Angel

7- Alive

 "Breathe, Angel," Lord Vincent whispered into Kylo's ear as they built the distance between them and the step-family. When Kylo's breath came in little gasps, the lord pulled him closer and repeated himself, "Breathe."

"I feel faint," came a fragmented tone from Kylo.

The lord led him to a servant and grabbed a glass of champagne for each of them. Nodding to Kylo, Vincent ordered, "Drink it in one go."

Looking at the lord wide-eyed Kylo shook his head, "I can't."

Vincent slipped his arm out of Kylo's, took hold of his chin and brought his own glass to Kylo's lips. "You look like the devil just danced upon your grave. If you drink this quickly you will forget that you feel like they are going to come at you and figure out who you are. Drink."

Allowing the lord to tip the flute back, Kylo drank the champagne without pausing for breath. When he was done, he parted his lips and filled his lungs with air.

Taking the glass away, Vincent lifted his hand and gently ran his thumb over Kylo's lips to steal away a lingering drop. "I will not let them harm you," the lord swore.

A glorious buzz began to inch up Kylo's insides, creeping and crawling up to his brain. "You barely know me. How can you say you will protect me?"

Vincent's silver-gray gaze bore into Kylo's dark eyes. "I feel like I need to protect you. I don't know why, but you make me feel..." pausing for the right word, the lord grazed his teeth over his lower lip then exhaled, "you make me feel alive."

Kylo caught himself gazing upon Vincent's lips as he spoke. When the lord ran his teeth over them, Kylo felt as though he had drunk four glasses of champagne in one go. The world swayed sweetly.

"Do you believe in fate?" the lord asked.

Kylo thought a moment then shrugged. "No."

Taking a step closer to his guest, Vincent spoke, "Neither did I but I feel a beat in my chest I have not felt in many, many years."

Like you are alive, Kylo thought. But before he could utter a response, the two men were approached by a group of stunning ladies, ones who looked and smelt very unlike his step-family.

A regal-looking woman with ashen hair was the first to reach them. A tiara rested on her head. Tiny jewels glittered in the twin ringlets cascading over her shoulders. She wore matching jewels on her fingers and a large heart-shaped necklace dipped deep in her cleavage. The woman had a small mole by her left eye and lips as red as blood. Clad in a lacy plum dress with long bell sleeves Kylo thought she was breath-taking. Behind the woman was an entourage of three equally brilliantly dressed and jeweled women.

When the women stopped by the lord, he was the first to bow. "Your highness," said Vincent in a deep, sultry tone. As he rose, he took her hand and kissed ivory knuckles. "Always an honor."

When the woman offered him a smile, it was a sweet as sunshine. "How could I miss the chance to share a dance with you, Lord Vincent?"

Casting a look at the lord, Kylo noticed he appeared not only content that this lady was here, but also relaxed – not unhappy and grim as he had been when he spoke with all the others.

When Vincent gestured to Kylo, the younger man froze. "Queen Marillia of Greece, I would like to introduce my cousin, Conde Angel Delmar from Madrid, Spain." Upholding the lie, Vincent stated that his cousin was not fluent in her native tongues.

 "It is unfortunate that neither I nor my ladies-in-waiting know Spanish," the Queen said to Vincent. "I would have loved to ask the dear Conde why his beloved cousin never offers me anything more than a dance when I meet him at a soiree." A playful glint shimmered in Queen Marillia's eyes as she flirted with the lord.

 "Your highness," Vincent chuckled, "what a simple lord like I has to offer you is no more than that of a peasant boy. You are a woman destined to fall into the arms of a king, of someone who can offer you what you deserve." Reaching out to take both her hands, Vincent added, "All I can offer you is a dance."

 "What if I want more?" Marillia whispered with an impish smile. "Even just for one night, hmm?"

"One night with you would spoil the prospect of me ever taking on another lover. You know that I would spend my days pining over your luscious lips." Pulling the Queen closer, Vincent looked as though he was about to kiss her.

From the side-lines, Kylo felt as though bits of him were shattering. He wanted to vanish into the crowd, run back home and weep. Biting his lip to stop it from trembling, confusion settled around him like a fog.

"This dance is ours," Marillia said.

Turning to Kylo momentarily, Vincent gave him a quick wink then led the Queen onto the dance floor.

Nearby, the ladies-in-waiting watched their mistress glide over the dance floor. None of them made any attempt to take any drink when a servant passed them by. As still as statues, they waited for her return.

Feeling like a lamb lost, Kylo watched as the pair graced the floor with their beauty, every movement was swan-like, airy as if they had done it a million times before and fit into each other's arms and motions perfectly. Next to Lord Vincent and Queen Marillia, Kylo thought that the guests waltzed as though their limbs were broken.

As the orchestra played and the pair danced deeper into the melody, Kylo felt as though someone had come and stabbed him in the heart.

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