“If we add a few flourishes, I think every eye will be on us,” whispered Maeve.
They widened their steps as they moved across the room faster. Mal spun her out and twirled her under his arm as they danced around the Ball Room.
The music began to swell as it was coming to its climax. He spun her out away from him, letting go of her completely. Maeve laughed with enough joy to ensure all eyes were on them.
He took three strides towards her, cupped the back of her neck with one hand and her waist with the other, dipped her backwards, and kissed her. His lips tasted smokey, like a cinnamon cigar, one of her father’s, which Maeve had not been expecting.
Her hands held his face.
There were exclamations and cheers at what appeared to be a romantic gesture, but Maeve knew it to be far from romance.
Mal was staking his claim on her in front of every Pureblood in the room. In front of the entire Committee of the Sacred and The Double O.
She played her part perfectly. He pulled away from her with his signature smile, and she followed his lead. Over his shoulder, Maeve caught a glimpse of her father just as he lit a cigar and exited the Ball Room. Maeve could have sworn there was a mischievous smile on his face.
Perhaps it was her mother’s objection and displeasure alone that gave her this fire, but she had been prepared from the start for Clarissa’s disapproval. The purpose of tonight was to bring Mal into this world. To prepare them all for his glory. These were the elite that he needed to win over.
And Maeve was the key to making that happen.
“So much for discreet,” she muttered through her smile.
Chapter 26
“. . . I saw her last night.”
“And?” Said a female voice
“She was a vision of power.” Said the first voice again. It was familiar.
“Does she know?” Asked the woman.
“She hasn’t the faintest idea.”
“That is good then?”
“No. . .” He said. “That is a storm waiting to be unleashed.”
The curtains in Maeve’s sapphire and gold bedroom inside Sinclair Estates were already drawn, spilling morning sunlight into her room. She stretched, rolling onto her back.
The dream had already faded. The unfamiliar voices were gone. Spinel jumped off the bed and staggered over to her enchanted window, which was showing a stunning apple orchard.
She suppressed a smile as she remembered the previous night’s events, reaching for the ring around her neck. Mal placed it there before she bid him goodnight.
His bold kiss had been unexpected. But Maeve relished it all the same.
Maeve slept on could nine. Mal was lucky to have gotten any sleep. It’s likely he had stayed long into the night in her father’s study. She was eager to hear his experience.
Downstairs, Maeve found a complete breakfast spread waiting for her on silver serving trays and carafes. A copy of the Daily Divination sat on the table. Maeve was in too good of a mood to read about Kietel and so she ignored the newspaper entirely. She sat alone on the long mahogany dining table, happily spreading cream across her cinnamon bagel.
Her mother was undoubtedly furious about the whole ordeal, but Mal had charmed much of the guests prior to their waltz. Their adoration of him would make it difficult for Clarissa to scold her.
Arianna appeared in the dining room and stopped short, standing awkwardly.
“What are you doing?” Maeve asked her in a bored tone.
Arianna rolled her eyes and made her way to the table, sitting across from Maeve.
They ate in silence until Arianna finally spoke.
