Chapter Ten Yule #3
These two were obviously comfortable around each other.
The way she spoke about him—spoke to him.
Adan doubted that Lennox allowed anyone to speak to him that way.
"It is lovely to meet you, Miss—." Adan paused, realizing she never got Asha's last name.
She wanted to excuse herself from being stuck between the two lovebirds.
Jealously was reeling its ugly head for some unknown reason, and she couldn't for the life of her, understand why.
Yes, Lennox was attractive, a blind person could see that.
But it would be a catastrophe if she— nope, she was not going to go there.
She decided it had to be that she was jealous of their closeness, the ease at which they fluttered around each other.
She had never had that type of familiarity with anyone.
It was true that Adan had trysts in her past, but nothing as serious as them.
"Just Asha." She pointed to her tattoo, "Slaves don't normally get surnames."
Adan's jealously was leached from her very blood and bones.
Her eyes darted from Asha to Lennox, who was only looking down at his girlfriend?
Partner? Mate? Providing her with silent strength.
Adan suddenly felt that jealousy return in full force.
She didn't have that kind of protection.
The kind you can only get from a loved one.
Both her parents were long gone, and her siblings.
She pushed those memories down and gave Lennox a small fake smile.
"Thank you for inviting me to your home." Because that was what this was, and he had managed to keep the wolves from the door, if only for a day.
His eyes softened as he took her in. Could he really be so bad if he had invited another slave to his fancy dinner party? Did he own Asha, or were they simply together? Was that sort of thing allowed? A thousand thoughts rushed into her head, and she double-checked her mental wards.
"Wait until you try the baked ham, it is to die for." Asha grinned from ear to ear as she wrapped her arms around Adan's shoulders, steering her towards the couch in front of the hearth.
Lennox watched them go, his heart pounding in his chest. The dress was stunning on her—everything was stunning on her—
"You're so fucked." Laughed Thammas from his side.
"Shut up." He sighed.
--
It wasn't until after dinner that Adan found herself wondering Lennox's apartment alone.
Most of his guests were opening presents, and she had excused herself to freshen up.
But found herself lost and wondering, and eventually wound up in what looked like a small library.
The books would normally sway her interest, but it was the grand piano that enticed her.
She flipped the lid slowly, and her fingers brushed the ivory keys.
She was never a good pianist. Her parents had tried to teach her, but it was her brother who was the gifted one. She, however, would sing along at all hours of the day. Her mother would brag that her daughter had the best voice in Lymia. It had been a long, long time since Adan had the urge to sing.
She sat down before the keys, puffing out her skirts.
She tried to find a starting note, pressing a few keys and humming to herself.
Her voice cracked and she paused. She dropped her hand into her lap and began to sing softly without the help of the piano.
Her memory filled in the holes. The image of her brother hitting the right keys while she stood by his side.
While their parents watched. Their older brother reading a book by the fireplace.
A family—her family--her lost family. The song itself had nothing to do with Yule, it was just one of Adan's favourites.
One of the few that she could even remember.
She was so engrossed in her memories that she didn't notice the lurking shadow.
Lennox said nothing from the door as he watched her sing her requiem.
Her voice was unlike anything he had ever heard, and the tone and words of it broke his heart.
He knew where the lament originated, and he slowly backed away, and headed back towards the party.
Thammas was right, he was beyond fucked.
Adan let her tears fall on the last note, and then she would silence them forever.
She closed the lid, and rose from the piano, heading back towards the lovely gathering.
Wiping her face of tears before she re-entered the room unnoticed, and unseen.
Wrapping paper littered the lush carpet.
Everyone was joyfully and enjoying each other's company by the fire.
Passing around their newly opened gifts for everyone to see.
She was about to slip out the back when that dark voice stopped her in her tracks. "You didn't open your gift."
Adan turned and wrung her hands behind her back, "You shouldn't have. I didn't get you anything, and beside the dress is more than enough." Was she stumbling? She felt like she had just been caught in a devious act. Like a child stealing a cookie before dinner.
"I didn't. It's from Asha." He held up the small box, wrapped in gold with a red bow.
"What is it?" She asked, slowly taking the box from him, but careful not to touch him.
"Open it." He shrugged, but watched her every movement. From the tilt of her eyebrow, to the way she sucked in her lip and bit down.
She tore into the wrapping paper, and carefully lifted the lid.
Inside she found a circular pendant with two different colours blended, one onyx black and the other fire red.
The two colours shared the same amount of space.
It reminded her of his black hair and Asha's fire red.
She realized then that it was the same image of the painting in Lennox's office that hung over his desk at the Hot House and Sanctum.
She wasn't sure what message Asha was sending her.
Perhaps she was marking her territory, like a dog pissing on the ground.
Still, it was Yule, so Adan held back her viciousness.
"It's beautiful." She breathed, holding it up to the light.
"What is it?" She asked, looking up at him in question.
"Some old antique she no doubt found at her house."
He scratched the back of his neck, "She's quirky like that."
Adan knew he was lying, the pendant matched the art in two of his offices, but she didn't push.
Lennox watched her closely, watch her posture change ever so slightly. "Would you like me to take you home?"
She looked back up at him, her brown and blue eyes lined with silver.
"Wouldn't that ruin your evening?" She asked, peering over his wide shoulders at his friends.
At the red-headed goddess, who was laughing freely with Thammas.
When was the last time Adan laughed like that?
She instantly felt regret, she had not spoken to anyone else at the party.
Asha and Thammas had both spoken to her first, and she had done little to keep the conversation going.
"It'll give them a chance to break into the good bottles of wine while I'm gone." He nodded towards the patio, placing his hand on her lower back to guide her out into the cold.
"I didn't say thank you to your—." Adan turned, and Lennox stopped her by placing his hands on her arms, steering her back around.
"Nope, if you go back in there, she will have you staying for at least another hour. It's now or never."
His hands moved down her arms to her back, and he scooped her up and shoot into the sky.
She couldn't help herself as she closed her eyes, all the while inhaling Lennox's scent.
Her head dropping to rest on his shoulder--if only from exhaustion.
Only underneath the bed of stars on Yule would she relent, if only for tonight. Only for the stars to see.