Page 111 of Lavender and Lightning

By the time Sam and Ally cut the cake and the announcement is made that the best man and maid of honor will be making their speeches, I’ve watched Lydia down another gin and tonic, as well as a glass of champagne. Jason is watching her while I watch the room, but Darren is sitting with Adam and someone else that, judging by his build and features, looks to be a cousin. If I’ve counted correctly, he’s had at least six beers, which is too many for my taste.

Lydia moves, but I whip my head around and catch her elbow before she fully slides out from the booth, giving her a questioning look.

“I have to use the ladies’. I’ll be right back,” she says softly, words muffled as applause breaks out when the maid of honor steps onto the dancefloor.

“I’ll go with you,” I blurt.

Lydia looks at me for a moment, and I think she’s going to try to fight me. But then her eyes flick over my shoulder and she swallows, nodding. Jason gives us a nod as we both stand and head off through an open doorway off the ballroom and down a short hallway. She slips through the door to the ladies’ room, and I stand off to the side, watching the end of the hall.

I’m not standing there for long when I feel my phone vibrate against my chest. When I pull it out and see Lex’s name on the screen, I dismiss the call. Noise is picking up from the speeches and the music for Sam and Ally’s first dance starts up, and I’ll talk to Lex later when I can find a quiet moment. But even as I think that, Lex calls again. I don’t want to leave Lydia, but as Lex calls a third time in a row, I sigh. Lex wouldn’t be doing this unless it was important.

“What’s going on?” I say as I answer, plugging my other ear as I walk half a dozen paces down the hall where it’s quieter.

“Seth. We just got word from the court,” she starts, the end of her sentence getting drowned out by a round of cheering when a popular song comes on.

“Say that again, Lex,” I say, ducking into a side room.

“The judge signed a warrant for Seth’s arrest,” she repeats, speaking slowly and clearly.

I give myself a singular moment of celebration. It’s taken far too long to get here, but I’m glad we’ve finally gotten what we’ve been after. If Seth is charged and found guilty, it’s going to be that much easier for Lex and Mateo to get the court to agree to a forced termination of their bond.

“What charges?” I ask, smiling triumphantly.

“Conspiracy to commit arson, aggravated harassment, and vehicular manslaughter,” Lex says, and even with all the noise on my end, I can still hear the gloating little bounce to her words.

“This is fucking fantastic! Have they brought him in yet? I can’t wait to see his fucking mugshot,” I ask excitedly.

“That’s why I’m calling instead of texting. They went to go serve the warrant, but he’s gone. Completely MIA,” she says.

I whip around, feet freezing, as I slowly absorb her meaning. Shit. He could be anywhere.

“I’ve got to go. Can you get our flight plan moved up? I want–”

“One step ahead of you. Lucas is already packing at the apartment,” she tells me calmly.

We hang up, and my mind is running into overdrive. We need to get home, and fast. There’s no way of knowing where Seth could be, and we’ll be safer together. As I reach the bathroom door, I shove my phone in my pocket, shifting nervously on my feet. But then suddenly, I hear a wordless scream of pain, and my heart stops.

Lydia.

forty-eight

Lydia

Istepuptothe counter and turn on the tap to wash my hands, feeling the world sway slightly as the alcohol finally hits my system. It’s amazing how you don’t feel drunk when you’re sitting down, but then you stand up andbam. I giggle under my breath at my own thoughts. Yeah, I definitely need to switch to water if we plan on staying for any longer. Though by the sounds coming from outside the door, if the dancing’s started, then this might be the perfect opportunity to slip out unnoticed.

“Hello, petal.”

I gasp and look up from the running water, my blood freezing solid as my eyes land on Darren McLaughlin in the mirror. I whip around, my still wet hands slipping slightly against the marble counter. Darren is between me and the door, cutting off my only means of escape. The three stalls to my left won’t offer any sort of long-term shelter.

“Aw, come on now ‘chere. Don’t look too excited to see your alpha now,” Darren slurs, his Cajun accent all the worse from intoxication.

“You’re not my alpha,” I reply, trying to sound calmer than I feel. Thankfully, my words are steady, even though my stomach quakes worse than a flag in a hurricane.

Darren sucks his teeth as he prowls forward, rubbing at the stubble on his jaw. His rusty red hair is even more disheveled than before, and his tie hangs loose around his neck. There’s an unsteadiness to his gait that sends up warning bells loud and clear. He’s drunk, too drunk. I try to step back as he closes in on my space, but my hips only dig into the hard edge of the counter.

“You know, petal, you always have been easy on the eyes, and when you clean up like this, it’s enough to make anyone go crazy, alpha or nah,” Darren purrs, reaching up to brush a knuckle along my hair.

I flinch back, bile rising in the back of my throat at the look of disappointment he levels at me.

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