Looking away, I smile humourlessly. I’m not the only onegood at hiding behind a smile.
I wonder… do Kat or Azura – or anyone – know that she’s miscarried several times? That the last time it wasn’t just a foetus but a pup that was formed, and it had a soul that passed on…
I still remember the conversation with Hades, his words that made anger ripple through me.
“If she were to bear a pup, it would contain all four bloodlines of Selene’s creations, and that is something that the gods will not allow.”
So, instead, they make her miscarry, and Selene does shit to protect her.
I glance back at them just as Royce leans over, brushing a strand of her hair back and kissing her as he murmurs how beautiful she looks. At least she has someone who will love her with everything he has and be there to share the pain of loss with her.
Looking away, I focus on my food as everyone continues to ask questions about the pregnancy.
Once dinner is over, the couple have their first dance before it’s time for the father-daughter dance.
I sit at a corner table with a bottle of wine. My aim is to keep my attention off of Heaven in her backless gown; she has her hair up today. It looks good- alright, I ain’t fucking going there.
Damn it.
“Not dancing today?” Dad asks as he approaches my tableand sits down opposite me. I glance over at him.
“I don’t always dance. I was helping a friend last time,” I reply smoothly, spotting Heaven still from the corner of my eye. She’s listening from where she’s standing to the side with Sienna and Allie.
I heard Sienna talking to Renji just as dinner was starting. I still need to ask him what that was about. I know he said when Jayce shared with the division that he was going to Russia, she was shocked, knowing he wasn’t just leaving the Academy but was going so far away.
But they could do with the help in Russia. There have been monsters coming from the dome, and they’ve had to do their best to kill them before they escape.
Whatever’s happening inside that place has not attempted to make a connection with the Indomitable. So, what is it?
“Well, you should get up and join the party,” Dad suggests with a warm smile. “It’s not like you to look so serious.”
He’s upset Jayce isn’t here. It’s probably the first time Jayce outright disobeyed him since he became an adult. And that shit probably hit Dad hard.
“Shouldn’t you go and find your own date? Before I steal her?” I ask, spotting Ma dancing with Renji.
He had wanted to invite Shahira as his plus one, but decided against it as they wanted to keep their relationship on the low.
Just then, I hear someone approaching, the rhythm of herheels on the makeshift floor is one I recognise.
I glance up as none other than Heaven struts over to us, smiling politely, brushing her hair that frames her face back, not even sparing me a glance.
Uncle Liam, would you like to dance?
Dad smiles up at her. “Of course.” He stands up, and I scoff internally.
Brat.
She simply smiles gracefully as Dad offers her his hand and guides her onto the dance floor; my attention rakes over her back and ass before turning away.
As promised, she’s stayed away… but that fucking annoys me. It’s fucked up, but did I want her to defy me? Did I want her to talk to me?
Sure, she’s continued to tease me from afar, but she doesn’t even spare me a glance.
I’ve never seen you look more like Grandpa Alejandro than you do right now. Why so stressed, Westwood?
I narrow my eyes as the words appear on the napkin on the table in front of me. I glance back at her, but she’s still dancing with Dad, a small smile on her face as they talk about her studies.
First off, I’m nothing like that old man. Secondly, she knows I don’t have a way to fucking reply.
