“Youare a work of art. Good Goddess, Avalon, you look hot. If you were interested in women, I’d steal you from those knuckle-draggers in an instant.”
I laughed. “Thanks, Cace.”
She eyed me critically. “Let me do your hair.” Pushing me into the chair beside me, she went to work, muttering about doing the dress justice. “When I’m done, they’ll swallow their tongues.”
Braxus huffed a noise, and I hoped it meant he approved of my outfit. Hayle had said he’d escort me to the banquet, which was ridiculous considering it was literally a five-minute walk from the boarding house where we were staying, but he’d gotten me when I was dick-dazed from his kiss, so I waited.
Acacia was brushing Braxus, cooing at him like he was a lapdog and not a killer. I got it—he was a cuddler when he was off duty, but it was funny to think that my Twelfth Line friends had been terrified of him a few months ago. They were still a little wary of Alucius, but Braxus was basically spoiled every time we went to their dorm level back at Boellium.
“So handsome,” Acacia crooned, and I rolled my eyes as he soaked up the attention.
Hearing a soft knock on the door, I stood, rubbing my sweaty palms on my arms. Why was I nervous? Hayle had seen me naked more times than any other person in the world. He’d seen me impaled on two dicks and sweaty. He’d seen me haggard and sleep-deprived. This was nothing.
Still, I wanted him to think I was worthy of him. This was the first non-Boellium event we’d attended as a couple. His father would be there, as well as other Barons and Heirs. This was a declaration. What if everyone thought he was slumming it with me?
Elbowing me, Acacia growled, “You are a fucking badass bitch, Avalon Halhed. He’s lucky to have you.” Then she flung open the door.
The most handsome man I’d ever seen in my life stood there. Hayle was wearing a tuxedo that hugged his body perfectly, in a deep brown that complimented his hair and his eyes and his shoulders and his thighs…
“Pick your jaws up off the floor, both of you,” Acacia teased. “Goddess, you’re going to be late, and I have a date with a very attractive stable boy, so hurry it along.”
Hayle walked in and kissed me softly, not ruining my makeup. “You look like a dream,” he whispered. “Like a goddess.”
I flushed, my eyes dropping to his tie. “Thank you. You look very handsome too.”
Acacia sighed. “Yes, yes, you’re both disgustingly good looking. Let’s go.” She strode out the door, her hair bouncing down her back and her full skirts trailing behind her.
Laughing softly, Hayle offered me his elbow. “Will you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to the banquet?”
“Nothing would make me happier.”
We stepped out into the hall of the boarding house, which I noticed was mostly empty. The town square was filled with vendors again, and most of the Boellium conscripts were using the time to stock up on items that were hard to obtain on the island. I almost wanted to be out there with them, where I was comfortable. Not under the scrutiny of Barons and Heirs.
I waved to Acacia. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” I called out to her.
She grinned over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Hayle. “I’m not sure that leaves much?”
I wondered if I could steal her back and take her to the banquet with me—I could use her ball-busting bravado—but she was already gone, swallowed by the crowd.
Walking up to the manor house, I noted the guards that were positioned around the outside. Were they there to keep people out, or protect against threats?
Hayle smiled at the doorman. “Hayle Taeme, Heir to the Third Line, and Avalon Halhed, Heir to the Ninth Line,” he informed the man, who was dressed in the colors of the Eighth.
He led us into the house, and given that I’d snuck in last time, I was excited to look around. As we entered the ballroom, I appreciated the simple elegance of it. The chandelier wasn’t expensive, but rather carefully carved to resemble a treetop, different woodland birds and animals perched on its boughs. A large open fireplace was smoldering gently, and the whole place just seemed… cozy.
There was a band playing in the corner, and already, there were a few couples dancing. I spotted Bach and Kyler Tarrin out there on the floor. Bach couldn’t dance; it had never been part of their training up in Rewill, but Kyler was doing an admirable job of leading without making it obvious.
I noted Vox in the back of the room, looking stoic and untouchable. But I knew him well enough now to know that he also looked lonely. “Let’s go speak to Vox?” I murmured to Hayle quietly, and he squeezed me close to his side.
“Of course.” He grabbed us two drinks from the long trestle table on the way past, handing one to me. I wasn’t a big drinker; alcohol had destroyed what remained of my father. But perhaps I could nurse this one cup, and no one would look at me for the rest of the night.
When we made it to Vox, his expression was so full of heat, I was surprised my dress didn’t cremate instantly. “Dirtscrabbler,” he said softly, and the way he said it, the insult almost could have been dirty talk. “You look lovely.”
I gave him a secret smile. “Thank you. You don’t look too bad either.”
“High praise.” He reached out and plucked the glass from my hand, looking over at Hayle. “She doesn’t like to drink. You should fetch her something else.”
Hayle raised an eyebrow. “I’m not your errand boy, Vox Vylan,” he grumbled, before leaning over to kiss my cheek. “I’m always your errand boy, though, love.” He moved through the crowd easily, back toward the drinks table.
