An Oath In Blood (Book #3)

Chapter 44: An Ace Of Hearts

CORVINA HAWKE

Dinner went by without much incident as I stuck close to Warren or Eman at all times, avoiding conversations and hoping that people didn't notice my presence in the room at all. The guests began leaving slowly, leaving behind only people that were close to either Jace or Ahvi. It was after most of the main hall cleared out that Eman and Tariq approached me. The sight of Em's husband made me tense. It was safe to say that we had not become friends. Or even close.

"Corvina." Tariq nodded in my direction, his gaze not quite meeting mine. It stayed fixed somewhere on the floor.

"Tariq." I pursed my lips, my skin crawling with the prospect of being the center of attention in the group. Jace and Ahvi had come to stand beside Warren and me, and Ren stood to our left with his girlfriend, Gianna.

"Since Warren and I have talked things out, I thought it was only appropriate for me to clear things with you too, so there are no other misunderstandings," he said, never looking at me. Eman shot me a sweet smile, her hands resting on her husband's arm. "I owe you an apology," Tariq added to my surprise.

"For?" I frowned. I didn't know why he was apologizing to me even though sincerity rang through his tone.

"I was quite rude to you when we first met. I am ashamed of the way I acted." He bowed his head a little lower, and his wife's grip on his arm tightened. She glanced at him, her eyes filling with love and so much pride, it made me wonder what Tariq Faled had done to deserve it—from Eman out of all people.

"It's all in the past. Don't worry about it." I waved him off, forcing myself to not stutter. This group was extremely articulate with their words and I felt nervous speaking to them with my social anxiety and frankly, my aversion to social settings and conversations.

"Thank you for bringing back my wife." He offered me a brief smile before he lowered his gaze again. It was so fast that for a moment, I wondered if I had imagined his eyes on me. I nodded, looking at Eman, who placed a swift kiss on his cheek before laying her head on his shoulder. He turned his gaze to her then and the reservations he had portrayed while talking to me, melted away, leaving behind only a man deeply in love.

"T-that's no problem," I stammered slightly, cursing myself out inwardly. Tariq nodded and turned his attention towards his friends. I swallowed, avoiding eye contact with them as I focused on my breathing. Interactions like these put me on edge. I rubbed my wrist absently, assuring myself that the attention was no longer on me.

"You did great," Warren whispered in my ear, his arm slipping across my waist. I glanced at him partly startled, partly grateful for his intervention before I spiraled any further.

"Thank you," I breathed out. "Talking to people makes me uneasy. Sometimes, I can't help but replay their words over and over in my head until I have dissected every letter and read between every line. And then, I obsess over my response to them—it's a nightmare." I lowered my voice as I spoke, looking around to make sure none of them were looking at me.

"I know." Warren squeezed my waist where his hand rested. "But you have nothing to overthink about right now. That conversation went quite well." He smiled.

"Really?" I raised my brows and he nodded reassuringly. "I will take your word for it."

"Does that mean you trust me, Raven?" he asked, leaning closer to my ear.

"Can I have your attention please?" Jace's voice cut through our conversation, pulling our eyes towards the middle of the hall. The scattered chatter died down as everyone focused their attention on the host. "Thank you for joining my girlfriend and me on a very special night. I am so glad we could celebrate this milestone in our relationship with people we truly care about." He tipped his head towards his friends—Ren, Tariq, and Warren, who beamed at him with pride and love. Eman was standing with her elbows linked through Ahvi's, smiling enthusiastically at Jace.