Chapter 7 The Winter Ball #3
Xander had been watching her since she had stepped down from her carriage.
Her gown, such a dark green that the emerald tones were only visible under the light of the chandeliers, stood out among the other women dressed in deep purples and blues.
Her dark blonde hair had been delicately wrapped into an updo with a few strands framing her pale face, her ears adorned with jewellery and her lips a luscious red.
The small straps of the dress that hung across her shoulders met into a neckline that plunged slightly in the middle and led down to a fitted lace bodice that showed her figure in all its glory.
The silk skirts that hung from her waist and gathered to the floor shimmered in the light with every step she took, every turn she made.
He thought she looked stunning, and he knew that even without jewellery and silk and lace, she was just as breathtaking.
It had taken every ounce of self-control not to run to her, for reasons he couldn’t even begin to comprehend, and he couldn’t help the tremor in his fingers as he watched another man whisk her onto the dancefloor.
He’d noticed Deion and Edward staring at him, their thoughts screaming at him not to make a scene, but when that man, the one who hadn’t even asked her permission to dance, touched her in such a way that brought tears to her eyes, he nearly lost it.
Without thinking, he stormed across the floor, ignoring the young ladies who had been harping on at him about their dresses, and grabbed the man’s hand.
He’d have ripped it off if there were less of an audience, snapped his fingers one by one before crushing his arm completely.
But he couldn’t, not with so many witnesses, not when he and his brothers were trying to make a true home for themselves.
Twisting the man’s hand, he pulled him away from Adriana. Xander didn’t say anything, didn’t even speak into his mind, he knew he didn’t have to. The coward was terrified of him, and as soon as Xander let go, he scurried away with a groan, cradling his arm to his chest.
Xander watched him leave, desperate to go after him, to tear him apart piece by piece. But as Adriana stepped into his view, every single thought seemed to drain from his mind. All that mattered was her.
He could sense she was thankful that someone had come to her aid, but just from the look on her face she was clearly frustrated.
Whether it be that she’d wanted to handle it herself or because she was annoyed it was Xander.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out as the two of them stood staring at one another, the dancers around them beginning to slow as they watched the strange display.
Before he could think any better of it, he held his hand out to her in invitation. “May I?” he asked.
He knew it could reflect badly on her, dancing with the man who had chased away her previous partner, but he also knew it would look worse if he were to leave her on the dancefloor alone.
And, he realised, he didn’t want to leave.
He didn't want to be anywhere but right there in front of her, asking if she would spend just a few minutes with him.
He wasn’t sure if it was her heartbeat or his own that increased as he noted a drumming sounding in his ears, but finally, she accepted. She placed her small, lace covered hand into his. A perfect fit.
Noticing a group of lords around her father watching them suspiciously, he tore the dance card off her wrist, his own way of telling everyone else in the room that she would not be dancing with anyone else tonight.
He discarded it on the floor—noticing Edward quickly caught it beneath his boot—and directed them back into the waltz, fitting in perfectly with the other couples, never missing a beat.
Her eyes wandered over his appearance, and he couldn’t help but smirk at her obvious approval from the hitch in her breath.
He didn’t need to use his Manipuli power to know what she was thinking.
As much as he wanted to delve into whatever thoughts she had, he was certain she’d likely punch him as soon as she felt him in her mind.
“You seem surprised by my actions,” he spoke quietly.
“I am,” she said, her tone just as low and soothing as the voice he often found himself daydreaming about. “Though I am not sure which is more surprising, the fact that you saved me from that man or the fact you actually asked to take my hand.”
“Well, you did threaten to rip me apart if I touched you again without permission, sweetheart.”
Her grip on his shoulder tightened in warning, but the way she bit her lip to hold back a smile brought forth an unfamiliar feeling of warmth in his chest. He let go of her waist to spin her under his arm as they absentmindedly kept up with the dance, before pulling her back towards him.
Their bodies met, closer than before. Unsure who’s doing it was as their fronts pressed flat against one another, her chest pushed firmly against his lower sternum, he decided he didn’t care.
She wasn’t pulling away, and neither was he.
The signature smell of lilies and lavender, a beautiful mixture he now always associated with her, filled his senses.
He had tried to ignore it, the pull he had felt towards her ever since they’d met again in that alley in town, but in that moment, he decided to give in.
He knew she hated him, and it only made him want her more.
Lowering his head towards her, a few strands of his combed hair falling in front of his eyes, he rested his forehead against hers for a moment.
“Have I told you, you are absolutely bewitching?”
Adriana pulled back from him slightly, her brow creased in confusion as she shook her head.
He wasn’t sure why he’d said them out loud, but he felt as though the words needed to be spoken rather than pushed into her mind.
He wanted her to know how beautiful she was, wanted everyone around them to know just how beautiful he found her to be.
Each time he had visited during her lessons with Striga, he had sensed the overwhelming despair from her before he’d even arrived.
The shame of not being in control of her powers, the guilt of feeling responsible for so much.
Most of all, he’d felt the hatred she held towards her skills, her choices, her body.
It was unbearable. The only thing that seemed stronger than her own discontent with herself, was her irritation for Xander.
He had been happy to fulfil her needs, to become someone to hate just to make sure that spark inside of her never died, but he didn’t want to fight with her right now. He didn’t want to argue or pretend to despise her, he wanted to give her something real. Something truthful.
“Then please accept my apology for being a fool and not telling you sooner, that you put shame to the brightest of stars.”
Adriana gasped quietly, her usual pale cheeks instantly blushing a deep red that almost matched her painted lips. Xander was not a poet, nor a particularly romantic person, but he knew calling her beautiful wasn’t enough, and so he had simply spoken his truth.
As his fingers began to twitch with nerves and his breaths became ragged, he realised she controlled his very existence.
If she told him to stop breathing, he’d stop.
If she asked him to walk through fire, he’d already be feeling the heat.
If she wanted him to abandon everything he knew, he’d pack his bags without a second thought.
There was no request too great, no sacrifice too profound.
It was all hers to command, and the thought terrified him.
The idea of not being in control of his own life was unsettling to say the least. Every single muscle tensed beneath his suit, and he knew she could feel exactly how much he wanted her as they continued to press closer together as they danced.
But as he felt the heat from her body rise an unnatural amount, he realised he was not the only one feeling out of control.
He sensed her emotions first, the desire emanating from her running wild.
The candles that lined the walls began to burn brighter as the warmth from her body grew and grew.
The winter wind outside the manor became so strong that it wailed through the air, loud enough for the staff by the door to hear. She was losing control, and fast.
The song came to an end, and while the other couples bowed and curtsied at one another, Xander pulled her through the closest door and out into the empty gardens towards the lake.
“You need to stop,” he said firmly, as he brought her onto the decking.
He waved off the staff that had followed and seeped his magic into their minds to convince them to return to the ball, away from the storm that had begun to brew.
Once the gardens had cleared, he let go of her hand and backed away, taking a few steps to distance himself from her.
“You need to sort this out, Adriana. People will see!”
Adriana fanned her face with her hand, clearly desperate to relieve some of the heat she still felt, the heat that Xander could still feel inside himself.
Her face scrunched as she tried to concentrate, tried to take back control of her powers from her emotions, but Xander realised that she couldn’t.
Her head was so lost, just as his was, and she had no hope.
“For goodness sake, this is ridiculous!” he scolded, hoping his usual tactics of irritating her would work. “Were you really affected so much from just dancing with me?”
“Oh, should I point out that you were also so very obviously affected?” she threw back, gesturing down to the still present bulge in the front of his trousers.