Page 26 of Dark Angel

“I think the Carter’s just arrived.” Alice says shyly in her quiet voice, pointing towards the entrance of the ballroom.

They all look over to see the Carter family entering and a swarm of people crowding them. Their parents walk in first. Tobias in a striking deep blue waistcoat and white cravat, with his wife, Josephine, on his arm in a matching midnight ballgown.

Behind them is a girl with vibrant golden red hair and eyes like a deep sea who Kora can only assume is the Valarie that Lewis couldn’t stop talking about. She is just as beautiful as Kora imagined her to be.

Her eyes glide to the taller boy beside her. Dressed finely in a black coat and white pants, his light sandy hair fluffy and soft. Turquoise eyes bright against his dark clothing. His face is freshly shaven, revealing sharp cheekbones and a defined jawline. Golden skin glowing underneath the candlelight.

Nothing else in the room can distract Kora. She has never been this absorbed in a man before-or really anyone at all. His aura is captivating, and she can’t tear her gaze off of him.

Girls rush to introduce themselves as soon as he steps foot into the ballroom. His hand lifting theirs to his lips one after the other. Their grins beam brightly as he smiles to each of all, but his smile never seems to reach his bright eyes.

Kora can’t help but feel a pang deep inside her chest. Is it jealously? She doesn’t even know why she’s feeling this way. She doesn’t even know Jordan.

But she wants to.

“I can’t believe Lawrence of all people just tried to court you.” Clarence’s voice murmurs into her ear.

Tearing her eyes away from the beautiful boy, she sees her brother standing beside her, wandering what she is so entranced in. “He is gone now, though. I hope he doesn’t try that again.” She says, frowning slightly.

Kora knows Clarence is just as mad as she is at Lawrence’s behaviour as he spits out angrily, “If he tries that again, then I’ll make sure to-” he goes on when Charles wedges himself between them, almost knocking Clarence backwards.

“Oh, sorry Clarence. I didn’t see you there,” Charles says without a note of remorse in his voice, “Miss Hamilton, may I escort you onto the floor for this dance?” he asks quickly.

Without answering, Charles takes her hand into his and kisses the back of it. All Kora can do is shudder at his behaviour.

Clarence begins to protest, but Kora holds up her other hand, giving him a look that only he can read. “I will be fine, brother.” She looks at Charles, who’s donning a crooked smile. One that doesn’t really sit well with her, but she knows it’s rude to turn down a boy who asks. “One dance.” Kora says firmly.

“One dance.” He agrees.

Charles leads her out before she has the chance to reconsider. Pulling her close to him, she can smell Charles’ lingering scent of citrus and dirt, wondering if he was rolling around outside before bathing in oranges and changing for the soiree.

Shaking her head, she looks at him as he gazes down at her. She’s never liked being this close to Charles. There are reasons for her hatred towards him. The words he spoke after her parent’s death, some questionable pranks he pulled on her when they were younger, or-herpersonal favourite-when he beat her once in practice right after she had just recovered from the influenza, and he celebrated by pushing her into the fountain outside, which made her sick again.

Clarence wasn’t happy with that. Robert ended up grounding Charles for a week, which delighted Kora when she found out.

Pulling Kora out of her thoughts, Charles asks her, “What is on your mind?”

Staring at him blankly, she clears her throat. “Nothing is.”

“I don’t believe that.” His crooked smile returns to his lips. “A lady always has something on her mind. It’s just if she’s willing to share it or not.”

“Well, I guess I am not willing to share it withyouthen.”

“Fine.” He responds sourly.

Kora clenches her jaw at him, frustration biting at her nerves. “I know your parents thought they taught you manners,” she begins, “but it is extremely rude to interrupt a conversation between people. Especially siblings.”

Charles looks taken aback for a second. He peers around the room before setting his eyes on Clarence, who is happily speaking with Daisy now. “I didn’t think a conversation with your brother would be of importance at a soiree. Normally, people discuss serious topics in the privacy of their own residence.”

“That does not mean you can intervene in any conversation between family members.”

“I wanted to dance with you, Kora.”

That’s the first time in a long time he hasn’t called her Miss Hamilton. Charles, calling her by her Christian name, somehow doesn’t sit right in her stomach. “You should have waited like everyone else. You don’t just barge in when Clarence is speaking with me.”

“Oh, come on,” Charles breathes out, tossing his head backwards in frustration, “are you really going to hate me for the rest of your life, Kora?” questioning her.

For a moment Kora thinks about answering with an immediateof course I will, before rethinking it. If he is to be the next leader of the Ascendancy, then she doubts she’ll want to be on his enemy list, or at least at the very top of that list. “Perhaps not.” She says slowly, trying not to allude to anything.

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