I shrugged noncommittally as I considered what this quest meant for me. We took a seat on a low stone wall. I looked up into the sky and was disheartened to find the moon’s crooks and valleys lost to my mortal eyes. “Ambrose is a challenge. I love a good challenge, and I need to be successful in winning Ambrose’s affection. I have to.” I let out a shuddering breath before letting my feelings guide my words as I attempted to elaborate. “However,that’s not enough if I’m being serious about finding a life partner. If I’m to give my hand in return to any man, I need more than the promise of safety and security. I need … someone I can spend the rest of my life on Earth with, and I intend for that to last a very, very long time.” I wasn’t sure where that had come from, but I understood as I said it that it was true. Being human was making me realize that I was missing something in my old life. And I didn’t mean food or sunlight. Something significant. Maybe someonesignificant. To dispel my discomfort, I winked at Matthew. “And I grow bored easily.”
Matthew seemed to relax. “Okay. So, you’re looking for love over all else.”
I considered. “Perhaps I am. I’ve never given much thought to matters of the heart. I see myself enjoying my time with someone, getting along well, laughing and joking amiably … I suppose you could call that love, in a way.”
“Aren’t you a sentimental one.”
I snorted. “No one I have ever met would call me sentimental.”
“Then perhaps you haven’t shown your true self.”
I blinked and squinted at the boy beside me. “Be careful, Matthew. You might seetoomuch.”
He grinned. “I don’t think there’s much chance of that.”
“Take off your mask.”
He started. “What?”
“That ridiculous mask. Take it off. I want to see who I’m speaking with.”
He snorted, but seeing I was serious, he complied, pulling it up and off. As soon as he was free of it, he ran a hand through the dark curls atop his head. He was cute. He didn’t have the chiseled jawline or princely cheekbones of Melbourne or Ambrose, but something about him was very warm and inviting, and when he smiled, dimples appeared in his cheeks. “Well, I’m not hiding anything hideous, if that was your concern.”
“Says you.”
Matthew made a noise of protest in the back of his throat and slapped my chest.
I laughed in response. “But seriously, why were you wearing such a horrid mask?”
He shrugged. “I wished to take advantage of the masquerade. I don’t think anyone knew who I was in there, and sometimes it’s just …niceto be anonymous.”
I nodded. “Blending into the shadows, forgotten the next day … I think I understand that feeling more than most.”
Matthew chuckled. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you could never blend in with a face like yours, Lucian.”
“Drat. I’ll just have to resign myself to being utterly gorgeous then.”
“And perpetually in everyone’s thoughts.”
“Maybe they’ll have me pose for paintings and statues.”
“And compose poetry of longing and unrequited love.”
We grinned at each other.
“You’re kind of a brat, you know that?” I asked him.
“Nothing you can’t handle, clearly.” Matthew sighed, then got to his feet. “And on that note, I should probably get back. Are you coming?”
“No, I need to brood for a while longer.”
Matthew rolled his eyes and replaced his mask. “It was nice talking to you, Lucian. Enjoy the ball.”
“Save a dance for me.”
“Truly? It would be my honor. Would the last dance of the evening be alright?”
“It’s always good to end the night on a high note.”
