Chapter 25 #3
“An army of Immortals,” said Maeve playfully. “What could you possibly need that for?”
Moon tensed, but Reeve remained casual, a smile ticking up at the corners of his lips. One Maeve returned.
“Is that school neglecting to teach you history?” He asked with a laugh.
The golden-haired Immortal on his arm inclined her head and spoke sweetly.
“Would you like to dance before the night is over, High Lord?”
He had not introduced her. She was no High Lady or Queen.
She was just his date. The High Lord’s mate died a century again, according to her Father.
Apparently Reeve was quite the bachelor now.
Much to Maeve’s pleasure, he ignored his date and continued addressing Maeve herself.
She wasn’t sure why it satisfied her that the Immortal goddess on his arm was second to her at the moment.
“Go read about the War of Shadows. Three hundred years ago.”
“I have read about it,” said Maeve.
“Not well enough apparently,” said Reeve.
“Apparently,” said Maeve, taking a look up at her father.
“Get on,” he said playfully with a gentle shove and released her shoulders.
Maeve smiled and gave Moon a curt nod.
“Your Highness,” she said, bowing her head towards Reeve.
“You do not live in Aterna,” he said cooly. “You need not bow as though you were a subject.”
Maeve’s smile relaxed. She looked up at him solemnly with a soft expression. He was not at all like she assumed. “How about as a lady showing respect for a powerful Immortal? Or perhaps warrior to warrior, as you would call it.”
Reeve smirked and inhaled sharply. His date tensed on his arm. Ambrose’s eyebrows raised slightly.
“You have quite the contender on your hands, Ambrose.”
Maeve beamed, took the compliment and turned on her heel, leaving them with a dazzling smile.
“You don’t know the half of it,” she heard her father say.
The night was almost over, and the hour was late. Maeve, Mal, Abraxas, Hendrix, Iris and Juliet stood at the edge of The Ballroom, laughing about something Abraxas said. Roswyn and Emerie were dancing rather close, drunk off Dragon Whiskey.
The music ended, followed by soft applause.
“Ladies and gentleman,” said the conductor, “what a spectacular evening!”
The group made their way closer to listen to the evening’s closing moments.
“And now, the last waltz of the 1945 Summer Solstice Party,” said the conductor, turning back to the musicians.
“Looks like the night is over,” said Iris with a yawn.
“Maeve,” said Mal.
She looked over at him.
“Take my hand.”
“What?” Asked Maeve incredulously.
The music began to swell. Mal grabbed her hand and pulled her into the center of the ballroom quickly.
“What are you doing?” Asked Maeve excitedly.
Mal wrapped his hand around her back, and Maeve placed her hand on his shoulder.
“You know exactly what I’m doing,” said Mal, giving her a quick spin before pulling her closer.
She gasped as their chests collided.
He moved her gracefully across the room. Much to Maeve’s surprise, Mal wasn’t a bad dancer. In fact, he was quite skilled. Her dress whisked behind her, sparkling in the lights perfectly.
A few onlookers oohed and awed at them as they passed by.
“I didn’t know you could waltz,” said Maeve.
“I’m sure I didn’t either,” replied Mal.
“How does it feel to just naturally be good at everything?”
He smiled without answering.
His hand moved slowly until it rested on the small of her back. She tried to disguise the fact that this made her breath catch sharply. Maeve looked up at him.
“If we add a few flourishes, I think every eye will be on us,” whispered Maeve.
They widened their steps as they moved across the room faster. Mal spun her out and twirled her under his arm as they danced around the Ball Room.
The music began to swell as it was coming to its climax. He spun her out away from him, letting go of her completely. Maeve laughed with enough joy to ensure all eyes were on them.
He took three strides towards her, cupped the back of her neck with one hand and her waist with the other, dipped her backwards, and kissed her. His lips tasted smokey, like a cinnamon cigar, one of her father’s, which Maeve had not been expecting.
Her hands held his face.
There were exclamations and cheers at what appeared to be a romantic gesture, but Maeve knew it to be far from romance.
Mal was staking his claim on her in front of every Pureblood in the room. In front of the entire Committee of the Sacred and The Double O.
She played her part perfectly. He pulled away from her with his signature smile, and she followed his lead. Over his shoulder, Maeve caught a glimpse of her father just as he lit a cigar and exited the Ball Room. Maeve could have sworn there was a mischievous smile on his face.
Perhaps it was her mother’s objection and displeasure alone that gave her this fire, but she had been prepared from the start for Clarissa’s disapproval. The purpose of tonight was to bring Mal into this world. To prepare them all for his glory. These were the elite that he needed to win over.
And Maeve was the key to making that happen.
“So much for discreet,” she muttered through her smile.
Chapter 26
“. . . I saw her last night.”
“And?” Said a female voice
“She was a vision of power.” Said the first voice again. It was familiar.
“Does she know?” Asked the woman.
“She hasn’t the faintest idea.”
“That is good then?”
“No. . .” He said. “That is a storm waiting to be unleashed.”
The curtains in Maeve’s sapphire and gold bedroom inside Sinclair Estates were already drawn, spilling morning sunlight into her room. She stretched, rolling onto her back.
The dream had already faded. The unfamiliar voices were gone. Spinel jumped off the bed and staggered over to her enchanted window, which was showing a stunning apple orchard.
She suppressed a smile as she remembered the previous night’s events, reaching for the ring around her neck. Mal placed it there before she bid him goodnight.
His bold kiss had been unexpected. But Maeve relished it all the same.
Maeve slept on could nine. Mal was lucky to have gotten any sleep. It’s likely he had stayed long into the night in her father’s study. She was eager to hear his experience.
Downstairs, Maeve found a complete breakfast spread waiting for her on silver serving trays and carafes.
A copy of the Daily Divination sat on the table.
Maeve was in too good of a mood to read about Kietel and so she ignored the newspaper entirely.
She sat alone on the long mahogany dining table, happily spreading cream across her cinnamon bagel.
Her mother was undoubtedly furious about the whole ordeal, but Mal had charmed much of the guests prior to their waltz. Their adoration of him would make it difficult for Clarissa to scold her.
Arianna appeared in the dining room and stopped short, standing awkwardly.
“What are you doing?” Maeve asked her in a bored tone.
Arianna rolled her eyes and made her way to the table, sitting across from Maeve.
They ate in silence until Arianna finally spoke.
“You mortified Mother last night,” said Ariana.
Maeve smirked. “What did she say?”
Arianna’s mouth fell open. “You’re proud? You’re actually proud of embarrassing our family like that?”
Maeve laughed. “Embarrassing? I think we awed the entire crowd.”
Arianna’s lips formed a thin, tight line. “I would have never done something like that.”
“And look where it’s gotten you,” said Maeve. “Speaking of, how is Titus?”
Arianna’s cheeks flushed. “You’re delusional.”
Maeve sipped her tea for a moment. “I’m sure Mal is still sleeping after being up so late with Father and the rest.”
Arianna’s eyes went wide. “Don’t tell me he got invited back to Father’s study.” She laughed haughtily.
Maeve smiled. “Why wouldn’t he have?”
Arianna shook her head as she sliced her biscuit open and spread butter angrily.
“Haven’t got a reply?” Asked Maeve. “Well, there’s a first.”
Arianna glowered at her, slamming her biscuit back together.
An unrecognized bright white owl swooped through one of the large open windows and landed on the arm of the chair next to Maeve.
She recognized the bright red Vaukore seal immediately and grabbed the letter. It felt heavy, but Maeve tried not to let herself get excited. There was also the chance that Tilly Cardinal, Dracomen Paragon, would snag Head Girl at Vaukore over her.
The bright white owl helped itself to a strip of bacon and flew out of the room.
Maeve didn’t hesitate to peel the wax seal and lift the envelope flap open. A sapphire and bronze pin fell into her lap. She sighed and smiled from ear to ear as she picked it up. Engraved across the bronze wings were the words:
HEAD GIRL
Maeve tossed her napkin on the table and left the dining hall without another word to Arianna. She skipped up the stairs to the third floor, her new badge held proudly in her hand.
She rounded the corner as Mal’s door flew open. He stood with his own letter in hand. His hair wasn’t combed, and his eyes were bloodshot. He was still in his pants and button down from the previous night. He had barely slept it seemed.
“Did you get it?” Asked Maeve breathlessly. “Of course you did. What am I saying?”
“I got it,” said Mal with a smirk. “And you?”
Maeve nodded happily, presenting her badge.
“Well done, Maeve. Well deserved.”
“Thank you.” Maeve rocked on her feet.
Mal leaned against the doorway with a sigh.
“You should get back to sleep,” said Maeve.
“I can’t,” said Mal. “I’ve been invited to fence this morning at Doggbind’s. I promised your father I would accompany him.”
“The Head of Magical Law?” Asked Maeve.
“The very one,” answered Mal.
Maeve smiled. “Best of luck, Mr. Peur.”
“Come and watch.”
Maeve shook her head. “That sounds terribly boring,”
Mal reached out and ran his fingers across his ring that draped across her chest. His fingers hooked around the chain and tugged her close to where he leaned in the doorway.
His mouth hung open. “I didn’t ask,” he said with a raised brow.