My Love, My Bonded

Chapter Forty Three

They ate their dinner quietly once they returned to their seats. Rey could feel the judgmental eyes of the guests as she traveled, her hand still connected to Kylo's, through the tables to her own. A little while after they came back, the dancing started. She watched as several couples danced to the music, some with smitten expressions on their faces and others with some that read discomfort or distrust. The First Order played slow yet classical songs the whole night, setting the atmosphere in an eerie way.

"Does the First Order know they can play upbeat music?" Rey teased.

"Can you seriously imagine these people dancing in the way upbeat music suggests?" Kylo responded.

She laughed. "You make a fair point. It just seems so mysterious but in an almost evil sort of way."

"I think that's what they were going for were they assembled the set list," he replied.

They sat quietly for a bit. "Did Snoke ever attend these?"

Kylo stiffened a bit. "Yes, actually he did. There used to be a throne where this table was and that was where he would sit and judge all while they ate and danced."

"Oh stars," she said. "I'm glad you didn't but why didn't you keep the throne? You were going to judge anyway, why not do it with class."

"I hated the feeling of being a guest while he was up there," he honestly answered. "And I couldn't have brought you as my plus one."

"I mean, you could've," Rey said.

"Yes, if you were willing to be draped across my lap, I could've. But I figured that wouldn't have worked out." Kylo teased.

She flushed red at his comment and sat quietly watching the crowd. A puffy man with a receding hairline approached their table.

"Supreme Leader, Rey of Jakku," he bowed before turning to Kylo. "Supreme Leader, might I have a word? A few guests and I were hoping we could ask you questions about the future of the First Order."

She turned to see him grit his teeth in annoyance but not anyways. "Certainly. I'll be right there, let me excuse myself from my guest."

Rey snorted as the puffy man nodded and scurried away. "I remember the last time you called me your guest. These circumstances are quite different."

"Yes, they are," he agreed without fully acknowledging the past. "I must go. I'll try to come back soon," he grabbed her hand and placed a small kiss on the back of it. "Excuse me, Rey."

With that, he left her blushing madly as he walked over to the small group waiting to bury him with questions. Flustered, she turned her attention to the dancing couples. Because of the slow song, she noticed the different kinds of dancing that was occurring. Some people clasped hands together and spun across the dance floor. Others slowly shuffled side to side. Some were doing an odd mixture of both, gently twirling their ladies. It was all interesting and, surprising to Rey, rather romantic.

After a while of staring at strangers in love or appearing to be, she felt her eyes search around for Kylo, finding him with the people he had mentioned. She watched as he spoke, settling herself to stare unapologetically.

His face was confident but serious. Every time someone spoke that she didn't think he liked, she watched as he licked his lips and stared at the ground before he peered back up again, taking his hand out of his pocket to further emphasis whatever point he was making. She watched as his face contorted in confusion and then annoyance. He towered over his company, making him look intimidating and it was only shown more so as he grew more involved in the conversation.