Page 4 of All the Chaos of Constellations
She hoisted her skirts and darted toward a curtain of winterblooms, ducking swiftly behind the icy blue flowers to conceal herself in one of the ballroom’s many alcoves. She would only stay hidden away for a few minutes, just until she could find a way to leave the ball for good without being noticed, and her plan would have worked except she wasn’t alone.
Novalise swallowed a yelp.
Crammed into the alcove with her was none other than Asher Firebane, Lord of House Emberspire. He was quite possibly the most presumptuous male in all of Aeramere and apparently had a fierce temper. At least, that’s what everyone told her. She’d been blessed to avoid any interactions with him and whenever they were in the same place, he was almost always preoccupied with a book. A pity, really, considering he was rather handsome.
His hair was the color of night with a streak of silver slashing through it, and the front pieces were cut longer than the rest, so they fell in a wave, concealing half of his face. His jawline was strong and smooth-shaven, and his eyes reminded her of still-lit coals beneath a brooding brow. He wore a trim black coat with fine stitching and the silk shirt beneath it was the color of stormy skies. To make matters worse, he had the fullest lips she’d ever seen. Oddly enough, she couldn’t stop staring at them.
“Fancy meeting you here.”
Novalise’s lashes fluttered back in shock. She hadn’t expected his voice to be so…deep.
“I live here.” She straightened, her spine snapping into place. A mistake that sent the fullness of her breasts right up against his obscenely hard chest. Shrinking back, she pressed herself into the cool stone of the alcove. “What areyoudoing here?”
“Same thing as you, I imagine.” His gaze flicked to the wall of winterblooms. “Hiding.”
“From?”
“This entire shit show of a holiday.”
Novalise reared back, affronted, and her head knocked into a protruding chunk of stone. She hissed, wincing against the pain.
Concern etched its way across Asher’s brows. “Are you alright?”
“Never better.” She rubbed the sore spot on the back of her head. “My family’s Yuletide Ball isnota shit show. Not only is it tradition, but it’s an event loved by even the most haughty of fae.”
“Beg your pardon. Of course it isn’t.” He leaned his broad frame against the wall opposite her and she looked away, mortified that she’d noted the way his muscular arms strained against the confines of his midnight coat. “Yet here you are.”
Vexation fired through her. She had no idea a lord of Aeramere could be so irritating. “I’m not hiding. I simply needed a reprieve.”
From Reif Marintide and his exceptionally dashing smile.
The corner of Asher’s mouth ticked upward. “Is that all?”
“Yes, that’s all.”
“Then your time is up, because I was here first.”
Novalise’s mouth fell open. “You can’t kick me out, this ismyhouse. Do you even know who I am?”
“Oh, yes.” He shoved off the wall, closing the distance between them until she was squished up against him once more. Cold stone pressed into her back, but the heat from his body overwhelmed her, causing tiny beads of sweat to slink down her spine. “You’re Lady Novalise Starstorm Celestine, spoiled darling of Aeramere who thinks herself worthy of reading the stars. In other words, you’re an obnoxiously pretty fae who enjoys attending parties despite adding no real worth to them.”
Novalise might’ve been flattered by the compliment of her looks had it not been for the fact that he’d insulted her at the same time.
Lord Firebane had left her with no choice.
Novalise reached back, aiming to slap that smirk off his beautiful face.
CHAPTERTWO
Asher snagged Novalise Starstorm’s wrist right before her hand met the side of his face.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warned.
She wrenched her arm free, and he released her. “First you try to kick me out of this alcove and now you’re telling me what to do?”
He shrugged, falling back against the other side of the stone wall. “Not that I’d expect you to listen.”
“I’ll have you know, I’m an exceptional listener.” She shimmied a little, crossing her arms over her chest, and it took every shred of Asher’s willpower not to steal a glance at her ample cleavage. “To those I respect.”
