I leaned onto the edge of the booth, watching the night finally stake its claim on the sky. Stars slowly winked awake, and the lights from the buildings all around began flicking on. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I said. My eyes shifted toward my Mate to find him watching me again.
“Yes, it is,” Collin agreed quietly.
I pushed away from the booth, straightening my dress as I turned back toward Collin and, to my surprise, a hovering podium. A Defect placed an assortment of plates, cups, teapots, and tiered arrangements of colorful foods.
With the sun gone, all the alcoves were aglow. Couples and groups chatted like tiny glittering gems on display for everyone else to see.
“Enjoy,” the Defect told us as he drifted away. Other podiums floated to and from the alcoves like little worker bees. Collin reached across the table, grabbing my teapot and filling my cup with ease, lifting the sleeve of his jacket. The outside of his wrist wasn’t glowing.
“Thank you.” I blew on the steaming cup. “Does your wrist not glow with our contract?”
“It does not. Even among two Elites, the male’s wrist will not glow.”
“Why?”
“It’s always been that way,” Collin said. “If you’re concerned about people knowing about us, I can assure you the Elite will know you are my Mate and, in turn, that I am yours.” His sapphire eyes met my matching gaze. “There will be no hiding you.”
My stomach made a little swooping motion. Why did Collin say such things? He was an Illum. I was a Minor. I was beneath him. Everything I had ever been told said this should not be happening. I was a vessel, right?
Collin selected a food item from the bottom tier. We each had our own tiered array of food, and the number of options was overwhelming. It seemed we had some of the same items, while others varied. The lowest level contained different shapes. The middle held round, golden things with jars, and the top displayed things that resembled chocolate cake.
“We usually start at the bottom. It contains different savory items. Then work our way up to the scones and finally the sweets,” Collin informed me, drinking his tea.
“If I want to start at the top?” I eyed a particularly mouthwatering piece of chocolate dusted in gold.
The corner of his mouth tugged. “Well, in polite society, it would be unheard of.”
Crestfallen, I tore my eyes from the top tier. A small sigh left my lips. Collin reached across, picking up the gold-dusted chocolate and placing it upon my plate before returning to his tea.
I stared at him. “I thought it was unheard of?”
Collin leaned back, his gaze gleaming. “What is the point in being a member of the Illum if I do not bend their rules to suit my needs? Have the chocolate.”
“And my eating chocolate is your need?” I flushed at the unintended heat in my voice.
“Yes, your needs are now my needs,” Collin stated. My heart skipped in my chest.
“But they can see us,” I said, my eyes sliding to all the Elite.
“They know better than to question the Illum—to question me.”
His eyes sparkled at me, and I snatched the chocolate and ate the entire thing in a single bite. Rich, smoky sweetness burst across my tongue. I swallowed my moan.
“Pity, I only said yes in hopes of more indecent sounds.” Collin smirked behind his teacup. My blush deepened.
“You broke the rules in hopes of indecent sounds?” I asked incredulously, fighting a smile.
“No,” Collin said, replacing his teacup. “I broke the rules in hopes of hearingyourindecent sounds.” His words snaked across my skin, and heat pooled low in my stomach.
“Your final tea, spiced mint,” the attendant announced, startling me. I hadn’t noticed his return. He placed two glass mugs with rich tan tea that smelled delicious, then removed our teapots, cups, and plates and made to remove our stands of food. A wave of regret swept through me. I wouldn’t get to eat the cake.
Collin halted the Defect. “My Mate isn’t done with her food.”
“My apologies, Mr. Collin,” the attendant said hastily. “Ma’am.” He bowed his head in my direction.
“Her name is Emeline.” Collin reached toward my stand, removed the top plate completely, and placed it in front of me. “This is all she really wants.” He pushed the stand toward the man.
His eyes grew. Before taking my stand, he began to reach for Collin’s, then hesitated. “May I remove yours, Mr. Collin?”
