Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
“Fear is paralyzing. It is a disease that must be cured, located and rooted out. For all who stand still in fear fall short of the glory of the Geist.”
Sophie and Graham knew how to throw a party. If nothing else, the couple could be praised for their ability to curate an incredible experience.
When Dante, Milo, and I descended to the Deck just one tunnel away from the eighth, we could already see the lights.
Flashing strobe lights in various neon colors lit up the entirety of the space outside of the tunnel.
Fellowship officers were nowhere to be seen.
They tended to find other places to be during the lower rings’ parties ever since they attempted to break one up a few years ago and incited a riot.
Starvation we could abide by, and class separation was just a part of everyday life, but apparently we drew the line at the confiscation of our terrible alcohol and our right to party.
Harrison’s band was already playing their set.
Dancing, drinking, and debauchery were in full swing as young men and women from every ring were calling to one another, smiling and twirling to the music.
Liam Finnegan was already shoving a cup full of his liquor into my hands before I even approached the tunnel.
“Free drinks for the birthday girl tonight,” he shouted over the music while smacking Dante on the shoulder with a wink. “Partners gotta pay, though."
Dante glanced down at the point of contact with a frown, but Liam was already twisting around. Smirking, he vanished into the writhing crowd on the dance floor.
“Fascinating,” Milo whispered under his breath, like a scientist busy studying a brand new creature in the field. “How often do these parties occur?”
“Often.” I turned to Dante and handed him the full cup of liquor.
He raised a brow, but I only smiled. With a sigh, he accepted the cup and downed it in a single gulp. He hissed afterward, making a face, and wiped the excess liquid from his lips with the back of his hand.
“Disgusting,” he groaned.
“Admit it,” I said with a grin, “you’re feeling better already.”
He frowned. “Maybe.”
I laughed.
“Adrian!” Someone shouted, and I turned to find Sophie emerging from the crowd.
She was dressed in one of her own creations, per usual.
A mini dress composed entirely of sequins that showed off more skin than I thought Graham was entirely comfortable with.
But he didn’t say a word. He never would if he knew it was something that made Sophie happy.
Graham emerged beside her, grinning widely as he nodded to me in greeting.
“You made it!” Sophie squealed. “I guess this one can be trusted to deliver a message after all.”
She nodded toward Milo.
“Not that you trusted me enough not so send backup,” he quipped with a smile.
“I had to make absolutely sure,” she told him, somewhat apologetically. “Imagine putting all this work into a party and the guest of honor doesn’t even show. That would be a tragedy.”
I smiled at her, but she wasn’t looking my way.
She was staring at Graham, who gazed back at her, the two of them engaging in that wordless communication that couples who’d been together for some time seemed capable of.
One borne of trust and mutual understanding rather than the literal bond between Dante and I. I’d never understood how they did it.
“Ah, right,” Graham said suddenly, as if remembering something, and stepped forward. “Maybe you two would like a drink? I can take you to the Finnegans' bar. Their liquor isn’t good, but they’re interesting guys to know.”
Milo shrugged and moved forward to follow Graham, likely eager to explore more of the subculture he’d found himself thrust into. But Dante turned to me, frowning.
Go, I told him. I’m fine here.
Call if you need me.
I nodded, and he trailed after Milo and Graham, who were already walking toward the Finnegans’ table which Liam had since returned to. I could see Milo asking several questions I couldn’t hear over the music but was sure had everything to do with life on the Third Ring.
“Not subtle, Sophie,” I told her once the men were gone. “If you wanted to speak to me alone, all you had to do was ask.”
She shrugged and waved dismissively. “Graham doesn’t mind.”
“I’m sorry,” we both blurted after a second’s hesitation.
“No, I’m sorry.” Sofie insisted. “It was stupid. I shouldn’t have mentioned the advancement. You weren’t in the right headspace, and I—”
“No, I was being emotional and unreasonable. You were just trying to be encouraging.”
She smiled and reached out to squeeze my hand. And just like that, all was forgiven. The way it always was between us, the way it should be.
“I know you can’t talk about it,” she began. “Like you literally, physically can’t talk about it. But I’m not asking about what happened in the last Trial, not really. I just…the vibe between you two is different now.”
“The vibe?” I raised a brow.
“I like to think I’m relatively decent at catching onto these things, you know?
Before, you could barely even look at him.
You were overwhelmed and grieving and distant, and I totally understand that.
But you used to spend your time around him thinking of the best way to get under his skin.
Now you seem…actually into it. He’s the same moody asshole he was before, but you…
I don’t know. You seem more receptive to the gloom. ”
I bit my lip. Was it really that obvious?
My reaction had Sophie grinning from ear to ear in an instant.
Her eyes gleamed as she turned back and glanced in Dante’s direction.
I tried not to look, I really did, but I couldn’t help but follow her gaze to find him standing with Milo and Graham at the Finnegans’ table.
All the others were deep in conversation, smiling and laughing as they drank, but his eyes were still on me. They darkened when our gazes met.
“Holy hell, Adrian,” Sophie cursed under her breath from beside me. “That man is undressing you with his eyes.”
I chuckled and looked away from him, turning my attention back to Sophie. I still felt his eyes burning into me but did my best to ignore it.
“I might have been too hard on him at first. I’ve learned Dante has it worse than I thought.
It isn’t easy for him, not like I thought it was.
He’s been hard on me too. He has high expectations and I think he worries I don’t take this as seriously as I should.
But we’re partners. We’ve passed four Trials together.
It’s…necessary to open myself up to him more as we go along.
It’s—there’s a bond there. I can’t explain it. ”
“I get it,” Sophie said. “I mean, I don’t.
Not really. But there isn’t a rule that says you have to hate the First Ringers.
And I understand you getting closer to him through this.
No one else understands what you’re going through.
I mean, no one. But none of that explains why he’s looking at you like that. ”
She pointed and I didn’t have to look to know he was still watching me. I took a breath.
“There have been…moments,” I admitted.
“Moments?” She asked, raising a brow.
“There might have been a kiss.”
She squealed and punched me hard in the shoulder. I groaned and rubbed the spot even though it hadn’t hurt at all.
“And?” She pressed.
“That’s it,” I told her. I chose to keep the stolen glances, months of pent up frustration, and the moment in that darkened hallway at Cosmo’s party to myself.
“It doesn’t have to be. If you decide to sneak away from my party a little early, I won’t be too offended. Just this once.”
“Sophie!” I laughed.
“You’re my best friend, Adrian. I just want to know you’re happy, safe, and taken care of. If that sullen beast can provide those things for you, then I’ll try to forget who he really is. For you.”
I shook my head but couldn’t help my smile as I pulled her into an embrace.
“I love you, Sophie,” I spoke against her sleek, shining hair.
“Love you too, Adrian.”
“You better. Now let’s go dance so Harrison doesn’t see us standing here all night and decide to interrogate us about why we thought the music wasn’t ‘dance-worthy’.”
Sophie snorted but took my hand and led me out onto the dance floor where, for the next hour, I lost myself in the music and didn’t think about the Trials, or Dante, or my family, or anything but the rhythm coming from the makeshift stage and the party raging around us.
Graham and the Finnegans joined us soon enough, raising their drinks in the air and cheering on the band between songs.
Milo preferred to remain on the perimeter, watching and approaching partygoers on the fringes to question them in an academic sort of way that I was certain killed their buzz entirely.
He didn’t seem to notice. He caught my eye a time or two and smiled.
I’d lost track of Dante entirely. That is, until Sophie started grinding up on Graham and Liam reached a hand out to me in an offer to pair up.
A growl emanated from my back that had Liam snatching his hand away as if he’d been burned.
Raising his hands in surrender, Liam backed away and was soon dragged off by a girl in a shining purple dress with bouncing blonde curls.
I turned to find Dante standing firm behind me.
His green eyes flashed as they met mine.
Territorial much? I asked through our bond, raising a brow.
Guess so, he drawled in response. Because there’s no way I was going to let you dance like that…a pointed nod in Sophie and Graham’s direction…with him.
Is there someone I should dance like that with?