Page 68 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

The skin-colored bodice clings to my body with hundreds of sparkling silver embellishments woven into every curve before cascading down the length of me.

My blonde hair is in thick wavy curls with one side pulled away from my face by a butterfly clasp that matches the elegant style of the dress.

“Thank you for the dress. It’s beautiful.” I look down at my bracelet to make sure it’s still on my wrist before glancing back at Hook.

His eyes darken as they travel down the length of me, his eyes lingering on the long slit that reaches the top of my thigh. He opens his mouth to say something just as the doors open.

He takes a step forward, his grip tightening on me as we step into a grand foyer full of people already mingling and laughing.

Some people greet Hook with fear in their eyes while others just dip their heads or stare. He ignores most of them and leads me straight into the large ballroom to the right. There’s a group of people dancing in the center of it while smaller groups stand off to the side, talking or eating from one of the tables of food laid out against the walls.

The entire ballroom is decorated in soft golds that mix with a silky black, weaving throughout the large-open space to give it an over-the-top extravagant feel. One that those with too much wealth only seemed to be able to achieve.

Soft music drifts around me from some invisible instruments as we move further into the room.

Something dark catches my attention from the corner of my eye. I look over toward it and find two huge black beasts standing off to the side.

“What are they? And why are they in this room?” I whisper to Hook.

He follows my gaze and curses when he spots them. “Hounds of the Dark Realm. Lord Basilius must have expected some form of trouble to bring them here. It’s said that they’re able to scent fear.”

I have never seen anything like them. Though they had similar features of the small human familiars I’ve come to adore, they were far larger in height and width, easily reaching Hook’s shoulder. With long pointed ears, a large snout, sharp teeth and a build similar to the beasts of the Fae Realm, they looked like a force to be reckoned with.

“Why would scenting fear be something the Lord could use to protect himself?” Surely half of the room was fearful of the pair of beasts and their watchful, red-rimmed eyes. There was also an intelligence in their sharp gazes, and a dark type of energy that seemed to seep from every part of them as they watched the room.

An icy shiver crawled down my back the longer I stared at them.

“It’s not a normal type of fear that they scent. They pick up on the kind that’s born from ill-intent,” Hook explains.

“Are they going to be a problem?” I ask him as I try to remain calm. But considering we were here with ill-intentions; it was becoming increasingly harder to do so. Especially when every time I glanced over at them, they seem to be larger, darker or more imposing. Their presence alone was something to be fearful of. Let alone what they could possibly do to you.

“They shouldn’t be. We’re not here to hurt the Lord. Nor do we have any ill-intentions toward him. Rather we need something from him. We should be fine.” Hook’s tone is smooth and confident. But I catch the nervous tick at the corner of his left eye that he tries to hide. He’s just as worried about them as I am.

We keep our distance from the hounds and move to the opposite side of the room. And when they pay us no mind, I finally start to relax.

“Let’s stay here for a bit.” Hook glances around the room. A couple of people come over to talk to him about needing something, but he glares at them before telling them to contact him through the usual means or not at all.

“I normally avoid these kinds of events.”Hook narrows his eyes on their retreating backs.

I glance around at the people eyeing Hook like he’s their new ticket to happiness.

“Because they usually want something from you?” I ask, feeling sad at the thought.

“That, and I prefer my own company. These things bore me to death.” He swipes a drink from a passing waiter, knocking it back before handing it to a random passing man. The man takes it without question before quickly moving away.

“Well in that case, maybe I should leave? Let you wallow in your boredom alone,” I retort, attempting to hide the smirk on my lips.

His eyes narrow on someone trying to inch closer to him before turning to me, his eyes instantly softening. He takes my hand and places a soft kiss on it. “You wouldn’t dare. Besides, you’re the exception.Always.”

Something warm fills my chest at the soft tone in his voice.

Cash’s words about Hook wanting to dance with me at the club flashes across my mind.

Maybe I could make it up to him and dance with him here? I open my mouth to ask him when a man with white shoulder length hair and flawless porcelain skin steps up beside us. He wears an air of power and wealth like a second skin. And though his smile is sincere, I see the sliver of darkness that hides beneath those dark brown eyes.

“Hook.” His voice was soft, pleasing to the ears but there was also a slight coldness to it.

“Basilius.” Hook clenches his jaw but pastes a smile on his face. Basilius’ eyes drift to me before moving back to Hook.

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