Chapter 27 #3
“Is this about training or…something else?” I let the meaning of my words linger between us.
His eyes widened, and his nostrils flared. I conceded a shy smile, looking down and fidgeting with my fingers for a moment.
“Anyway,” I pivoted the conversation, “I was looking for you tonight because yesterday when we spoke, I hadn’t been able to tell you about the book.
Darragh pulled me further away from the crowd. The dancing continued around the ballroom, and we were completely ignored. The human and the crossling. Two of Tironaill’s most detested creatures.
He lowered his voice. “So, tell me. What did you see?”
“A book in Gabriel’s office. ‘MEAD’ was written on the spine. Gabriel said he took it off one of the militia members he brought in from the west valley.”
Darragh looked over my head, eyes glancing around the room. “You think it’s Psilas’?”
“Maybe. It’s odd. Humans are rumored to be seen in the west, and Gabriel picked that book off a militia member while he was in the west valley. Maybe it is a coincidence and wishful thinking on my part.”
Darragh shook his head. “The timing of it is suspicious, but I wonder why Lyrik would think it had burned in a fire over a decade ago. I’ll check into it. I was going to talk to Gabriel tonight about your father’s ring anyway.”
I blinked. “You won’t get in trouble?”
Darragh scoffed. “Me? Trouble? Besides, I have my ways.”
I borrowed Cora’s signature eye roll. “I’m sure you do.”
“Sarcasm, Rory? You wound me,” he mocked.
Goosebumps prickled along my arms at the baritone in his voice. “Dance with me.” I blurted out.
I clearly don’t need to have any more to drink.
“Here?” His eyes bounced around the room like we were someplace where dancing would be absurd.
“I mean, we are at a ball, and people are dancing.” I gestured to the dancers.
“If Gabriel even sees this interaction,” Darragh scanned the crowd, “he is bound to burn the castle down. He is territorial when he has his sights set on something…or someone.” He stared intently at me.
I lifted my chin. “Good thing I’m an adult who gets to make my own decisions, and I’m not a territory to be conquered.”
I pulled his hand into mine, the rough calluses gliding over my soft palm. Darragh looked at our joined hands and back into my eyes. A tenderness gleamed in them, and he blew out a breath.
We both looked around at the crowd. King Torrish was engaged in conversation with a noble, and the Queen had disappeared from the dais, undoubtedly retired for the evening.
The corners of his mouth turned up slowly. “This is going to cause quite a stir. Gabriel is going to be pissed.”
“We don’t have to if you’re worried,” I said earnestly. I started to pull my hand from his, but he held it tighter.
Darragh stepped closer to me and wordlessly took my waist. Even through the fabric, my skin tingled where his fingers were positioned on me. I raised my hand to his arm. The invisible pull thrummed. He leaned down and rumbled, “Rebellious little thing, aren’t you? I like it.”
Before I could think twice, we moved, twirling into the crowd of dancing seraphs.
I noticed nothing but his eyes sparkling in front of me and the defiant upturn of his mouth.
I was sure seraphs were staring. I was positive this was a bad idea, but I didn’t have it in me to care.
I would not allow everyone’s unwarranted disdain for him to dissuade me from hiding our… our…whatever this was.
He spun me slowly, a laugh escaping both of us. I couldn’t contain my smile. “Fancy moves, Captain.”
“I’ve been known to be light on my feet.” He winked at me.
As Darragh turned me outward again, I collided with a chest of blue and gold. Arms wrapped around me, pulling me in firmly. Possessively.
Gabriel.
If looks could kill, Darragh would have been sent to the underworld one hundred times over.
Fuck.
I pulled my widest smile. “Gabriel! I’m so glad you’re back. Can we go get another drink?”
Gabriel’s eyes flicked to me and back to Darragh. I didn’t dare look at him, and I hoped he had the good sense not to show any outward concern. An innocent dance between friends. The less care we both showed, the less likely it was for Gabriel to blow up. Hopefully.
“In a moment, darling,” he growled and moved to step around me, his glare never leaving Darragh.
Before he could move more than a foot, I pressed a hand to his chest and blurted out, “Gabriel, can we talk more about us? About what you wanted me to think about?”
His attention snapped to me, and he lifted his brows. “Yeah? I would love that, Aurora.” The fiery rage in his eyes softened.
“Maybe out of here? It is so warm, and I need a drink and some air.” I faked fanning my face.
He tightly smiled. “Of course.”
Gabriel walked us toward the ballroom door.
I chanced a glance behind me at Darragh.
Face stoic and talking to a guard, but when he looked back at me, he only smirked and walked back into the crowd, disappearing into the throngs of seraph debauchery as I disappeared out into a still and silent hallway.