The Wolf's Bride

Chapter 18

Light reflected off the chandelier and onto the sparkling marble floor where people now danced in celebration. Couples moved and turned, dresses swirling around the big dancefloor. And those who weren't dancing were watching carefully from the sides.

I was watching carefully from the snack table where I was unceremoniously filling my stomach with the pomegranate Alekin had peeled for me. He wasn't far either, in fact, he was sitting on a chair next to me, as excited to dance among sweat smelling snobs as I was.

"How is that glass you've been nursing for the last hour?"

His eyes lifted from the rim of the glass to me, slowly. He shook his head. Not well it seems. And due to the fact that he had a higher alcohol tolerance than most he couldn't count on getting drunk to avoid dealing with people. And I couldn't drink because everyone knew I was pregnant.

"This wine your father makes," he glanced back at the glass disapprovingly. "Tastes like horse."

I laughed, even though the knowledge I had gathered from my father's office hung heavily on me. There was so much, too much that Alekin hadn't told me. Too much I didn't even have time to find out. I couldn't risk being in my father's office too long, and such all the vital information I managed to acquire was mere pieces in a puzzle that seemed to only get bigger and more confusing.

"What's on your mind?" he carefully asked, leaning in just enough to share the same air as me.

There were too many listening ears for me to risk actually talking about it.

"I wanted to dance, but you don't seem interested to take your wife dancing." I huffed with mild annoyance.

Alekin nodded, in a way that told me he knew we would have a long talk on the way back home. His eyes moved from me to the dancefloor, to the swirling couples. He grimaced, before turning to me again, with his whole body. But he didn't get to talk.

Not when that sweet aroma invaded my nostrils, making my senses go haywire, my breath hitch. Nox was here, and I seriously doubted he was looking to refill his glass of water.

A hand presented itself to me, white gloves still covering it. Without rolling my eyes, I leaned back to get a good look at the vampire.

"Itching for a dance?" his smooth voice sounded.

So, at the very least, I knew he was laying a great deal of attention to me, simply to have heard that, and react so quickly.

For that reason alone, and maybe, if I cared to admit, for my own dancing curiosity, I let my hand fall into his as I eased out of the chair.

His slender fingers wrapped around mine in an almost intimate manner, the contact sending a small shiver down my spine.

As he led me towards the dance floor, I noted how his gaze never left mine, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips as if he was privy to a secret. The dim lighting of the room cast his features into sharp relief, making it difficult to not stare. I was well aware that heads were turning in my direction, eyes gawking at us, ears straining to listen to whatever pearls I may say. My family too, were watchimg, my mother finally having made an appearance. Most of all, I was aware of Alekin watching me, his glass barely holding together at the pressure he was applying to it.

"You seem a little stiff," Nox murmured, his voice silky as he pulled me closer, his hand finding its way to my waist. "First time dancing with a vampire?" he purred.

My muscles stiffened further more, and if he wouldn't be wearing gloves, my nails might've pierced those hands of his. He might've been able to see it on my face too, for his hand warmed around my waist a little tighter and he pulled me closer as the music started again, a new melody.