Page 10 of Lethal Souls

I laugh again as he brings a hand to my waist. “I can’t help it. She’s hilarious and knows exactly how to get under your skin.”

“She’s a bit of a mental menace, that one,” he rumbles with his mouth next to my ear. He places a kiss on my cheek.

When I look over his shoulder, I can’t help noticing people are staring at us. They whisper amongst themselves, drinks in hand, cutting their eyes in our direction.

Don’t worry about them.

Caz leans back, tipping my chin and forcing me to look at him.

Let them look so they know you’re mine.

He moves to my side again, taking my hand just as Rowan comes our way carrying a gold goblet. I immediately notice the heavy scowl on his face as he nears us.

“Rowan? What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Juniper’s run off with some of her friends. They’re heading to the lake. I swear, she can never be simple.”

“Juniper? Simple?” Caz scoffs. “Never.”

“Well, I’m telling ya right now, Caz, I’m not fucking babysitting tonight, do you hear me?” Rowan stabs a finger into his own chest. “I’m here to have fun too.”

The music changes, violins and string instruments growing faster, and the chandeliers dim. Rainbow lights bounce off the walls, and pulsing glitter coils around the columns.

Everyone cheers, and a rush of excitement bursts through the ballroom as many people scurry to the dance floor.

“Mmm!” Rowan slams his drink down on a nearby cocktail table. “I’m on! They’re about to start the Truce Dance.”

“The Truce Dance?” I ask, but Rowan has already taken off and soon disappears within the crowd.

“It was once an elegant affair where people could dance with whomever they wanted, no matter the territory,” Caz informs me as he watches the crowd. “Now, it’s become more of a dance where all the singles go to the floor and rub their groins all over each other, then run off to available rooms together if they’re turned on enough. Trust me, that’s not our dance.”

“Oh. Wow.” Alora wasn’t lying when she said there was a lot of sex.

“There’s a couples dance later. We’ll get our chance,” he rasps in my ear. “Until then, join me on the balcony.”

SEVEN

WILLOW

On the moonlit balcony, chairs are lined up neatly to face the waterfall and sea in the distance. Fairy lights dangle from the ceiling and are wrapped around the marble railing.

Caz approaches the guardrail and immediately digs into his pocket for his pack of blooms. He sparks one, takes a pull, then exhales while I take a seat and undo the ankle strap of my heels.

“Here. Let me.” He lowers to one knee, the bloom pinched between his lips, as he helps me take off my heels. When they’re removed, I sigh with relief and give my toes a stretch.

“That’s soooo much better,” I breathe.

He chuckles as I stand again. I grip the guardrail to watch the waterfall. It roars much louder than the music inside, and whispers of mist blow with the wind to caress my skin.

“Sometimes this all feels like a dream,” I say as Caz stands at my side. “In my world, it would be nothing more than that.”

“I’m happy you decided to stay,” he says.

“Yeah.” I glance at him. “Me too.”

After a few quiet seconds, he asks, “Do you like it here?”

I nod. “I do. A lot more than I thought I would, actually.”

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