Page 125 of Firestorm
My father and I broke our staring contest and the shadows evaporated at our feet. The sound of the party returned, absolutely no one having noticed our standoff.
The devil was a woman, and her name was Lucille Brandt.
She stopped in front of us, dressed to the nines in a long, deep blue evening gown. Amassivesapphire sat between her carefully taped-up breasts, and matching massive blue stones hung heavily from her thin ear lobes, stretching in a way that looked painful. She even had long gloves in her hand that she was tucking into her black clutch alongside her cigarette case, because of course. The woman who loathed her son for his vices had several of her own.
The woman was barely older than forty, but all her attempts at appearing younger only made her seem much older. It was clear she’d been attractive at one time. Aiden had her full eyelashes and highcheekbones, but that was where their similarities ended. Even while smiling, her brown eyes lacked the warmth of Aiden’s.
“Lucille,” Alejandro simpered before kissing her cheeks in greeting. “You remember my son, Rafe.”
“His Royal Highness, the Prince Rafael,” I corrected, shooting my father a look long enough to see his embarrassment before turning back to stare Lucille down, relishing in how her fake smile faltered.
She offered me a slight curtsy, then grinned. “Your Royal Highness,” she said in the same purr she’d given my dad, which was fucking gross since Harper was a step behind her.
I offered her a tight smile in reply but didn’t return her greeting. She pursed her lips and my father let out a long, exhausted sigh that told me just how insufferable he found me. Which was funny, considering he’d made me this way. Even funnier because not five minutes ago, I was considering removing his head from his body.
Lucille cleared her throat a bit awkwardly, then nudged Harper forward. “My Link, Harper Brandt.”
I stared Harper down, too, though she curtsied much quicker and deeper than her Key. She wore a blander version of Lucille’s getup, though it was more flattering on Harper’s natural body. She was tiny, barely coming to my shoulder, even with her brown hair swept up into an updo that gave her a bit of height. The sapphires on her ears and neck were much smaller than Lucille’s. Even her makeup was not as carefully done up.
Clearly, Lucille had eyes just like the rest of us and was aware that Harper was much prettier than her.
“Your Royal Highness,” Harper said softly. I gave her a quick nod in hello and snagged a glass of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray.
Alejandro looked like he was going to enter another orbit, he was so fucking mad. I offered him another grin before chugging the champagne.
“Your Highness, I must say I expected to be meeting someone else tonight,” Lucille said.
I ignored her initially, fighting the urge to burp from how fast I’d swallowed the champagne. Alejandro elbowed me in the rib and Icleared my throat, forcing myself to look back at the jump-scare that was her face.
“And who might that be, Mrs. Brandt?” I asked, not even attempting to sound interested. I didn’t even look at her as I spoke. I kept my eyes on the crowd, scanning for who I really wanted to see.
Lucille’s eyes flashed. “Why, your Key of course. Everyone’s heard – she was found late? A recently awakened second affinity? You must bebrimmingwith joy.”
I swear Lucille’s teeth were pointy like a demon’s as she flashed me a smile. I bristled internally, but I’d been trained my entire life not to react to people’s statements. My face revealed nothing.
“I have never felt such joy,” I replied flatly. “Though we’ve yet to meet. She’s attending school and I have my own responsibilities as well.”
“What would those be, I wonder?” Harper murmured softly from a step behind Lucille.
Alejandro went rigid. I almost laughed. Seems the meek Harper had finally grown a backbone, though she still simpered after Lucille. I gave her a slow, menacing grin.
“My, Lucille,” I said, keeping my eyes on Harper. Lucille tensed in my peripheral. “Your Link certainly is mouthy. However do you deal with her?”
Lucille turned a fiery glare on Harper, who had the sense to look apologetic. I ignored the oily sensation of pride that wafted off my father from next to me. He’d always enjoyed putting women in their place.
Probably because my mother had kept him in his.
Speaking of…where exactly was she?I’d heard the cheers earlier when she’d arrived, but as usual, my father didn’t make any effort to go to her.
Harper was sputtering out some type of apology, but I finally spotted who I’d actually come here for.
My mom.
I ignored Lucille and my father squawking in protest behind me as I took off across the room. My feet carried me across the squeaky ballroom floor, and I paused just a step behind her.
Of course, every child sees their mother as the most beautiful woman in the world, but my mother trulywaswhenever she got dressed up for official events.
The first thing I noticed was her long black hair, pulled back into a braid that trailed down past her back. She was wearing a stunning olive green ballgown that perfectly complimented her brown skin. The sleeves were long and fluttering, the neckline tastefully high, and there was a demure slit only up to the knee down one side. She was the Crown Princess. She would never wear anything scandalous.
