Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“Your secret is safe with me,” he vowed, still grinning like a fool. A moment later, though, it slipped away from his lips. His brows furrowed and I knew what he was going to ask before he did. It still hurt though. “Why, then, hasn’t Olympia received a rejection on her offer?”
I tensed and took a breath, trying to stay calm.
“Marriage?” I asked, my voice cracking as I fought to maintain my composure. My gaze shot around the room, making sure no one had overheard my moment of weakness. “I—don’t know. I’m not ready. And Cosmo—I—“
It was a delicate thing. Fragile. I was trying so hard to keep it from becoming real, I hadn’t noticed it already had. Tears stung my eyes, the pain I’d been holding at bay ever since I’d heard Olympia’s offer rising to the surface.
Don’t cry. Not here.
Adrian? Dante’s question shattered my resolve. I could feel his eyes on me from across the room, concern evident in his tone. He wasn’t supposed to hear that. Geist, my thoughts didn’t even belong to me anymore. I slammed my glass onto the table at our backs.
“Adrian,” Milo's voice turned softer. When I focused on him again, though, I found pity in his eyes. “It’s okay to want.”
My jaw tensed, and I pushed past him and back into the crowd. I wouldn’t discuss this. Not here and not with him. I needed to get away before something broke. It was too fragile, too new, too scary.
“There she is, the belle of the ball,” an irreverent tone called out as I passed by the sitting room off the foyer. I whirled to see a group of Third Ringers wearing their finest, albeit incredibly rumpled and tattered, suits.
Harrison raised a glass at me now, Felix and Noah following his lead. Graham shook his head and took a sip, and Sophie, on his arm, smiled cautiously at me.
Surreptitiously, I quickly wiped the tears away and stepped toward them, a genuine smile alighting my face for the first time in weeks.
"They’ll let just anyone in here, won’t they?” I mused, taking the cup Felix offered me.
“Anyone whose name is on your lease,” Harrison winked. “And apparently a plus four.”
I snorted.
“Congratulations, Adrian,” Graham said with a broad smile.
“Thank you, Graham,” I replied slowly, casting my gaze to the woman at his side.
Just as slowly, she smiled back at me. “I told you my money was on you.”
I pulled her into my arms, and she embraced me back. Despite everything, despite all the pressure upon Dante and I, despite my own feelings threatening to destroy me, it was good to see them all again.
“Well I’ll be damned,” Harrison said. “Looks like we’re to be honored with the set, boys.”
He drank deeply from his glass.
I frowned and glanced over my shoulder.
“Harrison,” Dante greeted with a deep drawl. “Felix, Noah, Graham, Sophie. It’s good to see you all.”
“You too, man. Thanks for keeping our girl safe,” Harrison replied with a grin.
Dante smirked at me as I bristled, arms crossed and glaring at Harrison.
“You just assume he’s been pulling my weight?” I snapped.
“Obviously.” Felix proceeded to spit out some of his champagne when I punched his arm.
“There’s a party at the eighth tonight,” Sophie said. “Seems like all of Sanctuary wants to celebrate you two.”
“We’d be legends if you came with us,” Graham added with a matching grin.
“What do you say, Dante?” Harrison asked, raising a brow at my partner.
Dante, to his credit, looked to me, letting me decide. I shrank back into myself despite my best efforts. He noticed, brow creasing with concern as my jaw tensed with the effort of keeping my gaze away from him.
“Sorry guys,” I replied. “We’ve got to be up early to get to the tunnel. Maybe next time.”
“Assuming the Geist don’t smite you for thwarting their system, you mean,” Noah grumbled, and Harrison and Felix grinned in response. I just shook my head and rolled my eyes.
She’s here, Dante’s voice entered my mind, and I glanced up at him briefly before turning to see the woman who’d just entered the estate and was exchanging tense pleasantries with Cosmo and Myrine. I handed Dante my glass and excused myself, then walked over to meet her in the foyer.
“Mother,” I said, more relieved than I cared to admit that she’d actually come.
She turned away from Cosmo and Myrine, who immediately took to welcoming the next guest. I grasped her hand and pulled her through the crowd toward the hallway on the other side.
“Come this way, where we can speak privately.”
She followed without question and waited until we were settled in an untouched alcove frequented only by the servants before she spoke.
“I’m proud of you.” She practically beamed with sincerity. “Words don’t do this feeling justice. And I’m beyond grateful for how much you’ve been able to provide for us, but—”
“Mother, please.” I hung my head with a sigh.
“Let me finish, Adrian. He’s your brother. He said things he shouldn’t have, words I’m certain he regrets, words spoken out of anger. But he’s still your brother. And it’s just tearing him apart to know how furious you are with him.”
“He’s made no effort to apologize.”
“Nor have you,” she snapped, and the truth of that statement stung.
“Now, I won’t pretend to understand all of your reasons.
I know there’s more at play here than some foolish comments between brother and sister.
But you need to remedy this, Adrian. I won’t be forced to choose between my children.
I won’t take sides in this petty disagreement.
You’ll heal this family, you’ll close this rift, or I’ll be forced to take matters into my own hands. ”
I hadn’t the slightest clue what that meant, but the way she’d spoken, with her head held high and her eyes narrowed that way only a mother who loved her children very deeply could do, I couldn’t help but soften at her words.
“I’ll talk to Warren,” I promised.
Her eyes lit up. “Really? Oh, thank you, Adrian!”
She pulled me in for a hug, and I went to her willingly.
“Now,” I said as we separated, “maybe we can enjoy the party?”
She nodded, and we walked back toward the festivities of the great hall, arm in arm.
“I really am proud of you, Adrian. I always have been, and I always will be,” she vowed as we passed through the threshold into the crowd beyond. “No matter what.”