He did.
She stared down at the trophy.It wasn’t anything too fancy.A medium-sized fake gold plastic that had a knight standing at attention.But under it was the inscription she knew only came from Hawk.I’ll bite.
InThe Lions’ Den, the lions said that when they were ready to commit to an idea.To a business.A person.It was the same thing written on the card.Something only she would understand.But did he mean the words?
“Hawk never comes to these things,” she said, more to herself than to the friends surrounding her.
Margo and Alex shared a look.Neither seemed surprised by the statement.It was the pirate queen who spoke next.Her words were soft as she asked, “Did youwantto see him?”
Yes, more than anything.
Knowing he was here but giving her space somehow hurt worse than if he hadn’t shown up at all.
“I thought I would be angry when I saw him.But I wasn’t.I was…” She bit the inside of her cheek as a confusing swell of emotion rose inside her.It felt familiar.A swirling, swooping sensation she remembered well.All those times she and Hawk bickered in front of her shop.When he’d finally smiled at her.When they’d kissed that night at his apartment.
It wasn’t as simple as anger or happiness.She knew that now.
It was something stronger.
“Lilian,” Alex said, drawing her attention back.“Do you want to see him again?”
She looked up.Performers had taken to the dance floor.The acrobats of the faire were putting on a sensual show.The chandeliers dimmed as dark red LED lights encased the room.Her eyes searched the crowd for his familiar face, just one more time.When she didn’t see him, disappointment struck like an arrow.
“Yes,” she whimpered, feeling her lip wobble with the word.
There were so many things unsaid between them.So many things she wanted to ask him, to tell him.Congratulations, his letter said.Even now he was cheering her on from afar.She hated the devotion it showed and loved it fiercely.That was the essence of their relationship.
Hatred and love, masquerading as two separate things when they swirled together into an emotion that burned so bright she couldn’t tell where one started, and the other began.
“Yes,” she repeated, no longer on the edge of tears.She looked at her friends, who were both smiling.“Do you know where he went?”
“In fact, I do…” Alex pointed behind her, and Lilian spun.And saw him standing two paces behind her.
Hawk.A Raven mask adorned his face now, the black feathers blending perfectly with his hair.Against the blood red lighting, he was a dead ringer for the actual Raven King.
He was here.
He hadn’t left.
“I told you, I’m only here if you want me,” he said, as if reading her mind.
Behind them, the acrobats took a bow, completing their dance.Polite applause rose from the crowd as the floor opened to music and dancing once again.
“I need to talk to you.”The words burst from her lips as violins swelled into a slow sensual song.The lights stilled, encasing them in a dark curtain of red.Her heart rioted as she waited for his answer.
Hawk offered a hand.She handed her trophy to Margo.
“Then let us talk, the same way Penelope and Nox did at the Dark Elm Ball.”
Lilian frowned, not understanding the reference until he led her toward the dance floor, pulling her behind him.
“While dancing.”
“I don’t know what I’m more impressed by, the fact that you actually readThe Raven Kingor that you can dance.”She didn’t mean it to be rude, but the idea of Hawk knowing how to waltz was almost too strange to believe.Lilian turned to gauge her friends’ reactions to this new turn of events.But Margo and Alex were gone.
“I told you, my parents liked to control my weekends,” he answered evenly, but she could see his lips pulling back into a grimace at the memory.“When I was younger that meant LARPing and period dance lessons.”
“You poor baby.”The teasing reply came out of habit, but it brought a smile to both of their lips.She kept her eyes trained on him, studying the eyes behind the mask.The strong nose that some might have deemed too pointed but was perfect in her eyes.“I don’t know how to dance,” she admitted.
