I’d never seen her like that, lost in a trance.
Dacia snapped out of it and finally left, coming to join us. She smiled and gave me a hug. “You look amazing, Ella.”
“Right back at you.” She wore a skin-tight white gown and enough diamonds to blind anyone who looked in her direction. “What are your thoughts on the painting?”
“Exquisite.”
Darla recently told me her sister was into collecting art, paintings in particular. “Who’s the artist?”
A wistful smile flashed on Dacia’s lips, before she hid it around the rim of her champagne flute. “Somebody I used to know.”
I didn’t understand her cryptic tone. Before I could pester her for more information, I felt a familiar pair of eyes on me.
I turned around, searching for him.
My dark prince leaned against a pillar, that signature heart-melting smile on his face as he watched me like I was the answer to all his prayers.
The corners of my lips tipped up in a reciprocating smile.
Our gazes spoke while our words could not.
You’re a vision to behold,mi corazón.
You’re my favourite memory and I would relive you a million times over and then some more,mo chuisle.
That magnetic force yanked our bond and we crossed over to one another, pushing past a crowd of people and meeting halfway, hope and love in our expressions.
“Hi, pretty girl.”
“Hi,querido.”
“You look breathtaking.”
I melted, my hands flexing by my sides, longing to clutch him. “So do you.”
That smile of his morphed to a full-blown grin, flashing me those dimples I loved.
Tonight, Cade was dashing in a navy blue suit, the top three buttons of his dress shirt undone, showing hints of his tattoos and the gold chain around his neck, threaded with my promise ring. He must have gone back for it after I threw it away, making sure to wear it so everybody here knew that he was irrevocably mine.
“I was worried for a second that you wouldn’t come tonight.”
“I can’t stay away from you, Ellie. After all, you have something that belongs to me.”
I swallowed. “What?”
“My heart.”
Warmth filled my chest and a hundred butterflies unfurled in my stomach.
I had his heart…and I was never giving it back.
Before I could kiss him senselessly, Cade extended his lefthand, the one with the Serch Bythol knot tattooed across the back. The silver rings at the base of his knuckles glinted under the chandelier lights. “Do you want to dance with me?”
Without hesitation, I grasped his hand, swearing to never let go of him after this moment. “I would love to.”
He swept me into his arms just as the orchestra began a new ballad. My left hand rested on his shoulder and my right twined with his as we moved slowly to the music.
The feeling ofhomerocked through me.
