Page 2 of Gilded Kisses

A brunette in a tiny dress and heavy eyeliner passes in front of me. Her tart, nasally complaints of needing more champagne send her man running off to find a waiter.

I shake my head. Some people don’t know what they have.

I grab a fresh drink from a passing waiter, not at all worried about what the amber liquid might be. Fingers of warmth slide through me and pacify my nerves for a while longer.

Now, back to my story. Want to know what else I received for my sixteenth birthday? A fucking broken heart. One I’m still trying to mend. The only thing keeping it together right now is an unreliable case of hope. Lousy, I know.

My world shattered and fell to the floor among all the party favors crumpled napkins that night. And frankly it’s still there waiting for them to pick it up.

Tonight, I plan on helping them do just that.

I slip into the mingling crowd of Chicago’s most elite, each one hoping to earn favor with my father and make my way toward the nearest exit.

I reach the arched doors and inhale deeply when fresh air fans over my heated cheeks. I would love to bust out of here and just leave this place behind me. But not yet. They are indebted to my father and if I leave it would take me away from them.

I can’t imagine a day without hearing Viper’s deep laugh or Mirsha’s calming voice. Luther always finds a way to brush his fingers over the back of my hand, my arm. Something.

If I break that connection I might as well wither and die. It would be less painful.

Since leaving isn’t an option, Plan B will have to do. I don’t want to suffer anymore. I don’t want to spend yet another year not knowing what it feels like to have their lips on mine.

White curtains sway in the cool night air. I catch the ends between my fingers and slowly fade into the darkness they keep at bay. Everyone’s attention pulls to the far side of the ballroom where my father glides across the polished wood with my mother. Good. Noone cares about the birthday girl when the king is in the room. Now is my chance.

I glance at the elongated arms of the overly large gold clock mounted on the far wall of the ballroom.

My grin is instant. My mother’s partiesstartat the stroke of midnight rather than wind down.

I don’t know why or how, but I can feel the second their eyes are on me. Goosebumps skitter across my bare arms. Heatblooms in their wake. My nipples fight the constraints of the silk covering them.

My gaze darts around the room but my mother’s dedication to flaunting her wealth is in my way. A colorful canopy of flowers drape above our heads while leafy vines dangle to play over the guest’s shoulders.

Pretty, but annoying too.

Wait. Warmth brushes over my body. My attention lands on a familiar face and I immediately fall into a set of deep gray eyes.

I lick my lips. Even from this distance I can see his attention roam to my mouth. His cool steel gaze traces the wet path of my tongue. “Mirsha.” His name slips from my lips on a soft sigh.

As if hearing his name over the orchestra, my godfather turns his large body my way. In an imperceptive move, Mirsha tilts his head; his expression calculating.

He knows I’m up to something.

I flash him a smile composed of sass and watch as he silently signals Luther and Viper I’m about to do something reckless. Two more sets of eyes zero in on me. Amongst the flowers above our heads, hangs a blush pink banner with my name written in a flourish of gold letters. Beneath my name reads,Happy birthday!

It’s quaint and catches the eye of a few people when it flutters in the breeze coming in from behind me. Damn it. I don’t need someone closing the doors and shutting off my exit because someone gets chilled.

If I’m going to do this, the time is now. Blurred faces move by me as guests glide around the dance floor without a care in the world, it seems.

No one is paying attention to you. Move, Aster.

Despite my thundering heart, I follow my own instructions. I can do this. I’ve wanted this for two years.

My feet move over polished wood as I run through my mental pep talk one more time. Moonlight skims over the lace and thin silk of my dress as I slip from the balcony doors. Without a backward glance, I head for the stairs leading to the massive gardens below. Darkness embraces the sides of the chiseled stone walls of my father’s mansion. Using the tips of my fingers, I feel the still sun-warmed edges until my feet touch the edge of grass.

It’s only now that I risk a quick look over my shoulder.

I catch the hint of a devilish grin on Viper’s face before he heads for the same stairs I just used. Luther and Mirsha are not far behind him.

There’s no time for me to reconsider my plan or think of all the ways tonight can blow up in my face.

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