Mixed blood

Chapter 15: Wager

The grand ballroom was bathed in warm, golden light, chandeliers glittering like stars above a crowd of masked revelers.

Laughter and conversation mingled with the lilting notes of a waltz played by a live orchestra.

Guests swirled in elegant attire, each face concealed by ornate masks adorned with feathers, jewels, and mysterious designs.

“Think you can go five minutes without getting noticed?” he murmured, smirking behind his mask.

“Five minutes? I'll have them convinced I own the place.” She tilted her head. “Tell you what, whoever blends in better doesn't pay for dinner tonight.”

He scoffed. “Deal.”

With that, they split up. He moved through the crowd, eyes scanning exits, mapping the hall, and observing potential paths that might give them a clear escape. But he kept an eye on her.

One could never tell what she might pull.

Sure enough, she was already laughing, easily sliding into conversations and charming the guests, her laughter drawing eyes from across the room.

It was infuriatingly natural for her just as magnetic as always.

“Of course,” he muttered, shaking his head. Not helping, honey bun, he thought.

Wager or not, she was too visible.

As he was scanning the room, he noticed something - a man near the corner watching her a little too intently. The stranger whispered to two other men, and before William knew it, they were approaching her, one stepping a little too close.

Without a second thought, William crossed the room, slipping behind Luana just in time.

He slid an arm around her waist, pulling her smoothly into him, and before she could react, he was guiding her into dance.

Her eyes widened in surprise, but he only smirked, murmuring low into her ear, “Miss me?”

“Dramatic much?” she replied, her tone laced with sarcasm even.

“Just saving you from your little fan club,” he replied, his eyes flicking to the men still watching from across the room.

She tilted her head up at him, smiling sweetly. "Saving or sabotaging because I was winning the wager?"

He twirled her smoothly, leading her right past the two men who had been watching her. “Try a little gratitude for once, princess.”

“I'll make you feel useful for once,” She teased as she spotted the two men.

“Trying to win the wager by turning this into your social hour?”

“Oh, relax. I'll have you know, I'm not here to make friends.”

William raised an eyebrow, amused. “Could've fooled me. You had everyone wrapped around your finger.”

She smirked, subtly slipping a set of keys into his hand. “Maybe that was the plan.”

He looked down at the keys. “You got us a car?”

“Already parked out back,” she said with a casual shrug, barely missing a beat as she followed his lead across the floor.

He chuckled, impressed but not about to admit it. “So, while I was mapping the exits, you were busy charming someone into giving you their car.”

“Actually,” she corrected with a sly smile, “I took them right from the valet.” She tilted her head with a playful shrug. “Who's blending in better now?”