Page 90 of Dark Captivation

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

LIVY

The party was only just beginning and well-dressed guests spilled into the ballroom. After a few minutes, the room was almost at full capacity. When it seemed most who were coming had arrived, the doormen closed the double doors.

“My goodness, is that Elias Green? I haven’t seen him in ages. He’s more scrumptious than I remember.” Ferina bit her fingertip, staring longingly over at the tall blond chewing snacks by the buffet table.

“Why don’t you go talk to him?” I nudged her in the side.

Ferina’s mouth gaped as if my idea were more than crazy, it was dangerous.

“Did I mention how gorgeous your dress is? Rollin really outdid himself.” Her eyes scrolled up and down my flowing red gown.

“Don’t change the subject.”

“I can’t just walk up to him.” She ruffled the hem of her frilly sky blue gown. “That would make me look way too eager. I need to be aloof, randomly bumping into him by accident. That’s how a princess approaches a suitor she’s interested in.”

Suddenly, demon high class society took on an all new level of strangeness to me. Where I came from, if you liked a guy then you could just tell him so. But here everything was like a pageant. This party, filled with hundreds of young, well dressed, affluent demons gave me a peek into the secrets of demon social classes and courting culture.

To the naked eye, the guests are socializing, dancing and enjoying themselves. But really, they were navigating a complex social structure, like pieces on a chessboard. According to Ferina, this was the first party Malek had ever thrown in the palace and these noble demons were ready to make the most of the chance to rub elbows with choice dignitaries.

Malek had been by my side since the start of the party, only recently being dragged away by some senior politicians desperate to chat with him.

“Come, let’s get a snack.” Ferina took my hand, and we maneuvered through the guests, getting closer to the buffet table and to Elias.

I’d been feeling just a bit out of place in this arena full of high-class demons. I was the only wolf shifter here. It didn’t matter that Malek and Ferina bent over backward to introduce me to just about everyone here. I still saw the apprehension in most of their eyes. Like all they saw was the ‘other’ in me.

We reached the table and Elias was only a few steps to our right. He helped himself to the turkey sandwiches while Ferina and I took a few lobster quiches onto our tiny plates.

Ferina stole a peek at him.

“God, just look at those eyes,” she purred like a cat in heat.

“You’d better talk to him before he finishes that sandwich then.” I took a big bite of lobster.

“Can’t. Nervous. Too.” Ferina jumbled her words. I’d never seen her nervous before, her cheeks were so red, she resembled the lobster on her plate.

“Come on. We’re not just going to stand around here. What kind of wing wolf would I be if I let you miss out on a chance at love?” I hooked my arm around hers and shepherded her closer to him.

“Wing what?” she asked with a full mouth.

“Oh, excuse me.” I rammed my shoulder into Elias.

“No, excuse me. I really should watch where I’m eating.” Elias said with a friendly smile. He took a dry swallow as he saw Ferina.

“P-Princess. H-how how are you?” He was tongue tied, stammering so much he could barely get out a clear sentence. “I- you. You look amazing.”

He grinned innocently.

“It’s been a while.” She tossed her flowing blond hair behind her shoulder. “I’m glad you could come. I was hoping you’d be here. I mean if you didn’t come it would also be okay, I mean I wanted-”

I tapped her foot with mine. “Relax Ferina, this isn’t an interrogation.” I said with unmoving lips.

“I’m great and it’s wonderful to see you again, Elias.” She fluttered her lashes, swaying her hips flirtatiously.

Atta-girl. Now you’re back in the game.

“This is my friend, Lady Sunny.” Ferina introduced.

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