4
Kyle
Evening fell. By now the sharp feeling in his stomach was getting worse. Part of him didn’t want to go to this party at all and just sit at home and mope, but he promised Scout he would come. Besides, if he didn’t show up without any sort of warning, Scout would probably flip and send the whole royal guard looking for him - including Stark. And he was so not in the mood for that.
Killian had the manor lightly decorated for the affair. Strings of white light hung from the banisters and draped from the ceiling. Kyle wasn’t sure if he was underdressed or not, dressed in only casual clothing, but Scout hadn’t made it seem like a huge fancy occasion.
He sighed and knocked on the manor’s main towering door.
The doorman was a bit of a surprise. He beamed at him and spoke in a friendly and somewhat hoarse voice. “Ah, you must be Kyle. Scout is waiting for you in the main hall.”
Kyle had never beenwaitedforbefore. In fact, he’d never been doted on in any way by hired help or otherwise - except for restaurants, which he thought didn’t really count.
He followed the friendly doorman into the huge hall, which was already busy with people. Some of his anxiety left him when he realized he recognized many faces among the crowd, including another royal guard named Sera. She had been one of the shifters who helped Kyle and Stark out in the Silvercreek incident the previous year.
“Hi, Sera,” Kyle said with a smile. She returned it with one of her own. She wasn’t the most emotive person in the world, but Kyle appreciated the gesture.
“Nice to see you,” she replied with a nod. “I think I know who you’re looking for. Come on.”
Kyle followed her as she lead him to Scout. While he knew many of the people around them, he still couldn’t pick his omega friend out of the faces.
As they approached a small group of people gathering to talk, Sera called out, “Hey, I found Kyle.”
Kyle opened his mouth, about to call out a greeting with a smile to Scout, before the group of people turned to face them and Kyle was suddenly face to face with Stark.
“Oh,” Kyle said.
“Hi, Kyle,” Stark said as he averted his eyes. His expression was unreadable. Who knows what he was thinking after the argument they had earlier?
Sera seemed to realize she had accidentally caused an awkward situation. She turned and backed off. “I’m going to get back to my friends.”
Great,Kyle thought.Leave me alone with the guy I’m obviously not on the best terms with.
Kyle was in the middle of wishing Scout would show up and save him once again from his situation before it got even worse. Returning from the drink table with a red glass of wine in his hand was Chase.
“Oh my god, they have so much stuff here!” Chase exclaimed. “I can’t believe Scout could afford all this - I mean, he obviously can now, but back before he married the prince and all - oh, hey Kyle!”
Kyle clenched his jaw as the other omega finally noticed him. Chase stopped immediately, noticing the tension in the air. He gazed awkwardly back and forth between Kyle and Stark before he smiled shyly and offered Stark his drink.
“Why don’t you have this?” he said. “You look like you need it more than I do. Hell, that was gonna be my third already tonight.”
“You always were a heavy drinker, weren’t you?”
Scout’s voice surprised and relieved Kyle. The king’s mate strolled into the conversation with an almost motherly smile. He looked well rested - Kyle assumed they had gotten a sitter for Kendra so that they could both enjoy the party.
“Pretty much,” Chase replied. “I feel a buzz already but I could take a couple more before I get super drunk.”
Scout playfully rolled his eyes. “I remember back when we used to live together. You were always drinking all our booze since I’m a lightweight.”
Kyle was glad Scout and Chase had taken the pressure off him to continue a conversation with Stark. He honestly had no idea what to say to the alpha. There were a million things hewantedto tell him - but he just couldn’t. That was the whole reason they had that argument in the first place.
He grimaced. He had to find a way out of this.
An arm linked through his. “Come on, you.” Scout dragged him away from Stark and the others. “I need to get a drink in you. I can tell you need one.”
Scout poured out something deep red and sparkling into a glass and handed it to Kyle. “Here.” Sensing Kyle’s hesitation, he added with a grin, “It’s not poison, I promise.”
Kyle smiled back. “I know, I believe you.” He sighed. “I guess I didn’t think I’d need a drink this early on,” he mumbled.
