Maisie
Soren Black caught himself.
And extended his hand to me.
To me! Me!
"May I?"
I didn't think it would actually work. Clearly, I needed to begin to believe in my best friends a little more. And myself. For a moment, my brain flew out the window and my wolf suddenly began acting strange in my chest.
She wanted me to dance with him.
It was more activity than I'd felt from her in weeks and it was so strong, I almost abandoned the plan and took his hand.
But I didn't. I would not be another mark in Soren's books.
I fixed my expression to one of boredom. "I must decline your offer, Prince Soren."
Soren's face went slack. He blinked rapidly, and if I could read his expression, I would say he was genuinely confused. "No?" he echoed.
The hall around me erupted into gasps. I hadn't noticed when the spotlight had fallen on us, but now that it had, it filled me with a strange thrill knowing that somewhere in this hall, Lana could see me.
And could witness the fact that this is what it actually feels like, when someone wanted to steal the spotlight from me.
And goddess help me, I didn't feel even a tinge of guilt.
"No," I repeated. Jenny and Regina's words echoed in the back of my mind, and I clutched the train of my dress, lowering into a bow that gave Soren a nice view of my cleavage.
Regina had told me to do that. And I didn't understand why, until I rose from my curtsey, and found Soren's gaze on my chest, his expression troubled as I said, "If you would excuse me."
I fought the urge to run as I turned my back to him.
I could feel his eyes bearing holes into my spine. It wasn't a prickle. It was sharp, like a stab, and I felt it everywhere. Down to my toes.
And it wasn't just him.
I noticed Quinn, Mercer and Jericho standing off to the side, but I didn't look at them. Still, their gazes were so tangible, flaying my skin, that I grew hot, distracted, and I stumbled a step.
A hand caught my elbow gently, righting me before I could sprain my ankle.
I glanced up and the smoke that lit up my face was a genuine one. It was Jenny's older brother, Lyon Park.
Lyon Park was twenty two and the CEO of Park Industries. As such, he rarely attended the pack's events, nor did he stick around for long enough in one place. When I was younger, I had an innocent crush on Lyon. Who wouldn't? He was filthy rich, a notorious playboy, had kind brown eyes, and while I was bullied and laughed at by most guys in high school, Lyon would pat my head, ruffle my hair and call me 'Bright Eyes' or 'Mace,' while wiping my eyes.
I'd known Lyon since before I lost my parents, and in the same way Jenny never changed even after I became a maid, Lyon never treated me differently.
But I hadn't seen him in four years and running into him here felt like I would combust with warmth and happiness. He looked different. Larger. More manly. His face was chiseled and his muscles were defined.
"Lyon," I breathed.
His eyes went wide. "Bright Eyes?"
I laughed a little, hand flying to my lips. And I was suddenly a little girl again, looking up at a friend she adored. "It's so good to see you!"
But Lyon wasn't laughing. He was staring hard at me. "Mace," he said after the smallest pause. "You look… I–I had no idea…"
A stab of nerves hit me and my smile fell. "What? Is something wrong?" I said, and my voice was so soft that I suspected he barely hear me over the din of the crowd and the music
He shook his head. "No. On the contrary. When Jenny said you needed a date tonight, I didn't think–" He seemed at a loss of words. "The last time I saw you, you were…"
I understood what was happening. Lyon had noticed me. Not as the little sister he always treated me like. But more. I didn't think Jenny and Regina could've predicted this at all. That their plan would not only take a direct hit at the Lycans.
And suddenly, I knew who I wanted to spend the night dancing with.
When Regina said I had to dance with someone, I couldn't imagine pretending to enjoy the company of some other man. But with Lyon, it wouldn't be a pretense.
"I was fourteen," I finished. "I was a child. I am a woman now." I extended my hand towards him, lifting my gaze to his. "A woman every man in this hall wants to dance with. But I will only accept your request."
I didn't feel nearly as bold as I sounded. My heart was rapidly thrashing against my ribcage. I couldn't control the words coming out of my mouth, neither did I recognize the seductive lilt to my tone.
As if caught in a trance, Lyon took my hand. His hands were warm. His eyes were brown and warm. He lifted my knuckles to his mouth and kissed them. "Dance with me, Maisie Adams."
Feeling the eye of all four Lycans plus one possessive Alpha, piercing into my spine, I tilted my lips in a sexy smile. "With pleasure."
In response, he took a step forward, closing the distance between us, and his arm wrapped around my waist, tugging me into him until our chests brushed.
I'd never quite seen Lyon as anything but an older brother, but as I gazed up at him under the spotlight, I noticed for the first time that he was hot. Dashing. He might as well have been Prince Charming in Cinderella's books.
"Come," he said, devouring every inch of my face, then allowing his gaze to wander downward, along the skin of my neck, and lower, where a blood ruby rests in the cleft between my breasts.
Holy goddess... His eyes were dark. "You are a goddess. And tonight, you are mine."