He had avoided Karwyn since that night. Knowing how Karwyn felt about him, Rhay knew he should have never gone that far, never tried to manipulate him that way. He feared he had unleashed something that he would have preferred to stay buried deep within Karwyn’s cold heart.
Heading to the bar, he gestured for another drink, and it was soon in his hand. A few seats away, Rhay noticed a gorgeous fae with long lilac hair. He raised his glass at this perfect distraction. She gave him a devilish smile before he turned to take a sip of his drink.
Straight away, there was a hand on his shoulder. She was quick. Rhay turned around, ready to flirt with the dazzling fae. Instead, he found Rio’s soft smile.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Rio said, his tone unsure. “You left so quickly at the masquerade ball…”
Avoiding the awkward silence, Rhay signalled for more drinks.
“I don’t need two drinks,” Rio remarked when two glasses appeared in front of him. His tone was colder now, seemingly torn between concern and embarrassment. Had Rio noticed Rhay leaving the party with another fae after he’d almost asked Rio to spend the night with him?
“One is for me, love,” Rhay replied as he downed his half-full drink and took another one.
“Maybe you should slow down. Talk?”
Rhay wasn’t in Caligo to be lectured about his lifestyle, to be reminded of his errors. He had been trying for days to shake off this dreadful feeling in his chest that he couldn’t quite name. Guilt? Shame? An endless abyss of sorrow, of loneliness?
Holding Rio’s gaze, Rhay downed his second drink before taking the trader’s hand. “We should dance.”
Moving perfectly to the rhythm of the fast song, Rhay couldn’t help but smile at Rio’s awkwardness. He was beautiful, but uncontrolled in his dancing, which was extremely endearing. He wished they could have danced at the masquerade ball. He wished they could have enjoyed the evening without Karwyn’s shadow looming over him. In another life, Rhay would have embraced this connection he felt with Rio.
Moving closer, Rhay took his hand and made Rio twirl in a circle in an extravagant manner. The smile on Rio’s face melted Rhay’s worries. Their bodies moved closer. Rio didn’t break eye contact as Rhay slowly hooked his arms around his neck.
They were almost the same height, Rhay’s lips so close to Rio’s. If he leaned in now—
“About last time…” Rio started, his eyes darting from Rhay’s lips to his eyes. His hands were on Rhay’s shoulders as they danced slowly.
Rhay pressed his finger to Rio’s mouth. “Let’s not talk, love.”
As soon as Rhay pulled back, Rio opened his mouth. “I think we should talk, Nix. Whatever is going on with you, I won’t judge.”
You will and you should.There was no perfect masquerade ball in the cards for them.
Dropping his arms and turning away from Rio, Rhay scanned the crowd. All he needed was a diversion, utter bliss and nothingness. Rhay felt the alcohol coursing through his body as his eyes met the gorgeous fae from the bar. Leaving Rio, he danced his way towards the lilac-haired beauty, ignoring the guilt in his heart and focusing on his buzz instead.
“Hello there, love. Care for some company?” The woman put her hands on his shoulders and moved her body in sync with his. Now this one knew how to dance. She swayed her hips while Rhay let his fingers run down her body.
Just as he leaned in for a kiss, Rhay was violently pulled away from the charming fae.
“What in Liraen are you doing with my fiancée?” The fae who had interrupted them held Rhay by the collar of his jumpsuit.
Rhay grinned at him daringly. “I think she rather enjoys my company, so be a doll and leave us alone.”
The lilac-haired fae looked caught.
“You want me to beat you up so bad that your mother won’t recognise you?”
Rhay’s face turned serious even as the alcohol made him reckless. “My mother is long dead, so go ahead, Idareyou.” As the fae raised his fist, a weird sense of joy rushed through Rhay. Pain—now that was a feeling he deserved.
“Whoa, let’s take a moment,” Rio interjected, standing next to Rhay now and raising his hands in an appeasing gesture.
“Who the fuck are you?” the angry fiancé shouted.
Rio didn’t back down. “Do you know the fae you’re about to beat up is King Karwyn Adelway’s close friend?”
Rhay rolled his eyes. Great, Rio had to have a saviour’s complex. Rhay was too familiar with it, and he knew it never ended well.
“Really?” asked the angry fae. His eyes slowly scanned Rhay, probably realising that his outfit cost at least a month of work.
