First World(78)

Josian was distracted from answering. Lallielle was waving us over. She was a little away, chatting to a large group of people. I could see Quarn standing to one side. I waved and he acknowledged me with a nod and mimed a noose around his neck. I laughed. He’d be hating this.

“You go, baby girl. I’ll take one for the team.” Josian shooed me off in the opposite direction before he moved toward Lallielle.

I walked away as fast as the ridiculous heels allowed and managed to grab a glass of quant juice. Looking around, I noticed a nice quiet corner where I could kick off my death-trap heels and made my way there.

Sinking into a chair, I closed my eyes.

“What are you doing hiding in the corner at your own party, Red?”

I jumped at the smooth voice. When I opened my eyes, I found Brace standing in front of me. He stared for an immeasurable moment, his eyes heated and his expression unreadable.

“There are not words to describe how you look tonight,” he said finally before looking away. He let out a strangled breath as he turned back. “I want to say breathtaking and breathtaking is correct but it is not enough.”

I drowned in the heat of his eyes for a moment, and then I took in the full picture.

Speaking of breathtaking! My heart stuttered. Before that moment I’d never seen him in anything but casual clothes. Tonight his height was emphasized in a perfect fitted black tuxedo. His broad shoulders filled out the jacket. He was huge, solidly built, falling just short of being bulky. He looked dark and dangerous. The silky strands of his inky black hair fell along his forehead.

I stood then, torn between throwing myself into his arms, pride be damned, or punching him in his perfect nose.

“Where have you been, Brace?” Angry words erupted before I could stop them. “Why did you bother to come at all?”

Okay, I was even more pissed off than I thought.

Before he could answer, I turned and walked away. The punching in the face option was definitely starting to win.

As I stormed off, I realized I’d left my shoes under the chair. Shrugging, I decided to retrieve them later, hoping no one would notice.

A hand caught my arm. Only at the last second I stopped myself from flipping the person over my shoulder. Old habits. I turned, expecting to see Brace, but it was someone else.

“Would you like to dance, Aribella?” Lucas stood before me.

I should have known. Although the jolt wasn’t as obvious, there was still some type of mild electric connection between us.

I looked to the corner where I’d left Brace. He was gone. I turned back and, with a sigh, nodded.

“As long as you call me Abby.”

I placed my hand into the crook of his outstretched arm. He smiled broadly.

“Abby it is then.” He spun me out onto the floor.

I swayed awkwardly a few times, uncomfortably, but at least I was more co-ordinated barefoot.

“Sorry, I have no idea how to dance.” I shrugged.

“Oh, really? I couldn’t tell. You do such a perfect sway.” Lucas smiled cheekily.

Flushing a little, I smiled back. “You should see me do the chicken dance. I was compound champion.”

Laughing, he leaned closer, the standard First Worlders’ perfect white teeth flashing, the cold iciness of his blond beauty softening as he smiled.

“I have no idea what a chicken dance is.” He looked down. “Do you realize you aren’t wearing shoes?”

I looked down at my bare toes. At least my toenails looked wicked. They were painted a shimmery black to match my dress.

“Yeah, they’re over in the corner somewhere.” I sighed. “They were killing my feet.”

Lucas threw back his head, laughing out loud. “You are definitely not what I expected.”

He wasn’t exactly my expectation of the spoilt future Emperor either. But there was still something about him that made me feel edgy.

I turned at a low deep growl. There was no one around us; I couldn’t tell where the rumble came from. Suddenly a hand appeared on Lucas’s arm. Brace appeared from nowhere to stand before us, serious and, as usual, beautiful. And, as usual, those damn eyes called to me, tantalizing me.

“Do you mind if I steal Abby away for a minute?”

I could hear the restrained anger in his voice. What was his problem?

Lucas looked down at me before facing Brace. He had to look up a little to meet his eyes, but eventually he nodded and stepped away.

I noticed Brace had my shiny black heels hooked over his right hand.

“Did you lose something, Red?” he asked me.

Shaking my head, I snatched the heels from him.

“Now, now, snatching isn’t nice, Abby.”

Screwing up my nose, I stuck my tongue out at him.

With great difficulty, I managed to finagle my shoes on. Brace stood back, grinning at me.