Darling?Great. Dad has a deadly beauty. That shouldn't be surprising. Apparently his taste in women is as abhorrent as my mother's taste in men. Maybe the two of them were more perfect for each other than I thought.
"That's because Alyssa showed up as a surprise. She's-"
"A friend of mine," Dray interjects, keeping Drackus from having to mention my mother's name to his new girlfriend.
Dray steps up, relieving Drackus of his hold on me. It's obvious he doesn't want to relinquish me just yet, but he does so. It worries me slightly that he hasn't told his girlfriend about me, but not because I'm offended. It worries me because I can almost see her black heart, and I wonder what he fears she might do if she knew.
"Ah. How nice. I wasn't aware you were close with any light users. She's mortal, is she not? I can hear her quickly beating heart."
A devious sparkle glistens in her eye. I really hope Drackus keeps his silence about his true ties to me.
"Indeed she is, but she's very well acquainted with our world already," Dray murmurs, pulling me a little closer to him.
Drackus gauges our connection, not seeming thrilled with the dark angel touching me. It's not the dark angel he should fear. It's the dark user and night stalker that drive me crazy... literally.
"Well, should we move on to the dinner table?" Dray asks, trying to peel Cruella's eyes off me.
"Certainly," she says coolly, her impeccable posture too poised. "I'd love to get our party underway."
I glance to Drackus, and he thins his lips as if he feels uncomfortable, which is highly unusual. Normally, he's a rock - his emotions undecipherable.
"By the way, Alyssa, this is Amari. My bride-to-be," Drackus says, his tone steady and emotionless once again.
I suddenly feel a little sick.
I officially just got a hell of a lot more than I came for. First he flips my rags into a rich dress, and now he's giving me a wicked stepmother. I can't even begin to fathom how morbid this Cinderella story just became.
"It's nice to meet you, Amari," I force out, trying not to sound as shocked as I am.
She gives me a tight smile, not even pretending to be warm as she walks by, rounding up her guests for their celebration. Did I really just stumble into my father's engagement party?
Dray releases me when Drackus pulls me away. He smirks, seeming to realize my father's discomfort which I still find bizarre.
"You're bound to that night stalker. I can see it in your colors," Drackus whispers, his voice almost too low for even my overexerted hearing.
"I didn't tell him I was a... never mind. I can't have this conversation with you. It's too weird."
An accidental smile quirks up, but he banishes it quickly. It almost looks like a brush of sadness and guilt resonates in his eternally young face.
"I understand that. To be honest, I'm not too comfortable with the subject either. I am glad you're here though. I would have invited you, but I would have never thought you'd come."
Surehe would have invited me.
"I don't think your bride is too fond of me."
He lets a laugh escape and shakes his head. "You're an unknown light. She's just wary. Ignore her."
Just as we round the corner, the familiar spiraled staircase draws my attention. My breath is almost stolen as I stare into the blue eyes staring back at me in widened disbelief.
It's Gage.
His button-up shirt matches his cosmic blue eyes. In true rebel fashion, he bypassed the need for a suit and tie. His frayed denim jeans clash with the formal attire, but they look so much better than all the designer fabric in here.
He rests his hands in his pockets, his eyes beseeching my silence, and I hold my tongue.
"Ah, Gage. There you are. This is Air... I mean, this is Alyssa. I've told you about her before. For obvious reasons, I'd appreciate it if you referred to her as only Dray's friend."
His lips tighten as he nods, and I feel the heat of my body flooding me. Gage's eyes widen as he reads my scandalous aura, and I cringe as Drackus's hold tightens on me.
"Gage is Amari's son. My soon-to-be stepson."
