Page 176 of Poison Vows

She tugs my hand and rushes me downstairs, completely dismissing the fact that some of us are not as adept with heels as others, but in no time at all, we arrive at the great hall’s banister.

Scar doesn’t even allow me a moment to breathe before she clears her throat, and all eyes look up at where we stand.

Then she starts speaking in Italian before she glances at me with a wry, proud smile on her face. “Mrs. Emmett Alessio Damian Easton, the queen of our Family.”

A round of applause sounds in the room as Scar gestures for me to go down the stairs just like how she made me practice yesterday. It was like a wholeThe Princess Diariesbootcamp!

I avoid catching people’s gazes and only focus on one person and one person alone, the husband who ditched me on our wedding night.

And his eyes are blazing.

So are mine, jerk!

With a small smile on my face, I make it to the landing where Emmett waits for me, offering me his arm to take, but I bypass him and go straight for Vaughn.

“Hey, old friend,” I say flirtatiously. “Introduce me?”

“Uh, it would be the highest honor of my life,” he says without missing a beat, and takes me around the room, meeting some important people within the Outfit.

But, of course, I’m not listening to a word because I can feel those bone-chilling, bloodcurdling eyes on my back.

Vaughn says something and I laugh sweetly, ignoring the heat on my back.

When we get to Grandpa Armando, he kisses the back of my hand, and we get to chatting like old friends until he hits me with a statement I wasn’t expecting.

“My grandson is a jerk. Give him hell, sweetheart!”

And just like that, I’m a goner.

Scar gives me a thumbs-up, then Vaughn, who’s still beside me, suddenly pulls me in for a dance.

“Are you using me to make him jealous?” he asks two seconds within the dance.

“No,” I deny, but he only chuckles.

“You’re a shitty liar but like I told you before, I don’t mind being used by you.”

I hold Vaughn’s gaze. “Are you still playing the game?”

“I already lost the game.”

“And yet you’re still flirting with me?”

“Ivy, sweetheart, you’re a stunning lady, wearing the hell out of that dress. Which red-blooded human would?—”

I don’t get to hear Vaughn’s praise because I suddenly get pulled and then dragged across the room by a raging, agitated, completely insane bull.

CHAPTER 26

Emmett

“A person’swords should always be regarded with respect but when we analyze the motive, we discern the matter of loyalty or treachery.”

My mother used to say that, and she was right.

My wife’s words are one thing but her motive tonight, coming out dressed like a regal vixen. The two shouldn’t go together, but my wife’s supernatural ability of shifting the atmosphere and making the impossible easy was on full display just now.

Then she completely ignored me! After not seeing me for several days!