Page 40 of A Luna's Dynasty
“Are you telling me how to protect my luna?” Asher arched his brow at him.
“In this case, yes.”
“Well, that settles it for me.” Lita walked forward. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. And I won’t be told what to do. Which way?” she asked the man, who pointed her in the right direction.
“There will be costumes and masks for you to choose from inside.”
“Thank you.” Lita turned, her gaze meeting with Asher’s. “If you don’t find me within the hour, I’ll be sleeping in my own room tonight.” She listened as he chuckled darkly before she followed the long hall to another room. Stepping into the room, her eyes widened in shock. It was like a department store, full of clothing.
“Place your personal belongings here. You can collect them after the party. Whatever you pick is yours to keep, so choose wisely.” A female attendant then motioned to the wall. “You can get changed over there. Once you’re ready, you can leave through the red doors.”
Lita gently ran her fingertips over the array of clothes and masks, feeling each fabric and texture as if she were blind. She paused when her fingers grazed a luxurious green-feathered mask, adorned with intricate gold designs. Beside it lay a stunning gown, shimmering emerald green and bedecked with sequins that caught the light at every angle. Lita couldn’t resist slipping it on, its high slit revealing just enough skin. As she twirled in front of the mirror, the feathers on her mask danced along to the rhythm of her movements. She felt like a goddess, ready to attend the most extravagant masquerade ball imaginable. Well, to her it would be. This was her first party, and she was playing a game of hide and seek with her mate.
The doors to the room opened, and her eyes roamed over all the people with hidden faces.Alright, Asher … come find me.
She walked into the room, noticing there was a gap between the two crowds. On one side were the ladies in dresses with masks, and on the other were the men in suits with masks. There were a few men standing in between, and one lady was at a podium with a microphone.
“Welcome everyone to this brilliant first of Mates and Masquerades. A party we thought would add more excitement. Some of you have already noticed that you can't detect the scents of others. Do not be alarmed. This was all thought of and prepared ahead of time so that you don’t run to the person you came with. The whole point of this is to mingle and get to know others, maybe finding that special mate of yours. I assure you that you will be able to smell your mate if they’re here. That is another reason for what we did. There have been a couple of parties where fated mates missed the other with all the different scents in the rooms. Now, without dates, we can focus on the point of these parties.” The woman lifted her head and gazed over everyone. “Let’s have fun, and remember … you’re all single! If you have a connection with someone … we do havethe entire upstairs floor of guest rooms available. Whatever you consenting adults want to do is up to you. If you need a room key, you can get one at the main desk. Okay, DJ, set the mood for us!”
Music began to play, and soon the crowds of people meshed together. The announcer was right. Lita could smell Asher’s scent, but because her senses were dulled, it was hard to pinpoint. Eye contact would be the best way to locate him. But she was the one hiding, and it was his job to seek. She smiled behind her mask, feeling excited. She wondered how long it would take for him to find her.
Chapter 24
“Can I have this dance?” A woman with blue sapphire eyes asked Asher.
“Sorry, I’m looking for my mate.” He pushed past her, trying to follow the scent. Bodies were everywhere as they spun around on the dance floor. One of them could be his mate … in the arms of another male. He felt his wolf Bo growing irritated at the thought.
Me too, buddy … me too.
Asher’s eyes scanned the dance floor until a hand wrapped around his. It was the same woman from earlier with the blue eyes.
“Ladies choice,” she said behind her golden mask.
“I’m not a ladies’ choice, though. I have a mate, and she is the only choice.” Asher went to pull away when the person gripped him harder.
“One dance? Please?” the woman pleaded with a sad voice.
Frustration seeped from Asher’s sigh as he glanced back over the sea of dancers, searching for a way out of the situation. His eyes scanned the twirling figures on the dance floor, each one blurring into a whirl of color and movement.
“Sorry, but—”
“It’s one dance,” another man’s voice snorted in agitation.
“I have a mate. I’m looking for her.”
“She isn’t asking for anything other than a dance. Find your someone after,” the man growled and Asher narrowed his eyes at him. “It’s only a minute of your time.” The man’s voice softened.
“Fine,” he muttered begrudgingly. “One dance, but if I see my mate while we’re dancing, I’m gone.” The woman nodded her head as he took her hand and led her onto the dance floor. His mind raced as he looked over the blurring bodies around him. Perhaps he could observe the other dancers, looking for the most beautiful green eyes in the world. The room was vast and noisy. It would be impossible to even hear her voice. Damn, at this rate, he wasn’t going to find her anytime soon.
“How about a dance?” A man with a gold mask asked.
“Oh, umm … I’m just enjoying observing right now.” Lita watched as the man waited there expectantly.
“I thought that was you! It’s me, Caspian.” A man with a black-feathered half mask moved between Lita and the other man. He reached out his hand and pulled her to his chest. “I’ll keep you safe until your feral mate finds you,” he whispered near her ear as he pulled her out to dance.
“Caspy, wait.” The name just popped out, but it felt natural and normal for her, as if she used to say it a lot. His eyes lit up, and he looked really happy. He had taken her hand, and the moment he’d touched her, her hand began to tingle strangely.
“Caspy?!” His smile broadened. “Oh, we’re on a nickname basis. I’m loving it.”
