Chapter Twelve
Grayson
I hate these damned things .
I’ve never liked balls. Not for a second, not even because they usually afford me a chance at a veritable buffet of women.
They’re too straight-laced for me, too formal.
There are tons of social rules and guidelines that I have to follow, and I’ve learned the hard way what happens when I don’t follow them .
My father happens is what .
A dance ends. I bow to the girl I was dancing with, and she curtsies. There’s a hopeful look in her eyes but I’m already glancing away as the music fades, scanning the crowd at the edges of the dance floor for the waitress .
She’s not there. I’ve been looking for her all night, but I haven’t seen her, and since this ball is being thrown in my honor, it’s been hard for me to escape the dance floor .
“Thank you,” I tell my dance partner, but before she can even open her mouth to respond, I’m gone, walking briskly from the dance floor and toward a hallway. I don’t care if it’s just to the bathroom, I need to get out of here for five minutes and catch my breath .
“Your Highness,” an older man says, stepping into my path. He’s got steel-gray hair and he’s holding both his hands out, palms up, like he’s showing off a jewelry case full of expensive watches .
“Lord Graviston,” I answer, slowing without stopping .
“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of introducing you to my daughter and my niece,” he begins, but I smile and hold up one hand .
“I’m so sorry, you’ve caught me in a moment of need,” I say. It would be more polite to simply stay and chat to the daughters — both kind of pretty, but plain — but I don’t think I can handle one more courteous statement right now .
He smiles beseechingly .
“Apologies, Your Highness,” he says. “Perhaps I can introduce you later .”
I nod, then keep walking away, toward the VIP restrooms. Of course we have them. It’s a palace, and my family and I aren’t about to wait in a line to pee .
I walk through a hall, open a door, and nod at a guard who opens the door into the VIP bathroom lounge for me .
And I stop dead in my tracks .
My sister and Declan are sitting on a couch together, and she’s laughing . Clearly, it’s at something he’s said, because she’s got one hand over her mouth, her cheeks bright pink and her eyes dancing .
Hell no. Hell fucking goddamn no , Declan can’t be in here alone making my little sister laugh. I know what Declan got up to last weekend — the phrase “could suck a golf ball through a garden hose” was used in a text — and there is no way he’s getting anywhere near Aurora .
“Grayson!” my sister exclaims, still laughing. “You never told me that Declan has an amazing impression of Lord Whiffleboff .”
The guard, who’s still holding the door, clears his throat politely. I step forward and he lets the door swing closed, leaving the three of us alone .
“I didn’t know Declan had an amazing impression of Lord Whiffleboff,” I say, keeping my voice as neutral and even as I possibly can .
“It’s really good,” she says, still laughing, but neither of us are really paying attention to her. I’m glaring daggers at Declan, and he’s glaring right back .
If you touch her I’ll murder you, I think, hoping he gets the message .
I don’t care what kingdom you’re heir to, if you so much as touch my little sister I’ll hunt you down and murder you .
“Come on, show Grayson,” Aurora says, lightly resting her fingertips on Declan’s shoulder .
I nearly explode. Yeah, I’m a fucking hypocrite, given that I behave just as badly as he does, but I don’t care .
If I find his filthy paws on my sister, I’ll kill him. I will .
“I don’t know if I can do it on command,” Declan says, finally breaking our glare-off and looking over at Aurora. “If it’s going to be any good it needs to be spontaneous .”
“Please?” Aurora asks, tilting her head just a little .
Declan shakes his head .
“Fine,” she says, rolling her eyes teasingly. “Well, if you get the urge to spontaneously make fun of any of my father’s other cranky old advisors, you’ll come find me, won’t you ?”
“Of course,” Declan responds .
Aurora smiles at him, then stands .
“Mother is probably searching for me right now,” she says. “You know how she is, ‘Never too early to start considering a match,’ like, jeez Mom, can I be old enough to legally drink first? Bye !”
With that, my little sister practically bounces from the room, a ray of sunshine just like her name .
I snap my head back toward Declan, who holds up both palms .
“I didn’t touch her,” he says. “She was in here when I came in, we chatted for a little while, that’s it. You know your whole family is practically my family too, Aurora’s like my little sister .”
I almost say sure, your little sister who just got back from boarding school all grown up , but I don’t. Declan may not respect very many rules, but I’m pretty sure he’ll respect this one .
“Anyone but my sister,” I say, leveling one finger at him. “Seriously, Declan. One hand on her and I’ll light you on fire .”
“As far as I’m concerned, Aurora’s still got cooties,” he says .
“Good.”
“See you out on the dance floor?” he asks, and I nod. Declan leaves, and now I’ve got the whole lounge to myself .
I’m not stupid. I’ve got eyes, and I’ve noticed that not only is my little sister gorgeous, she attracts her fair share of male attention .
But fucking Declan. He’s my best friend, but that means I know exactly what he’s been up to. He doesn’t date or fall in love. The most he does is fuck women twice before he gets tired of them .
And I want better for my little sister. Way fucking better .
I sigh, push my hand through my hair, and go into the men’s to take a piss .
Maybe the waitress will be there when I get back .