Meadow took one of Nora’s hands and squeezed. She’d learned a little more about the female’s past in recent days—about her being sold as a breeder by her father and being sexually assaulted, as well as her babies being taken from her—and couldn’t help but say, “You’re amazing already, Nora. We aren’t all on the same journey, and we have to take the wins when and where we can.”
Nora nodded. “I like that. And yes, we should.Allof us.”
Ack, she meant her, too. “I’m trying, but it’s going to take more lessons and being able to control my magic in public without a training bracelet before I stop hating my powers.”
“Trust me, I understand better than most that it takes time to change routines or how you see the world. If you ever want to talk, I’m here. I know I’m not your blood-sister, but I alwayswanted sisters growing up, and I’d love you to be mine, just like Yesenia has become one.”
“Hm, a vampire sister. I’d like that, and not just because my father would have a heart attack if he knew about it, either. You’ve been so kind to me, Nora, and I really appreciate it. You’re far too good for River.”
Laughing, Nora shook her head before replying, “Not true, but thank you.” She tilted her head and asked, “So, will you go to the ball at Nyx’s Kingdom tonight? It’s a masked affair, and we can even do your hair to hide your ears, if you like. But it might be nice to take a break from your lessons and have some fun. It’ll also give you a chance to see Laurie and Joseph in their element. Well, more Laurie than Joseph, but both will dance, if you ask them to.”
“Er, I don’t know how to dance.”
Nora tapped her chin. “I’m sure we have enough time to teach you how to waltz. If you’re not too tired, that is?”
Before she could change her mind, she blurted, “No, I’m not too tired. I’d love to learn the waltz and go tonight.”
Nora clapped her hands. “Brilliant. Then let’s see what you have in your wardrobe and then I can teach you the waltz. We might even get River to help, as I’ve taught him, too.”
Yesenia snorted. “I’d pay to see River dance.”
Nora said, “He’s quite good, actually. Even if he holds me a little too close.”
Meadow imagined Joseph holding her close before giving her to Laurie, who definitely moved his hand too far south, and anticipation coursed through her.
While she had a long way to go before she could be considered a social butterfly, she didn’t have to hide away any longer. And she’d always dreamed of balls and dancing and the things that rarely happened in the twenty-first century any longer.
Damn it, I’m tired of cowering. I want to have fun, and this will be like a dream.
Even so, she needed one caveat. “I can wear long gloves over my training bracelet, though, right? I don’t want it to come off.”
Yesenia nodded. “We’ll make it work. They have loads of buttons on a lot of fancy gloves here, so we should be able to fit one over the bracelet easily.” She studied Meadow for a beat and asked, “So that’s a yes?”
“Yes, I’ll go. Although I don’t know what to wear.”
Nora threaded her arm through Meadow’s. “More of your dresses arrived today, including one I bought for you as a gift, just in case you ever wanted to attend a masquerade ball at Nyx’s Kingdom.”
Yesenia jumped in. “And I brought along some of the jewelry Leo inherited from his ancestors. You’ll look like a queen when we’re through!”
Meadow laughed. “This is like when I was really little and you liked to dress me up.”
She’d seen some of the photos before their father had kicked Yesenia out and burned them all.
Yesenia winked. “This will be even better since you actuallywantto dress up. Now, let’s go. There’s a lot to do and not much time to do it.”
And as her sister and sister-in-law taught her to dance and helped her dress, Meadow laughed and smiled, and all around had more fun than she’d had in a long time.
However, as much as she loved spending time with the two females, she was looking forward to the ball.
And by the time she was in the carriage and on her way, she tapped her foot and did her best to push aside the past, her worries, and anything negative. She wanted to have fun, get to know her two vampires, and maybe forget about the rest of the world for a short while, too.
Chapter Sixteen
Joseph stood at the edge of the ballroom and watched as patrons danced in the center of the floor.
Tonight was one of the tamer Nyx’s Kingdom events, with clothing being required, but everyone was free to touch as much as they wanted, which meant many of the couples were kissing or caressing or dancing with their bodies close together.
The first time they’d had a tamer masquerade ball, Joseph had asked Laurie why. To him, it seemed the opposite of what their members paid for.
