killian does anything he does. I was trying to find Baylee and he stepped right into my path.”
“What did he say to you?” Madden questions again, a slight frown creasing his forehead.