Page 112 of The Immortal's One
Lome stares at something behind me. A sigh slips past his lips. “My desires aren’t the only ones that matter. I must wait for Eshe to be open to reconciliation.”
“Have you asked her?”
“Of course.” His eyes slide back to mine. The sadness in their brown depths is a stab to the heart. “Many times. Eshe’s made it clear she believes our time has passed.”
My heart hurts, not just for Lome but for Eshe too—there’s a pain in his voice that doesn’t come from just disappointment. It’s something deeper.
Heartbreak.
I care about Lome and Eshe. And I hate to know there’s so much pain and sadness between them.
I squeeze his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “It’s all right. This is my own doing. I must live with the consequences.”
I nod, unsure of what else to say.
We continue to move in perfect sync as the music rises to its crescendo, the quickening beat pulling us along, and we are caught in the web of its beautiful song.
When the orchestra draws out the song’s final notes, Lome spins me with dramatic flair, and before I can even catch my breath, he dips me. I can’t help the laugh that escapes me, a little breathless and lighthearted despite our upsetting conversation.
Lome grins, a playful glint in his eye as he pulls me upright. Without missing a beat, he drops into a low bow, as if we’ve just danced our way through a royal court.
Still laughing, I dip into a curtsy, embracing the playful spirit of the moment, suspecting he needs it.
He extends his arm, and I gratefully latch on to let him lead me off the dance floor.
“Now, while I can think of no better way for me to spend the evening than in your company, I believe it is time we find my pesky brother,” Lome teases, but his jaw is tense as he scans the crowd, pointedly avoiding the direction where his estranged wife stands. “He, no doubt, wishes to escort you around the ball.”
Lome’s words are for the crowd around us. He and I both know Des would rather not be seen with me.
Not tonight.
Not ever.
But I don’t say anything. Instead, I press my lips together and nod, joining Lome in searching the room for my reluctant date.
It doesn’t take long before I spot him.
“There he is.” I rise onto my tiptoes, holding onto Lome’s arm for balance, and point toward the balcony doors at the far side of the room. “Over there.”
Lome nods and steers us toward him, expertly avoiding the couples weaving around the dancefloor as the next song begins. He pauses only when Immortals step into his path, greeting them politely and exchanging clipped pleasantries.
My cheek muscles twitch from holding a polite smile in place as I pretend I don’t notice their intense scrutiny. No one speaks to me directly. I don’t know if that bothers me or not.
When Lome and I finally break through the crowd and reach Des, I exhale a sigh of relief.
That same breath is sucked back into my lungs when I take in the sight of Des speaking with a devastatingly beautiful woman.
She’s wearing a floor-length, midnight blue gown that hugs her body in all the right ways. The fabric dips low on her back, exposing smooth, flawless skin when she turns to the side to laugh at something Des says. Her long blonde hair glows under the ballroom lights, and she flips it over her shoulder with a practiced, flirtatious grin.
Give me a break…I roll my eyes.Des isn’t funny.
My inner voice tsks.Is that jealousy?
I shut the thought down and stop walking less than six feet away. My forehead furrows, and my stomach knots.
Lome stops and looks at me with a raised brow. I’m about to suggest we don’t interrupt their conversation when Des spots us.
