Chapter 42 The Dress, Rafe
THE DRESS, RAFE
The dress is wrong. Everything about it is wrong.
I watch Eve cross the ballroom as if she's declaring war.
The fabric, what little there is of it, clings to her curves in liquid midnight, and the neckline plunges past decency, past professional, past anything remotely appropriate for her position.
Half her breasts are exposed, the soft curves catching the bioluminescent lighting as she moves, and those breasts belong to me.
My hand tightens around my glass until I'm surprised it doesn't shatter.
"Breathe," Lorian says beside me.
"Did you know about this?"
"Not exactly. She asked me for some credits an hour ago for supplies. It looks like that dress and makeup were the… supplies.”
She moves through the crowd with a confidence I've never seen from her before. Trainers turn to watch her pass, their pets momentarily forgotten.
My jaw clenches. "She's making a spectacle of herself."
"No, she's making a statement," Lorian corrects. "And she’s done it all for Jin Kol. We should be congratulating ourselves, Rafe. We’ve taught her well.”
"Tribune Jin Kol," I hear her say, her voice carrying despite the crowd. "I've been thinking about our earlier conversation."
And just like that, she has him. Within minutes, Jin Kol is actively engaged in conversation, even laughing at something she says.
"Remarkable," Lorian observes. "She's doing more for our diplomatic relations in one evening than we've managed in months."
I know he's right. I can see it working, see how the other VIPs are gravitating toward her, drawn by Jin Kol's unprecedented warmth. She's playing the game brilliantly.
But I still want to throw my jacket over her and carry her out of here. She’s mine, and I don’t want to share her.
When she laughs at something Aefre says, her head tilted back to expose the column of her throat, something in me snaps.
"I'm done," I tell Lorian.
"The party isn't over."
"It is for her."
Lorian puts his hand on my arm. “No. Let her talk to Jin Kol.”
“Fine.” I shrug off his hand and cross the room in long strides and put my hand on Eve’s naked back.
Her skin feels like silk. "Trainer Aefre," I say. "You mustn’t corner our human liaison. Make no mistake, she’s still a human and will not take the upper hand, even when dressed like a Reima Two woman of worth.”
Aefre acquiesces, and I allow an animated Jin Kol to resume his conversation with Eve, but I don’t take my hand from her back. After she's flirted with Jin Kol enough, I pull her away, making excuses for her.
"Sovereign—"
We stop in a quiet hallway near the entrance to the ballroom. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" I demand.
She straightens, chin lifted. Even in her defiance, she's magnificent. "My job, Sovereign."
"Your job is to be our liaison, not to parade yourself like—"
"Like what, Sovereign?"
“Yes, like what, Brother?” Lorian interrupts us, appearing out of nowhere.
“Like our…” I struggle to find the word looking at her like this. So magnificent, reflecting everything she is and what we’ve put into her. And then I just say the first word that comes to my mind, “Lover.”
My words surprise all three of us.
And after a few seconds, Lorian laughs. "She did excellent work tonight. Jin Kol will be eating out of her hand by tomorrow. Let her dress like this. Let her be the woman she could be if the universe were different, and the fates weren’t so cruel.
Let her live the fantasy, Rafe. Goddesses, let us all live that fantasy. ”
I meet Eve’s brown eyes. She’s clearly in shock from what I said, but we all know it’s the truth, and the worst part about it is that her dressing like this is just reminding me of what can never be.
"Did you enjoy it?" I ask her, caging her against the wall with my arms. "Did you want Jin Kol to imagine what you'd look like out of that dress?"
“Sovereign, I only wanted to do my job. He wouldn’t listen to me in my uniform. I did what had to be done.”
"You wanted him to see these?" My hand skims the curve of her breast. "Wanted him to think about touching you like this?"
She shudders. "No, Sovereign."
"No?" I press closer. "Then why show him what belongs to us?"
"To accomplish what you couldn't, Sovereign. Tonight, Jin Kol agreed to review human participation again. Because I made him see me as—"
I kiss her to stop the logic, to stop the words that make too much sense when all I want to do is to tear this dress off her and remind her to whom she belongs. She makes an adorable sound against my mouth, part protest and part surrender.
"You want to be seen?" I gather the fabric of her dress in my hands and lift it up, exposing her underwear. I rip it down and release the Venus Lock, letting it drop into my hand. Then I throw it over to Lorian, who catches it easily. Next, I remove her necklace and bracelet. I can tell by her expression she has no idea what’s going on, and that makes this even sweeter. “You want to play games, Eve? I’ve removed all your tracking devices, and I’m going to give you a three-minute head start.
If we catch you before the end of Fourth Chime, then you are ours.
If you manage to evade us, then I will allow you this,” I motion up and down with my finger signalling her clothing, “for as long as it suits all of us.”
She’s breathless as she says, “Sovereign, if I win, I don’t want to wear the Venus Lock anymore. And I want to dress like this when necessary. But I will need extra credits to do it. Deal?”
I smile. “If I win, you won’t be wearing the Venus Lock either. At least not while I am between your legs. The rest, I agree to. Now run, little Eve. You have three minutes before we are coming to get you.”
I watch as Eve takes off down the hallway, and then I look at Lorian. He throws the Venus Lock back to me. “This is yours.”
I catch it and put it in my pocket with all of her jewelry. “Let’s split up. You take the upper levels.”
Lorian finishes his drink and then gives it to a passing waiter. “My pleasure. I’ll also make sure our adjoining suite is prepared. It’s been a while since we’ve shared a woman.”
“It’s already done.”
Lorian laughs at my admission.
First, I check the Staff Dining Hall. It’s empty of course, but I think I can smell her. I walk through all the tiers. “Eve, are you in here?” But there’s nothing, just stillness. If she was here, she’s gone now.
Next, I check the Eclipse Tavern. The off-duty staff freeze and then bow when I enter. I breathe in. Orchard sweetness mixed with her human scent. I look around and question my staff. “Is Eve here?”
“Not anymore, Sovereign. She went out toward the Grand Staircase. She was running.”
I know they’re confused. They think she’s in trouble. She’s not. Although her cunt may be in for a pounding if we find her before Fifth Chime.
I make my way to the Grand Staircase, where statues of humans are depicted competing in the Championships, bathed in indigo. There’s no one here, just the sound of my footsteps on the marble. I stop and breathe in the air.
I smell her.
“Eve, you can’t hide from us in our own hotel.”
At the top of the stairs, I turn towards the Gardens. Women always like the Gardens. And I think I see her darting behind a fern.
I’m certain of it.
“I see you, Eve. You’ve been caught.” I check my IC. You managed to stay hidden for forty-three minutes—not bad.”
I pull back a particularly large bush only to see her abandoned shoes.
I smile. “She’s close.” I follow her out the backdoor of the Garden, and then I have to make a choice.
Either the gymnasium, which will be busy at this time of night, or the Twilight Pools.
I opt for the latter on the assumption that she’ll want to stay far away from crowds.
Humidity surrounds me as I enter the Twilight Pools.
They’re a series of baths large enough for small groups to enjoy each other’s company.
I’m surprised it’s empty, but then again most of the VIPs will be busy with the human pets here for the Championship.
None of them would want to be with their own kind when there are humans to be had.
Ironic I’m chasing my own human, I think.
I walk around the indigo waters perfumed with drugs meant to dissolve restraint.
And then, finally, I see her crouching at the edge, looking like a goddess in that dress with her makeup and hair.
“You’re mine now,” I say softly.
She spins and then tries to run, but from the opposite archway, Lorian emerges, smiling.
“Cornered,” he says. “Now you’ll find out what happens when Sovereigns hunt for sport.”
Together we close in. Her gaze darts between us. Then she jumps into the water and tries frantically to swim to the other side. I jump in after her, catch her easily in my arms and bring her back to Lorian. He takes her from me as I get out and take off my drenched clothing.
Lorian uses his bedroom voice as he says, “There’s no way you can escape us now, my corrupted little angel.”
“You’re ours, Eve,” I say with finality, and it feels good to finally have her in the way that I have wanted for some time now.