"I was wondering what kind of girl could have botched up a rescue attempt so badly. Now that I know it was you all along, everything makes sense."
"Go away."
Rome runs his nose down the side of my face, smiling at the way I shiver. "After all thes...
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"I BELIEVE I HAVEN'T MET YOUR MATE YET," Says the man by Ava Abernathy's side. He stands with an elegant ease that lets me know that he's been brought up in the Elite. "Rome, would you care to do the introductions?"
"I believe that my mate is better suited to those type of dialogues," Rome replies cheerfully and nudges me forward into the circle. Everybody turns to me.
Well. This is awkward.
Could this combination of people be any more tense? Me. Bleu, a member of the Elite who I met only once before when I was working as a maids. Mrs. Bleu, who came over after her husband made a move on me. Ava, my childhood bully. Ava's mate, who I've never met. And, of course, there's Rome. My other childhood enemy.
And also my mate.
I decide to kill him later when nobody's looking. "Hello. My name is Winfred. It's nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine," Mrs. Bleu's smiles, a little unsure, as her eyes dart from Rome to me. Her face is small and round, with flushed cheeks and long eyelashes. She wears a modest, lime-green dress that flares out at the knees. "I do hope I wasn't interrupting anything important."
"No, no," Rome drawls from behind me. "We were talking about you. I thought you might be interested in joining the conversation."
"All good things, I promise," I interrupt with a laugh. I really am going to kill Rome later. How does he have so much fun tormenting people? I can imagine the expression on his face - slight boredom, cruel amusement - right now. "Your husband was just telling us all about how glad he was to see Rome and I mate, since he knows the benefits of a good marriage."
"You give him too much honor, darling."
"Nope. I think I gave him the right amount," Then, before he can provoke anybody further, I turn to the man who originally spoke. "You're right. We haven't been introduced. My name is Winifred Hart - although, you probably know that. You must be Ava's mate."
I thrust my hand forwards.
The man takes it cordially. Besides him, Ava stands quietly, one hand place on her mate's arm. Her hair, a platinum blond, stacks on top of her head like a tiara. Her dress is modest, a strapless column that glides to the floor in a shimmering silver.
The electric energy that usually prickles at the edge of her skin is no longer detectable. Having her mate by her side must calm her powers down. The thought is strangely comforting.
"I realize you're new to this type of culture," Ava's mate begins. "So I will be gentle with my advice. It's customary for the man to lead his mate into the introductions - although I count this more as Rome's fault. He should have taught you better."
