Chapter 16 #2
It takes me longer than I like to admit to shake myself free from her, but eventually I force my focus back to where it needs to be and spot the small sequined purse hanging from Mari’s wrist.
There. That’s what I came for.
I move carefully through the crowd, keeping my head down whenever possible. The ballroom is too bright, too open, too full of people trying to figure out who No One really is, and every second I spend here is dangerous. Especially when I can’t speak.
Because every Omega who sees me wants answers.
Some try to flirt. Others try to coax me into conversation, laughing softly and leaning close like they can tempt words out of me if they try hard enough.
One Omega even attempts to pull me onto the dance floor, and I have to bow apologetically before continuing to stride toward Mari.
The moment Mari turns and notices me, her entire face lights up. “No One,” she says breathlessly. “You’re here!”
I glance at Luca, eyeing me and Mari in confusion. When he realizes Mari’s attention isn’t returning to him, he clears his throat and walks away, head dipped in deference.
An Alpha shrinking away in my presence? I never thought I’d see the day.
“You vanished after the Ackerman ball,” Mari says, stepping closer. “I kept hoping I’d see you again.”
I give a small shrug, trying to play the part.
Her eyes narrow slightly. “Are you…okay?”
I nod once, my thoughts racing fast enough to make me dizzy. I need her to open the purse. Or set it down. Or give me any kind of opportunity to get the box back without exposing myself in the middle of the ballroom.
And I have to do it without speaking.
Brilliant plan, Reece. Especially since I didn’t have one outside of my goal—get the box. All without tipping Mari off.
Thinking quickly, I point toward her wrist, then mime tapping against my own palm like I’m texting on a tablet.
Mari blinks at me. “My mini?”
Again, I nod.
“Oh.” She pulls the purse off her wrist. “Did you want to request a dance or put your phone number in it or something?”
Another nod.
A smile tugs at her mouth as she unzips the bag. As Mari starts digging through the purse for her mini, I angle myself slightly closer, trying to look casual while internally panicking. My gaze catches on the familiar edge of the small silver box tucked beside her compact, and my pulse kicks hard.
She pulls out the mini and looks back up at me. “Okay. Here.”
I stare at the screen she’s holding out like it personally offended me. Because I can’t exactly type my number into it when I don’t have one, or my name when I’d trying to keep it hidden.
Mari watches me for a long second before suspicion starts creeping back into her expression.
“You do have a mini, don’t you?” she asks. When I don’t answer, her brow wrinkles. “Why are you acting weird?”
Because I’m trying to steal back my invention from your purse while pretending to be a fake Alpha in a mask.
I gesture vaguely toward the ballroom instead.
“The music’s too loud?” she guesses.
I nod.
That seems to satisfy her for approximately two seconds before she glances down and notices my hand still hovering a little too close to her opened purse.
Slowly, her gaze lifts back to mine. “What are you doing?”
I freeze.
She shifts the bag away. “You’re acting so strange tonight. This feels…odd.”
Panic flickers low in my stomach.
Before I can think of my next move, I catch a glimpse of Heath heading across the ballroom in our direction, probably ready to drag Mari into a dance with another potential mate.
I react on instinct. Grabbing her wrist, I pull her through the crowd and toward the side doors before either of us can be stopped.
She stumbles after me, shocked laughter escaping her as I guide her through one of the side terraces overlooking the gardens. The second the doors shut behind us, the noise of the ballroom dulls into distant music and muffled voices.
“How mysterious and spontaneous,” Mari says breathlessly. “Very on brand for you.”
I let go of her wrist immediately and step back. Silver light spills across the terrace, illuminating the pale parts of her dress, and her scent hits me all over again beneath the weakened blocker spray: warm flowers and sunlight and Mari.
Too much Mari.
She watches me carefully for a long moment before slowly reaching up toward my face.
I catch her wrist before she can touch the mask. Her pulse jumps beneath my fingers.
“Why won’t you talk to me?” she asks.
Because the second I do, this ends.
Because you’ll know.
Because I’m so weak that I still think we can be together if I try hard enough.
Weak or insane, it doesn’t matter.
Mari closes the space between us until she’s close enough for me to see every gold fleck in her eyes. “I kept thinking about you,” she admits as she tilts her face up toward mine. Her eyelids flutter. “After the Ackerman ball. After the dance. After the kiss. You’ve filled my mind.”
My throat goes dry. She’s hoping I kiss her, and like the pathetic, love-struck man I am, I dip my mouth towards hers. Because I want to taste her again more than I want my next breath.
Time slows around us. Her lips are right there, partly open, begging for a touch. Her scent, the heat rolling off her skin.
I groan, one hand sliding down to the small of her back. “Mari… I…”
Eyes snapping open, she jerks free, and I realize what I’ve done too late. Mari stares at me, and for the first time tonight doesn’t see the mask or the Alpha in White.
She sees me.
“Reece?”