Almost everyone in attendance is an unknown face—dignitaries, political allies, and the crème de la crème of Zodiac Island. The members of the Brotherhood and Elise’s parents are the only guests I recognize.
And Faye, who’s on the dance floor snuggled in the arms of her fiancé. As I grab a glass of champagne from a waiter passing by, Sebastian sneaks up beside me and settles his hand on my back, his touch warm on my bare skin.
“Where have you been?”
“I needed a few moments alone on the cliffs.”
“Overwhelming day?”
“A little.”
“You don’t look it.” He casts an appreciative glance up and down my body. “Compliments to the designer of this sexy-as-sin dress.”
“It’s actually very modest.” Deep plum silk hugs my hips, skirt falling below the knee. The high halter neckline displays a conservative keyhole cutout. He has his hand on the most risqué part of the dress, fingers brushing along my spine to tease the top of my ass.
He leans closer, and his breath sends shivers across my nape. “I can’t wait to get you out of it later.”
“Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep.”
His laughter is a deep rumble, and I feel that vibration between my legs. “You’re desperate for it, aren’t you, princess?”
“Just how you wanted me, right?”
“Something like that.” His mouth hovers near mine, begging to sample the champagne on my lips. “We’ll have to pick this up later,” he whispers. “The groom is paging me.” Tugging at his tie, as if the plum piece of silk is strangling him, he heads toward my brother.
Elise is chatting with guests, so I grab a small plate of finger foods and sit at an empty table for two, settling in for the next few minutes to nibble on veggie sticks and observe the reception as it unfolds. It’s a casual affair with formally dressed people but ideal for the setting. I’m glad Elise didn’t cave to pressure and go with the wedding planner’s suggestion of a formal shindig in the ballroom. Everything about this day has Elise’s imprint on it.
Spotting me alone at the table, Faye approaches me with caution, sans fiancé. “Can I join you?”
“Of course.” I gesture to the vacant chair across from me.
She slides in, and at first the silence between us grows uncomfortable. I’m not used to being at odds with either of my former ladies, but Faye and I never cleared the air after Landon dropped his bomb of truth on me. She left the island before my anger cooled.
“I’ve missed you,” she says, brown eyes casting apology my way.
“I know, Faye.” My soft, regretful tone imparts what my words can’t just yet—that I miss her too.
That I wish she were still here.
That I’m glad she’s found happiness.
And how I wish, more than anything, that she’d told me the truth from the beginning.
“The ceremony was lovely, wasn’t it?” She’s grasping at a way to break through my guard, but I don’t know if she can.
“It was.”
A sigh, and then she tries again. “I can’t believe how far you’ve come in your designs. The dresses are beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
She falls quiet for a while, and I think she’s given up on small talk when her attention settles over my shoulder. “Who’s that woman standing next to Landon?”
I turn, expecting to find one of the two-hundred guests at my brother’s side. Instead, it’s the woman I’d hoped was too self-absorbed to put in an appearance at her brother’s wedding.
“That’s Lilith Astor, Landon’s sister.”
If Faye has a response to that, I miss it because Lilith chooses that moment to put her hand on Sebastian, her manicured fingers curling around his forearm. She says something into his ear, and my blood boils. I’m riveted, the guests around me ceasing to exist.
He’ll tell her to get lost.
She’ll stomp away, face twisted in a resentful scowl.
His gorgeous blue eyes will meet mine from across the reception tent, communicating his love and loyalty.
My mouth hangs open as he follows her outside the tent.
What just happened?
“Novalee? Are you okay?” Faye’s concerned tone breaks through my shock.
I stand in a rush. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”
She objects, pleading with me to tell her what’s wrong, but I’m already in flight, feet carrying me across the tent. The music switches tempo as I near the dance floor, and that’s when Liam blocks my path.
“Let them go,” he says, hands on my shoulders. “This isn’t the place for a scene.”
“Don’t touch me.”
His wounded expression reaches the decency that still lives inside me somewhere, and I fight back tears. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”
With a sigh, he takes my hand. “Dance with me. Last time I checked, that’s still allowed at a wedding.”
I let him lead me onto the dance floor, but as he pulls me into his arms, my heart is still on the ground where he stopped me, bleeding mistrust.
“He doesn’t deserve you.”
Unable to speak without breaking down, I hold on to him, my cheek against his chest, and focus on breathing.
Because if I’m breathing, that means my heart can’t be shattered.
Right?
A voice inside my head whispers that I’m jumping to conclusions, that maybe there’s another explanation, and he isn’t disappearing with Lilith like he did on the night of the ball. I consider everything the more reasonable side of my conscious mind points out, but I’m incapable of heeding such wisdom. Maybe I’m as reactionary as Sebastian.
He’s fire, and I’m air. Together, we’ll set the universe ablaze if we’re not careful.
After several moments of disquiet, Liam sighs, his exhale disrupting my hair. “He doesn’t deserve you, and yet here we are—me wanting you, and you wanting him.”
I suck in a breath, still unable to find the right words to convey my level of regret. He doesn’t deserve the pain I’m causing him, but I can’t drag myself away.
Not when he’s the one keeping me on my feet.
“It’s okay. I’ll do the talking, my sweet girl.”
He leads us into a swaying rhythm, but what we’re doing is barely considered dancing. Not that I care.
“I know I said I’d walk away if that’s what you wanted.” He tightens his arm across my back, his hold on the verge of possessive. “But I’m not convinced, Novalee. Until I get to the bottom of what’s been going on with you, I have no plans to give up my bid in the auction.”
His vow blares through my ears, a warning that the earth is about to shift under my feet. As he slowly turns us, a set of wrathful blue eyes greets me from the edge of the dance floor. Like a horror film reduced to slow-mo, Sebastian strides to where I’m dancing with Liam.
Thunderous anger twists his mouth as he yanks me from the chancellor’s arms. “Let’s go.” He’s got a death grip on my arm, and I stumble into his solid chest.
Liam objects behind me, but Sebastian ignores him, dragging me another foot across the floor.