Chapter 75 The vampire courts
“Gianna,” I gasped, staring at my sister in disbelief.
“Oh, sweet Lys.” She placed her hand on her chest in dramatic surprise. “I was only joking.”
She laughed softly.
“Goddess. You have lost your humor since moving out…”
“Gianna,” Mom appeared beside us, and clutched her arm. “I need your opinion on a dress. We can't let all that fashion school money go to waste now, can we?”
She gave Fentone a sweet smile.
I shot him a nervous glance and stiffened. I had never seen such darkness on his face before.
But gentleman that he was, he gave mom a polite nod. And as the sound of both women's heels faded, he turned to me.
“That did not seem like a joke to me. And what was that talk about moving out.” He lowered to sit beside me again, “Is there something I should know, Lys?”
His voice was soft, words polite. But in those green eyes, darkness was calcifying.
From the other end of the room, I could feel Hale's eyes on us, Dad’s too.
I had a suspicion that they had turned on their wolf hearing, and were now listening to us without each other's knowledge.
Suddenly, Hale started to get up. He was coming here.
My hands trembled in my speed to tear my purse open and grab the remote. “Gianna has an odd sense of humor. You should know her well by now.”
My voice was steady even as my heart raced.
I pressed the remote inside my purse, and from my side vision saw Hale sit back down immediately.
Fentone, oblivious to most of this, glanced down at my purse and looked back up.
I smiled tightly. I would rather risk his questions about my suspicious purse fiddling than have Hale walk over here, and claim me in front of everyone.
The Millers owned Meridian house, my ballet sponsor company.
And although I doubted Fentone would be so mean to ruin my career if he discovered our family's deception, President Miller was another matter.
“I heard Celeste say the Mayor is an old friend of yours.” He waved a maid over now and asked for a glass of water. “How old?” he turned to me.
Before I could think of a response, power literally walked into the room.
Everyone turned at the entrance of the Velvet Widow, and a complete hush fell in the room.
I pressed the remote and turned the toy off.
Despite vampires ranking lowest in all districts, every single person rose to their feet in respect.
Except Grandma, of course.
I finally spotted her, seated on a chaise near the glass doors that looked out to the conservatory.
She had been here the whole time.
I turned my attention to the front door again as Velvet Widow walked further into the room, returning everyone’s nod.
In her tow was the famous nerd of Nocturne District, the Data and information Billionaire, Cedric Clair.
Velvet widow walked right up to me and smiled.
My spine stiffened.
“It’s so good to see you healthy again, sweetheart.”
“Thank you ma’am.” I whispered, feeling disoriented. Not only had I never seen her up close before or spoken to her, she never smiled at anyone. Much less the granddaughter of a witch.
She nodded, and turned around.
Cedric Clair paused, and smiled at me. I returned an uncertain smile.
The man was wealthier than all of us put together, but you would never know it.
He was the typical nerd, big glasses and socially awkward. And now, he waved like a little boy, “Hi.”
“Hi,” I whispered back, still confused at this sudden turn of events. Wolves and vampires never mixed, much less a witch's descendant. I shouldn't even be speaking to them.
But after Finn, I could not help the feeling of kinship I had towards his kind. Especially as they had walked past everyone to say hello to just me.
“Lys, right?” Cedric lifted his brows now without glancing at the President’s son even once.
“Yes. Nice to meet you,” I said, feeling painfully self-aware at this point.
All eyes were on us at this point. And although they were polite enough to not whisper, I knew they would spread this news. The granddaughter of the most powerful witch has begun to fraternize with vampires.
Cedric stretched a hand out.
I hesitated for a second, conflicted. But I remembered those sad aqua-colored eyes back home, and took his hand in a firm handshake.
Damn the districts and all their prejudice.
“Nice to meet you too.” His smile brightened, and then he turned away finally.
The guests were filling out towards the grand hall now. I fell in line, ignoring all the disapproving looks from Dad, Fentone, Grandma, Alpha Rosamund.
The Alpha pulled Fentone into a conversation, and I fell behind, walking several feet behind them.
As we turned into the corridor with all my ancestors' portraits lining the wall, someone caught my arm from behind.
I jumped, turning. “Hale?”
The people in front of us were deep in conversation. I glanced back as my heart kicked. Dad would turn the corner any moment now.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I whispered fiercely.
“Saving you from sphincter dysfunction. Meet me in your guest bathroom in exactly ten minutes.”
He pulled away just a second before Fentone glanced back.
Hale brushed past him, and Fentone was halting his footsteps when he bowed suddenly, and turned away again.
Grandma fell in steps beside me, “Don’t act like you’ve seen a ghost now. Keep walking, honey.”
She looked immaculate in a purple two-piece suit. But coldness radiated from her pores.
“Are you mad at me?”
She laced our arms together. “I'm terrified for you. What the hell are you doing? I cannot even feel your wolf anymore.”
I jerked my head away.
“Lys.” She whispered in alarm. “You're not surprised.”
The corridor opened into the dining hall, and wood scraped against marble as everyone started to settle into their seats.
“Look at me, what else has been happening to you?”
I turned my head back, and the worry in her eyes made my eyes water.
She cared. Only she noticed, and cared about my welfare.
But the maids swarmed us before I could speak, explaining the seating arrangement.
My seat was between Fentone and Cedric Clair.