I spot Lilith and Reon as soon as I walk into their anniversary party. They don’t have many guests, seeing as it is only a small gathering. Quite a few of the attendees are members of the Forsaken, and others are people Reon works with. I see a few women I don’t recognize, and I’m guessing they’re Lilith’s friends.
I pause in my perusal of the room when I see Cressida, shocked, because I didn’t even think I would be seeing her. She’s dressed in all black, matching the color of her hair, and she’s holding a glass of champagne. She looks gorgeous, effortlessly so. The soft lighting glints off the rim of her glass, catching the curve of her lips as she takes a slow sip. My chest tightens, and I can’t look away.
Reon says my name, and I reluctantly drag my gaze from Cressida to find him and Lilith standing there.
“Oh, I see you recognize one of my guests,” Lilith says.
I know she and Cressida have met before, but I didn’t realize they were close enough for her to invite Cressida to parties. But then again, Lilith probably did it on purpose, thinking it would be payback. I don’t think she will ever let me live down the torment I caused her. I don’t blame her, but at the same time, I would do anything to protect the Society.
“You’re good friends with Cressida, are you?” I ask her.
“No, I was just hoping to annoy you,” she replies cheerily, and I look at Reon to see him watching me. Lilith smiles and walks off, leaving us standing there.
“Your wife sure knows how to hold a damn grudge,” I inform him.
“I know, it’s one of my favorite things about her,” he says with pride as I scan the room for Cressida again.
“She doesn’t know you’re in love with Cressida,” he adds after a moment, and I spin to face him.
“Love?” I laugh, and he holds his face in a neutral expression. “Love?” I scoff.
“You offer to help train all the kids now? You don’t seem like that type of guy, Soren,” Reon says.
“Love?” I say again, confused with the words. Is he right that I wouldn’t offer anyone training, yet I did it so easily for her and her child? And dare I say, I like the kid. “How the fuck do you know about that?” I throw back at him
“Yes, love. And I have my sources.” He pats my back and then walks off, saying over his shoulder, “Be on your best behavior.”
Of course, I’m going to be on my best behavior. I always am at these types of events. But I linger like a fucking stalker, watching Cressida, waiting for her to look my way, but shedoesn’t. Her back is to me, and I can’t help but note how her dress clings to her curves.
Arlo eventually comes up beside me, chuckling.
“Who would have thought you would be afraid of a woman?” he comments.
“I’m not.”
“So, why haven’t you gone over there yet?”
“I will when she’s free.”
“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.”
He leaves me and heads straight to where Cressida is talking to Cora. Arlo says something, then pulls Cora away, leaving Hurricane, my infuriating journalist, standing by herself. She turns, scanning the room, and then her gaze snags on mine. I’m leaning against a table, watching her. Our eyes lock, and it’s like the rest of the room fades out, and there is just her standing there in that sexy as-sin black dress, looking at me like she is not sure whether to approach or run.
I don’t miss the way her grip tightens around her champagne glass just before she takes a hesitant step in my direction. That single movement does something to me, something sharp and unwanted.
My heart rate picks up, and I think back to what Reon said.
Love.
Surely, that’s not what this is.
I don’t love her, do I?
It’s just infatuation.
A pull I can’t explain. A craving that won’t burn out.
So, when does it go away?
