Ash's Place

Chapter 16

Aiden's POV

"Oh, Lord Locklynn, you are even more handsome in person!"

"Please choose me to be your wife!"

"I love you!"

I ignore all of their pleas and compliments and stride through the crowd, feigning boredom until I am able to slip behind a curtain unseen. Finally, out of the sight of the horde of people, I hang my head and run my hands through my hair. I wish I could be anywhere but here right now. My heart is racing, and my palms are sweaty.

I have no idea how Ashlee can be so calm and caring in this crowd. Maybe it is a show or maybe she is just better than me at that too. It doesn't matter what I do, I have never been able to be better than her at anything. And hearing my father say he is proud of her, killed me. I have only ever tried to please him. Why can't he just notice me?

My breaths are coming in short pants, making me feel lightheaded. My magic hums under my skin, demanding to be let out so I flicker myself out of visibility, just in case someone was to check behind the curtain. Flickering barely taps into my magic reservoir, and it doesn't help the feeling of suffocation I am feeling. I look down at my hands to see my magic start to flow from my fingertips, swirling in dark ribbons around my invisible body.

I can't let anyone see me like this.

I gulp down some air, begging my body to relax. Thankfully, my magic seeps back into my hands and I take another deep breath, this time in relief. I maintain my flickering and step out from behind the curtain. I weave through the crowd until I finally reach the dais where I can happily observe everyone without being observed myself.

My eyes find my parents, standing by the entrance to the veranda. My mother's arm in hooked around my father's elbow, making them look like a loving couple everyone thinks they are. If I am ever to get married, I vow to never raise my hands to my wife. I don't want to have to use fear to make her respect me. I won't.

Out of the crush of people, my heart is starting to return to normal. I take another deep breath and attempt to find Ashlee. It doesn't take long to pick her out, since she is the only woman wearing black. I will admit, she does make a beautiful bride. She glances around and slowly makes her way to a mostly unoccupied corner.

I am not the only one who notices her attempt at taking a break. Her guard immediately starts making a beeline for her. She keeps her eyes closed as he approaches, and she says something to him, and he leans a little closer to her to reply. She leans her head back against the wall and deeply sighs. They talk back and forth, both of them smiling. He drops his head in respect to something she says when I notice a third person walking over to them.

Her guard moves his hand to his sword, in preparation to protect her from the man. I laugh at the gesture; Rasmus Canmore is not worth all that. Sure, he is a calloused jerk like my father, but he is harmless. I haven't seen him in a few years, but during events we would get along enough to tolerate each other. However, when he grabs my sister's hand and kisses it, I can't help but feel my curiosity pique. And again, I am not the only one who notices the blatantly disrespectful gesture.

My sister's husband clenches his fists and practically stomps over to her. Amused at his display of jealousy, I wiggle my fingers, sending a strand of invisible magic over to their corner so I can hear their conversation.

Rasmus' voice is the first one I hear, "Brother, I was just getting acquainted with your darling wife. No reason to be so protective..."

Lord Canmore wraps an arm around my sister and pulls her into his side, "With you, there is always a reason. What do you..."