A Thief's Kiss

18| History

Chapter 18: History (Alexander's POV)

"Right," I said slowly and confusedly. "Do you know them?" 

She glanced at me, hesitation vivid in her eyes. "Who doesn't?" she grinned, letting out a soft chuckle. 

They laughed along with her and stirred up a small conversation. She kept the focus off of her and asked them questions to keep them distracted. She knows exactly how to keep it a secret. That she's a thief. She talked mostly to Mrs. Holmes while I talked to her husband. That is until we were interrupted. 

"What did I miss?" he sighed, holding his glass of whiskey. He glanced at me, giving me a nod for courtesy's sake, and then his eyes drifted to Aria. "Hello," he smiled. 

"Hello," she returned the smile, nodding in greeting. 

"I'm Adrian." 

"Aria," she replied. "His fiance." 

I blinked in surprise, my head whipping to look at her. She linked her arm with mine, taking a step closer. 

Adrian nodded softly, letting out a chuckle. "Nice to meet you." 

"And you," she said sweetly. So not the Aria I know. 

"Excuse us," I nodded before whisking her away again. "What was that?" I asked as we walked over to the next set of kings and queens we had to meet. The Holmes come first because Nethilore is the closest to Azura. 

"What was what?" she played dumb. "Ooh, champagne!" She grinned, taking one glass from the waiter's tray that was walking by. She turned to me. "Want some?" I sighed, shooting her a look. She sipped the champagne before turning to me. "He was checking me out." 

"Everybody is checking you out tonight." 

"He was going to flirt with me. I wasn't comfortable," she shrugged. 

"And why not?" 

"I'm here to get engaged to you. I'm not very fond of you... but I'm a woman of my word. I'm committing to you for the rest of my life. I don't know why, but I am. I need this marriage to work, remember?" 

"For its perks, right," I nodded, looking forward to our next set of guests. 

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"Excuse us," she smiled from our last set of guests. 

It's been nearly an hour. Her patience is wearing thin, she's getting exhausted and whiny, she wants to sleep. It's as clear as day to me.

She let out a sigh while Riya marched over. "Can I steal her now?" She glared at me. 

"Oh, while we're at it, can I go change out of the heels?" She turned to me. 

"You've met everybody, yeah," I replied. 

"You're taking his permission?" Riya asked incredulously. 

"I'm taking his suggestion, come on," Aria replied, linking her arm with Riya's, both of them disappearing upstairs. 

"Alexander!" I looked to my left, seeing Adrian make his way over. 

I sighed, my jaw already ticking in annoyance. "What can I do for you?" I asked. I love being tall at times like this. Being 6'4 allows someone who is still tall and sits at exactly 6'2 like Adrian to be shorter than me. I like the power it gives me. 

"I didn't know you were getting married. Aria Rose, huh?" I gave him a tight-lipped smile. "How do you know her?" 

"We have history," I said vaguely.