Saying Devlin Ross is handsome is like calling a peacock pretty—a complete understatement. He’s tragically good-looking with his walnut-colored hair raked back from his face and stubble peppering his cheeks and chin. A peach-colored T-shirt peeks out from beneath his white suit, the sleeves of which are rolled up to the elbow.
“Devlin, good to see you.”
He leans over and kisses my cheek before his gaze darts to Blair. His eyes linger on her, and his entire face brightens.
“Well, imagine seeing you two days in a row, Miss Blair.”
“Imagine that,” she mutters, rolling her eyes.
“I was disappointed that you didn’t dance with me last night.”
She gives him a hard look. “How could I dance with you when you were already occupied with two other partners?”
“Who? These ladies? They know to give me up when I ask.”
My sister taps her foot impatiently. “Do you want something, Devlin?”
“Only to say hello and to mingle with the fae.” He glances over both his shoulders. “Looks like a lot of witches and wizards have come, so maybe they’re not as afraid of these people as we think they are.”
“Astute observation,” she grinds out, shooting him eye-daggers.
He smiles and the corners of his eyes crinkle. “Ladies, I’m going to takemyladiesand find some refreshments. Addison, congratulations. And Blair”—his eyes spark with mischief—“Iwillget that dance.”
“When hell freezes over,” she mutters after he’s gone. “Thenerve of him. Dating two women and flirting with me. But anyway.” Blair exhales a gusty sigh before forcing a wide smile onto her face. “Where’s this fiancé of yours?”
I cringe, because I don’t know. But as I scan the crowd, a shadow falls from the castle doorway.
It’s Feylin.
And he looks drop-dead gorgeous.
16
Feylin
Ten minutes earlier
“Joined, Feylin? You’rejoinedto her?”
It was a terrible idea to allow Trawick into my office once I sequestered it back from Ryals. He’s reacting exactly as I knew he would.
My best friend glowers at me. He drops into the chair across from mine and rakes his long brown bangs from his face. “I saidgoto the ball, notjoinwith one of the Thornrose women. Gods, you didn’t even join to Tess when the two of you got engaged.”
My chest tightens so hard it feels like a hand’s squeezing my heart. “Don’t you think I know that?” I growl.
“Sorry to bring her up,” he apologizes. “But back to this— how’d it happen?”
“It just did.”
“It couldn’t have happened unless you said it,” he snarls.
“You guessed it.” I lift a stack of papers and tap themtogether, straightening them before dropping them back on the desk. “I said it.”
“Why?”
“Because I fell deeply and passionately in love at first sight.”
He scoffs. “You’re a liar, and I don’t understand why you’re not telling me the truth.”
