It was only then that Baz noticed the eyes on him, the friendly smiles thrown his way. Like everyone’s hostility toward him beingEclipse-born had vanished since he saved the girl from the deadly wards. His lungs expanded as a pleasurable warmth spread through him. He felt an unusual sense of pride. He felt, for the first time, like he didn’t want to hide from a crowd.
Reynald had Baz and Kai sitting next to each other, their knees slightly touching, while Clover stood behind them, a hand clasped on either of their shoulders. The posing process was rather long, and Baz couldn’t help but think,I am taking a photograph with Cornus fucking Clover, a thought he knew for certain must be echoed in Kai’s mind. He only hoped this photograph would remain lost to history.
Baz hadn’t realized his knee was bouncing nervously until Kai applied gentle pressure on it. The light touch only sparked another sort of nervousness in him, not entirely unpleasant.
“Sayvelleity,” Reynald singsonged before the flash drowned their vision in white.
“What doesvelleitymean, anyway?” Baz asked Clover once they were done with the process.
Clover smirked. “It means a desire that is not strong enough to be acted upon. A bit of a joke among us, you see, because that is the exact opposite of what these parties are. It’s what society expects of us, to not act upon our desires, at least not in ways that would tarnish our family images or such things. Same with the college. So many rules, so much decorum to follow. But here… here, in these private soirees, we get to indulge and be free.”
“There you are!” Cordie was suddenly beside her brother, weaving her arm through his. She looked glamorous in a lacy dark-green gown that fit loosely around her body, flowing like the waves of a deep, dark sea. She had on satin gloves the color of seafoam, and her hair was done up in an artful mass of curls. “Monopolizing our guests, are we?”
“I’m not monopolizing anyone.”
“Not anymore, you’re not.” She turned with a dazzling smile to a young man Baz recognized as the tailor they’d gone to to get their suits. “I wanted to introduce you tomyguest.”
All the warmth leeched from Clover’s smile. “The tailor, Cordelia? Really?”
“His name is Louka,” Cordie said tightly, throwing her brother a look that saidbehave.
Louka held his hand out to Clover. “How d’ya do,” he said in his easy lilt. “Thanks for inviting me.”
Clover raised a brow. “I certainly did no such thing. I think it’s best you leave.”
“Cornelius…”
Someone in the crowd called for Clover over the loud music. Clover gave his sister a look that saidwe’ll talk about this later, before he slipped on his charming smile again and left.
Louka looked baffled. “Did I say something wrong?”
Cordie leaned against him. “Not at all. My brother’s just… overprotective. Let’s forget him and have our fun.” She looked at Baz and Kai pointedly. “And why are you two not dancing?”
Baz made vigorous hand gestures, teetering backward. “Oh, no, I don’t—”
“Come on, Brysden.” Kai surprised him by pulling him toward the dance floor after Cordie and Louka. “A little fun won’t kill you.”
Baz looked forlornly in the crowd for Clover, wishing he could have stayed with him rather than being forced todance. He was usually more of a sit-and-watch type of person. In fact, he was more of a stay-in-his-dorm-room-and-not-come-out-at-all person, so this was all quite overwhelming.
The song that was playing was fast-paced and energetic. The four of them copied those around them, moving as they did, laughing together as they butchered the steps—well, asBazbutchered the steps. He was all two left feet and uncoordinated movements,while Kai and Cordie and even Louka seemed to have a natural knack for it. But oddly enough, Baz couldn’t find it in himself to be the slightest bit embarrassed. Here he was surrounded by so many people, and he didn’t care, because he was with Kai, and they were laughing, and everything in him felt light for the first time in what felt like forever.
As the fifth or sixth song ended—Baz had lost track—Cordie fanned herself, cheeks flushed and face glowing with sweat. “I need to sit.” When Baz made to follow her and Louka, she said, “Please, stay, enjoy yourselves. We’ll be right back.”
Baz wasn’t so sure about that as he spotted Clover coming up to Cordie, his mouth tight. They exchanged words. She seemed to yell something at him in anger before grabbing Louka and heading for the door.
“What do you think that’s about?” Kai asked, leaning in to be heard.
“No idea.”
The music had slowed, and couples formed around them, dancing closely.Intimately.Baz palmed the back of his neck, his cheeks warm from the exertion. “Should we grab a drink?”
But Kai seemed to have a different idea in mind. He offered Baz his hand, brows shooting up. And maybe it was the one sip of alcohol he’d had or maybe it was this high he was riding, but Baz took that hand without a moment’s hesitation. Kai bowed to him in a ridiculous way, to which Baz answered in kind, laughing.
It started out this way—as a joke, with the two of them smiling giddily, taking turns twirling each other around in an overly dramatic fashion.
But then something changed. The air between them became charged as their gazes met and held. Baz’s stomach dropped. He couldn’t make sense of the sudden racing of his heart or the warmth of his blood. He averted his gaze to focus on his feet, eventhough he didn’t want to—because, Tides damn him, helikedlooking at Kai, and he liked how he felt when he was around him.
The realization came to him with no small amount of confusion, especially as his gaze flickered up to Kai’s again, and something swelled in his stomach at how close they were. He didn’t understand what was happening. Except… hadn’t it always been there? This thing between them that felt like more than friendship alone. A sense of kinship Baz had always struggled to describe.
