Page 76 of Slay King

Maeme stepped forward and shook his hand, agreeing, then hugged his wife, Marigold. When she stepped back, she held out a hand toward me and Sebastian. “You both know Sebastian,” she said. “The lovely lady at his side is Rumor Beauregard. She’s a close family friend.” The way she said it made it very clear that I was important to her and the rest of the family.

Sebastian stepped forward and shook Jefferson’s hand, but his smile looked less cheerful and more forced as he cut his eyes over to me. There was an odd expression in his perusal. As if he was studying me while trying not to be obvious. Was it because of King? Did he find me a threat to Scotlin? I hoped I was reading this incorrectly. When he shook my hand though, I could see a flicker of unease in his eyes. I wanted away from this man. My internal warning was on high alert, and when we turned to leave them, I took a deep breath, thankful that was over.

It could be that I had made that all up in my head, but I couldn’t get past the way he’d stared at me, as if … he knew me. And he didn’t want to. My thoughts were so focused on the odd encounter that when we walked into the ballroom, I didn’t immediately notice King standing beside Scotlin. Not until Sebastian’s arm flexed underneath my hand as he tensed.

King was everything I had remembered in a tux and more. The flutters in my stomach at the sight of him caused me to suck in a breath. He was beautiful. When our eyes met, I wanted to see him smile. Have that reassurance that he was mine. But there was no smile. No secret exchange of affection. The glower on his face made it very clear he was angry. Perhaps furious was a better word.

“And here we go,” Sebastian muttered.

I slipped my hand from his arm and took a small step toward Maeme, who was speaking to Scotlin. King’s eyes held mine while his entire stance went rigid.

“King, dear, you need to smile. It’s a party,” Maeme said, squeezing his arm tightly, as if to warn him to behave. When he didn’t even acknowledge her, she turned toward me, smiling as if all was well in the world. “Sebastian was kind enough to escort Rumor so she wouldn’t be alone. Isn’t the dress Annette sent perfect on her?”

King cut his eyes toward Sebastian, and the threat was there in his eyes for anyone who was looking to see.

“Honey,” Scotlin cooed at him, touching his arm and leaning into him, “if you want a break from greeting people, we can take one. Just say the word.”

He didn’t budge or respond to her. His eyes shifted back to me. I smiled nervously, not sure what I was supposed to do now. He didn’t want me here, but I hadn’t asked to come. Maeme had insisted. Otherwise, I would be at home with guards I didn’t know.

Right now, that option was looking like a much better idea than this. My eyes stung, and I knew it was silly, but I wasn’t reacting well to the glare from King, directed at me. He never looked at me like that.

“Sebastian, why don’t you take Rumor to meet some people and get her something to drink?” Maeme said with a happy tone, turning from King. She patted my arm as she walked past me with a swish of her long skirt, not saying anything more to King or Scotlin.

I dropped my gaze to the floor, wanting to find somewhere to hide and stay there.

“Of course,” Sebastian replied, giving King one last look before touching my elbow.

“Don’t.” King’s voice was so cold that it caused me to shiver. “Don’t touch her.”

Sebastian’s hand dropped away from me immediately.

“Got it,” he replied with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Then, he nodded at me to come with him. I didn’t look back at King, but I could feel him. His eyes felt like a hot flame, following my every move.

When we reached the bar, Sebastian finally glanced down at me. “Water? Soda?”

“Water is fine,” I replied.

“Still or sparkling?”

“Still.”

He turned to the bartender. “Ice water and four shots of Maker’s.”

My eyes widened as I stared up at him.

He pulled at the collar of his shirt. “I’m gonna fucking need it,” he explained.

“He’s mad,” I whispered.

“You think? We will be lucky if he doesn’t murder someone tonight. Try not to look … well, just … if you can, don’t be any more appealing than you are.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

He sighed. “I don’t fucking know. I’m just trying to keep the man from going feral on anyone.”

“Is he mad at me?”

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