Arianna shrugged arrogantly and Maeve ignored her sister for the rest of the evening.
The Sacred Seventeen party was at Rosethorn Manor, which greatly excited Abraxas. He loved a good party. Maeve received many compliments on her dress, which Grandmother Agatha took full credit for every time.
After a brief, but lovely, dance with her father, Maeve was seated outside on the balcony. The grounds at Rosethorn Manor were enchanted to give off a warm fuzzy feeling, which was preferable to the icy climate they were currently in.
Up the balcony, steps came a familiar face. One that had, in the past, brought butterflies to her stomach.
Alphard Mavros stumbled towards Maeve, laughing with a younger gentleman Maeve didn’t recognize.
Alphard stopped in his tracks and smiled upon seeing her. His eyes raked over her body quickly, but she didn’t miss it. He stood up tall.
“Hello, Alphard,” said Maeve before he could speak.
“Maeve,” smiled Alphard. “How’s Vaukore?”
Maeve shrugged. ‘Same as ever.”
His chin lowered. “You wound me so easily.”
Maeve smirked. Alphard took a long swig of his drink and nodded to his friend to move along.
“Abraxas says you and Malachite have become chummy.”
“Abraxas says a lot of things. He is my tutor.”
Alphard clicked his tongue and eyed her. “Didn’t think clever witches like you with perfect scores needed tutors.”
“You don’t know anything about what I need,” said Maeve playfully.
“Don’t I?” Smirked Alphard.
“You’re picking on me now.”
“You make it so easy,” he teased, taking a seat beside her.
Maeve suddenly felt like he was too close. Though she and Alphard had been much closer upon a few occasions, panic rushed through her as his arm brushed hers.
“I heard you made Paragon again as well,” said Alphard.
“Checking up on me, I see.”
Alphard laughed, raising his hands in omission. He looked her over for a moment. Maeve inhaled sharply as his eyes glazed into a lustful look, shifting down to her lips.
His voice changed. “Let’s go take a walk,” said Alphard, taking her sparkling water from her and setting it down.
Maeve glanced up at him. Alphard was like all the Mavros family boys. Dark skin and hair, ruggedly handsome, broad shoulders, full of ease, quick tempered and nothing but rebellion in his blood. And now, after just a few short months as a Bellator in training, his build was stronger. Not to mention the Mavrosi were the wealthiest Magical family in the world. Alphard and Antony’s abundance of gold got them out of quite a few pickles in their glory days as young teenagers. Alphard loved to start fights. Antony loved to finish them.
But as Alphard took her hand, she pulled it away gently.
“The duel is about to start,” said Maeve, making an excuse. She smiled at him as her stomach twisted.
He scoffed softly and narrowed his eyes at her mischievously. “Whatever you say, Sinclair.”
He downed the rest of his drink and made his way inside. Maeve remained where she sat, feeling guilty for having turned him down.
Ambrose came through a set of double doors a moment later, motioning for her.
“The duel is starting, love.”
