“I am actually quite fond of this color,” Waryn said diplomatically, but Claryn continued as if he hadn’t spoken.
“Well, let’s go find your father. He wanted to introduce Waryn to the Dooleys. They own half the chalets at The Point, you know?” She brushed a hand over Quin’s exposed shoulder. “Did you bring a shawl?”
Metal and steel. She was metal and steel.
“No, Mother, I didn’t want a shawl. It’s summer,” she explained, and her mother’s smile glitched.
“Of course. I mean, if I had your… strong shoulders,Iwould have worn a shawl, but your comfort is more important. And you look just beautiful. So radiant, even with those little baggies under your eyes.” She swiped a thumb under Quin’s eyes before petting her shoulders again.
Taking a measured breath, Quin subtly glanced Glyma’s way, flinching when she found the Succubus watching the mortifying display with wide eyes. Glyma, at least, had the decency to jerk her gaze away and focus on the cake instead. Quin brought her glass to her lips and chugged the champagne in one go.
With a scandalized noise, Claryn snatched the flute from Quin’s grasp, nearly spilling the remaining champagne down the front of her dress. “Don’t drink it so fast! Where are yourmanners?” She handed the glass across the table to Glyma without looking at her. “Dispose of this, won’t you?”
Quin tried to take the glass back as Glyma glanced between them anxiously. “Mother, that’s not her job.”
“I can’t imagine it’s any trouble,” her mother dismissed, holding the glass out to Glyma expectantly. “You do know where it goes, don’t you?”
With an easy smile, Glyma took the glass. “Of course. Let me take care of that for you.”
“You see? It’s no trouble. Just let the help do their jobs.” Claryn tugged and smoothed at Quin’s dress until she was satisfied, and Quin stood tall and immovable.
“Metal and steel,” she whispered.
“What? Do speak up, Quin.” Her mother sent Waryn an exasperated look. “I don’t know how you put up with her mumbling. Always with the mumbling.”
“I have always found Quin to be exceptionally articulate,” Waryn said, and there was a bite to his tone now.
In moments like these, Quin wished she could have loved him.
Claryn simpered. “Waryn, you are too sweet. Still, I told Quin as a child, ‘speak clearly, or people will assume you’re slow or something.’”
“Mother!”
Flapping a hand in Quin’s face, Claryn tittered. “I’m just teasing. Really, Quin, you take everything so seriously.”
Collecting herself, Quin reset her defenses, pointedly ignoring the heavy weight of Glyma’s gaze from the other side of the table. “Father is expecting us?”
“Yes, yes, and you’ve kept him waiting long enough.” Her mother gestured for them to follow her as she strode into the milling bodies without a backward glance.
Waryn placed a hand at the small of Quin’s back. “That was a rough one.”
“I’m fine,” Quin snapped, brushing a loc over her shoulder.
Against her better judgement, she glanced Glyma’s way again. The Succubus was spacing out the plates, pushing them this way and that as if in some attempt to appear busy. Then her eyes darted up to Quin’s and locked there. They stared at each other for one never-ending moment, and the pity behind Glyma’s irises threatened to dismantle Quin’s carefully constructed armor.
Before she could split apart, Quin dipped her chin in a jerky farewell and choked out, “Please excuse me.” Then she followed her mother dutifully through the crowd, feeling the weight of Glyma’s gaze on her back the whole way.
Chapter four
Flesh and Bone
Quin
As her mother paradedher around the party, Quin turned off her brain and reverted to the training instilled in her since birth. She was cordial and polite, charming and obliging. She laughed at jokes that weren’t funny and expressed interest when she possessed none. She played the smitten girlfriend. She drank more champagne.
People asked where the engagement ring was, and she tittered and said, “Ask this fella. I’m still waiting.”
Business associates commented about impending wedding bells, and she leaned her head on Waryn’s shoulder and said, “I’ve dreamed of it since I was a little girl.”
