Chapter Fourteen
When the knock came that evening, butterflies erupted. She ran a nervous hand down the bodice of her dress, hoping Gareth liked how she looked. Hoping that she wouldn’t embarrass him in front of all his peers. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
Dressed entirely in black, Gareth devastated all her senses and a slew of dirty images rolled through her head. All of them centered around getting naked with the handsome vampire in front of her.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he said softly. “How did I get so lucky?”
“I was about to say the same thing. Only with man instead of woman.”
He smiled. “Are you ready to do this?”
“Again, I was about to say the same thing.”
He held out his elbow. “Then, m’lady, shall we?”
She slid her hand around to rest on his forearm. “We shall.”
He led her down the hallway, where they joined with other couples all walking to the ballroom. Adalyn hoped they were heading in the right direction. She’d already lost her sense of direction in Obsidian North.
A sea of gold interwove with the black tuxedos. The dim lighting in the ballroom gave the air a romantic feel, and when Gareth kissed the back of her hand, she felt it all the way down to her toes.
They spent the next hour or so walking the perimeter of the dance floor while Gareth greeted and talked shop with his peers. He introduced her everywhere, drawing her close to his side so he could curl his arm around her waist.
“Would you like to dance?” he murmured.
“I’d like that, but I must warn you, Marm Scarlet only had a few days to teach me, so I hope I don’t step on your toes. Or embarrass you.”
“Hush,” he said. “Even if you fall down and pull me with you, I won’t care at all. Shit happens.”
She giggled. “Okay.”
They joined the next waltz and Adalyn couldn’t take her gaze off him, and it looked like he couldn’t as well.
It was magical. The world she lived in now was vastly different from her past. When the dance ended, he cupped her face and kissed her.
Right there in front of everyone. Her heart melted right there, and she happily stepped into the love that had been growing daily.
As soon as they exited the dance floor, an older vampire stepped toward them. He had a real-life monocular on one eye, wore a tweed vest, and sported a bowtie. Truly a vampire from a different age.
“Lord Huntley,” he greeted.
Gareth stiffened. She glanced up at him and saw his jaw tighten. “Lord Latterly.”
“Could I pick your brain about the Zatterman acquisition?”
“This is the Gathering Ball,” Gareth said cooly. “Business should be conducted tomorrow.”
“Oh, come now, I just wanted to know your thoughts on the matter.”
At that moment, a woman moseyed up to the group and slid her hand over Latterly’s shoulder. Elgene. Now Gareth’s unwelcoming posture made sense.
“Gareth,” she all but purred his name. Long black hair gleamed under the lights, her blue eyes sharp chips of ice that perfectly matched the over-the-top necklace of diamonds that graced her throat.
The stones also wrapped around her wrists and dangled from her earlobes. On top of her head sat a garish tiara.
Adalyn hated the possessive tone in her voice, and apparently so did Latterly. He yanked her hand away and glared at her, but Elgene only had eyes for her ex.
“Like I said, we’ll talk business tomorrow,” Gareth said. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
He placed a hand on Adalyn’s lower back, guiding her away from the two. When they reached the bar on the opposite end of the room, Adalyn turned toward him and placed her hands on his chest.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“I don’t particularly like Latterly.”
“Nor Elgene, I suspect.”
“Ah,” he said, frowning. “I guess you learned who she was.”
“I did.” She tilted her head. Although she didn’t want to ask, she couldn’t help herself. “Do you still have feelings for her?”
“No,” he answered firmly. “If I’d ever had feelings for her, they died completely. She was beautiful, but it didn’t take long for me to find out her true nature. A bitch rarely changes their personality.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s horrible when people you thought were your family betray you.”
He cupped her face. “And that’s why I won’t ever give you up. You understand. I see it every day on your face. Compassion and empathy are worth more than gold.”
He kissed her lightly on the lips. “Would you like a drink?”
“I’m not overly fond of alcohol. Maybe a Shirley Temple?”
He smiled. “All right.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said. “I have to use the restroom.”
“Would you like for me to escort you?” he asked.
“No, I’m fine,” Adalyn insisted. “I’ll be right back.”
When he nodded, she turned and wove through the crowd heading to the ladies’ room.
After using the facilities, she washed her hands and that’s when Adalyn saw Elgene through the mirror.
Her stomach sank. She hated confrontation, especially since the last one ended with her best friend dying. Maybe if she ignored her—
“Don’t ignore me, bitch.” The cold voice echoed in the spacious powder room. “You think you’re special?”
Adalyn took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Then she turned. Elgene was tall, made even taller by the high heels she wore. A beautiful cobra ready to strike.
“May I help you?”
The cold stare looked her up and down, and her nose wrinkled as if she found something disgusting.
“What does he see in you?” she asked, but it really wasn’t something that required answering. “Are you even a woman? You look like a little girl.”
Adalyn had to admit, that stung. “Excuse me.” She went to leave but Elgene moved in front of her. “Please let me leave.”
“Not until you tell me how you managed to snatch his attention looking like a flat-tit wannabe woman.”
She didn’t want to get into a petty fight with her. “Please move aside and let me leave.”
Elgene sneered at her. “You’re pathetic.”
Something snapped inside her. Adalyn was tired of bullies. “What business is it of yours? You wanted him for his money, not his company.”
“Are you any different?”
“I don’t have to answer to you, so move.”
Elgene took a step closer. “And if I don’t? Are you going to hurt me? Good luck on that.”
“I don’t need to hurt you. I think you’ve done that all by yourself by being a greedy shrew.”
“How dare you!”
“I dare a lot,” Adalyn snapped. “He chose me. He wants me. You’re not even a footnote in the story of his life.”
Just then the door opened and Faye walked in, and she glanced at both of them before pasting on a fake smile.
“There you are, darling,” Faye said, walking over and linking arms with Adalyn. “I’ve been looking for you all over. I need to introduce you to some friends of mine. Sorry, Elgene. You’re not one of them.”
They walked away quickly, but Elgene’s words continued to echo in her head.
She knew she had major flaws. However, Gareth had told her she was beautiful on the outside, but it was her beauty inside that counted most. That memory managed to push all the negative comments from a jealous woman who traded wealth for companionship.
“Whatever she said, don’t listen to her,” Faye said.
“I’m not,” Adalyn assured. “She has no idea who I am or what I’ve been through. Gareth told me about her, and I can see she found someone willing to give her whatever her heart desires. So, I’m not sure why she’s mad at the bed she made.”
“Some people aren’t happy no matter what. She wants her cake and to eat it too.”
“Thank you for rescuing me. I can be a bitch too, but I don’t think I have it in me to fist fight.”
Faye laughed. “Come. Let’s find our vampires.”