Arriving the venue

Arriving the venue
Chapter 165

Thane’s POV

I stood at the foot of the spiral staircase waiting, my boots clicking softly against the polished black floor  at the foot of the stairs as I paced back and forth. It was already nightfall again with the sky now dark outside.

We were down to just thirty minutes before the time of the wedding mentioned in the invite from Tautia and all the plans had finally been put in place precision. 

The rest of the troops were already on standby at the city square right now with them blending into the nighttime crowd so perfectly you wouldn't even notice them. They were posing as late-night customers, street vendors selling snacks, beggars in the shadows, and even corporate workers just chilling out with a drink after a long day at the office. I already got the call that everyone was in position.

I didn't know why I had this nagging feeling of nervousness in the pit of my stomach, even when I had checked the plans over and over again to make sure there wasn't a single loophole or weak spot left. 

My mind kept looping through every possible disaster that could happen but I forced myself to take a steady breath. Besides, I wasn't going to let her out of my sight for a single second. 

I was going to be with her throughout the entire time, tucked right inside her shadow where no one could see me and also strike out when need be.

Just then, the sharp clicking of heels on the floor above got my attention, echoing through the quiet house. Without even my consent, I could feel my heart beat pick up speed, thudding hard against my ribs as the clicking got closer to the edge of the stairs at the top. 

I turned fully now to face the stairs, my breath hitching in my throat as I waited. Just then, Ruby appeared at the top of the stairway. She looked as pretty as ever, wrapped in a red flowing gown made of a light material that seemed to sway and flow around her ankles like spilled blood on the black reflective steps. 

Her hair, which was now mostly white was snapped atop her head in a messy bun, with loose curls coming down to drape the sides of her face. She had little specs of makeup here and there, highlighting those pouty lips of hers, her high cheekbones and those wide, innocent-looking green eyes that always seemed to see right through me. 

She looked like something pulled straight out of a fantasy drawing as she moved slowly, taking her time down the steps. The whole time, she had her eyes fixed on mine without blinking with her gaze locking me in place and making the rest of the world go quiet.

I could feel a sudden, intense heat in my briefs as the neck of my t-shirt suddenly felt way too tight against my throat, like it was choking me. I took a big gulp of saliva, feeling the hunger for her gnaw at me just as she touched the final step and stood on the same level as me. 

The rest of the room seemed to disappear into a blur as her soft, familiar scent filled the air and wrapped around my head. I didn't wait for her to move again or say a word. I suddenly moved with speed and in a blur i moved covering the small gap left between us in a fraction of a second. 

I came to a dead stop right in front of her, my hands wrapping around her waist and pulling her unbelievably close to me, crashing her body against mine. 

I brought her red-painted lipsto now stop just inches from mine and so close enough to feel her breath. In the low-cut blouse of the dress, her breasts sat perfectly as they pressed softly against my chest, and I couldn't help the possessive growl that ripped from the bottom of my throat.

‘’I must have forgotten to mention again how my favorite color to have you in is red… looks like blood dripping off of you… you look breathtaking wife… I almost don't want to see you step out the door anymore. I want to keep you right here behind locked doors where I can slowly peel this off of you…’’ I whispered, my voice raspy and thick with a need I could barely contain. 

My fingers trailed the hem of her low-cut gown, tracing the warm skin there until a soft, shaky sigh left her lips and she moved even closer into me, her heat soaking right through my clothes.

‘’You are not one for long talks, husband…’’ Ruby said in that seductive tone that made me almost throw caution to the wind and forget about the mission entirely. It wasn't helping that her wandering fingers were dancing over the hem of my trousers, pulling at the spot where my belt came in contact with my skin. That just made my thoughts run wild and my blood rush even faster through my veins.

‘’You would roast my skin off if I ruin your makeup and have to make you redo it,’’ I said point-blank. I watched as she chuckled, her green eyes lighting up for a second but little did she know Auxoria already did that once before in the past. I wasn't looking for a repeat tonight.

‘’So is that a promise of something steamy tonight?’’ She finally said with a wink, her hands falling to her sides as she took a half-step back. 

‘’It sure is. The night has no other choice than to end well then,’’ I said firmly. I took a deliberate step back, my hand flying down to the open slit in her dress that stopped mid-thigh and my fingers brushed against the cool, hard surface of the metal head of a gun that was peeking out from under the fabric. 

I had noticed it the second she started making her way down the stairs, I reached out and adjusted it, tucking it deeper so it wouldn't snag out for all to see. 

‘’Don't hesitate to use it. Although it would do nothing to truly harm him, it will slow him down, and that is all we need to give us an opening. Besides, I will be with you all through this, every single step,’’ I reassured her, leaning in to leave a soft lingering kiss on her forehead.

‘’Ummm guys, not to sound jealous or anything, but we really need to get going. The clock is ticking,’’ Lucas’s awkward voice broke through the room as he stepped up closer looking like he didn't know where to put his eyes. 

Ruby gave a sharp nod my way, her hand falling into mine as we finally turned to leave. We all made our way out of the house and into the cool night air, and in no time, we were perfectly seated inside of the black SUV. 

It was just I and Ruby in the back seat while Lucas went off with the other car to spread out the rest of the team. We were soon speeding through the highway, the streetlights dancing past the tinted windows as we headed for the central square.

‘’You still remember what we talked about right?’’ I asked, breaking the heavy silence in the car. The central square was soon coming into sight, I could already spot the luxurious hotel lobby where the invite stated we were supposed to meet standing out in the distance.

‘’Yeah, yeah, I do,’’ Ruby let out with a heavy breath, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady her mind. I could see her hands trembling just a little bit in her lap. ‘’You should hide now. We are here.’’ She said it next just as the car slowed down, the tires crunching as it came to a stop right in front of the grand entrance of the hotel. 

Giving a curt nod her way, I slowly summoned my shadow to the surface. I felt the familiar cold sensation as it began to bleed out of my skin, allowing it to slowly cover me from head to toe. It spread like thick black ink, swallowing my clothes and my face until, in the next second, I vanished from sight. I blended in perfectly with her own shadow on the car seat.

My mind was alert as the car door was pushed open from the outside by a valet. Ruby stepped out, the red of her dress looking almost like black blood under the dim streetlights. I made sure to perfectly follow after her, moving as she moved and staying tucked away in her shadow.

As she slowly approached the threshold of the hotel, I could see the security guards stationed at the gold-rimmed doors. Even from a distance, I could already sniff out the shadows in them.

But something shocking happened just as Ruby crossed the threshold that had my heart dropping right out of my chest. For once in a very long time, I felt a rising panic.