Page 154 of The Addict

“Inform you of what, dear?” She touched my face. “Hon, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”

I grit my teeth. She couldn’t even begin to comprehend my panic. “You invited the Thorne family to this event, that’s what’s wrong!”

I couldn’t even fathom encountering Silas right now. Or Delane seeing him without any preparation after what went down.

“Honey, please calm down,” my mother reprimanded softly. “It would have been rude of us to exclude them from this occasion. Though we might not be best of friends, it is only in elegant taste that wealthy families such as us are known to extend pleasantries to other families like ours. It’s a reputation thing. Imagine if…”

Tuning her out, I glanced over her shoulder to the spot where Delane was before. To my dismay, she was not by the punch bowl any longer. My mind began to swiftly take a turn for the worst. Has Silas seen her?

Is Silas even here?

Of course he would be here, I answered my own question angrily. Just yesterday, I had told him that I was attending a family “thing” today and couldn’t hang out with him. Silas would show up out of spite, I thought darkly. I knew his temper. He was going to be so fucking pissed.

And if he saw Delane…

“Mom, I gotta go,” I said, relinquishing her hand and making my way back through the crowd.

“Are you sure that you’re okay?” she called out.

I didn’t answer.

DELANE

Everyone was dancing so beautifully.

I watched from afar, admiring the canvas of waltzing colors and people in their camouflage. It was a dance of deception, I realized. The Masquerade was so inquisitive—you were seen but not known. It was oddly enjoyable and made me feel more confident about being there around so many others. I couldn’t help but be amazed by the peculiar way of the dancers. I wondered who created this type of party, dancing while hiding your face behind a mask.

I sipped my punch as the latest song ended, and observed the people formally thank their dancing partners with a courtesy or bow. I fidgeted. It was such a formal event, I suddenly feared that my dress was no match to any others, let alone my formalities.

“Well, now. Look who it is.”

I jumped slightly and turned to the voice from behind me.

“You look very pretty tonight, Delane.” Damian Hansen spoke with a smile.

“T-Thank you,” I blurted out, trying to feebly present him with a compliment as well. “Y-You look very pretty as well.”

I nearly keeled over in embarrassment.

“I meant HANDSOME!” I shouted, covering my face. “Oh my god, I’m sorry.”

Damian chuckled. “It’s fine, Delane. No need to present me with respects. You are a guest here, so please, make yourself at home and have fun.”

“Thank you…” I said with a smile.

“May I ask you for a dance?” he asked kindly, extending his hand out to me.

“Certainly!” I replied, trying to remember all of the steps Noah just taught me a few minutes ago. Damian took my hand, kissed it, and before he could lead me out to the dance floor, stopped suddenly at his name being called.

“Damian.”

The tone was so rigid it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I turned around swiftly, hitting a tall man that looked very much like Damian and Noah alike.

Looking deep into his eyes, I felt a familiar feeling of dread form a tight knot in my stomach. I had never seen this man before, but the thought of standing next to him any longer made my heart hammer against the walls of my chest in fear. Who was this?

“Excuse me, s-sir…” I stammered, curtseying and stepping back, closer to Damian.

The man completely ignored my presence, having interest only for the person he had called to.