Page 39 of Violet Legacy

“Dante, is it your intention to scare everyone away from you?” Sypha asked as they nodded to the space around him. “Anhur has clearly outdone himself.”

Sypha wasn’t exaggerating. House Azaes had transformed the ancient ballroom into a mythical landscape. A wintery wonderland in the middle of a desert. The gala would be talked about for centuries. As Anhur had intended.

Sypha handed him a crystal glass filled with amber liquid. Dante glanced around the room; jewels dripped off almost every guest. The serving staff wore expensive black suits, designed to complement, and not compete against, the bright colors worn by the guests.

What would Rieka have thought of the party? Despite Frankie’s request, he had chosen not to invite Rieka; he hadn’t wanted to be distracted. Or to give the other Houses an inkling that she was important to him.

“It is the latest fashion.” Sypha said as they nodded to their attire. Their tone was cool but calculated, but then everything Sypha did was steeped in deep reason.

It was why they worked so well together. And why, despite multiple ludicrous counteroffers, they still worked for him.

“Rieka is currently being escorted by Talik, who has kindly asked me to remind you that babysitting is not part of his duty statement.”

Dante turned his attention back to Sypha. His fingers tightened on the glass stem.

They delicately shrugged as if it should have not come as a surprise that Rieka was attending the ball. “Frankie asked me to make sure we invited Rieka,” Sypha said.

He need not worry; Talik would ensure that no one approached Rieka without her permission. “Did she want to attend?”

“There were minimal protests,” Sypha chuckled as they shook their head. “It is only fair that you know that Talik and I have placed a wager.”

The comment piqued his interest. “On what?”

Sypha smiled, lifting their untouched champagne flute as they took a step back. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be half as much fun.”

A flash of emerald caught his attention a moment before the whispers began. The dress was the exact color of the streaks in Rieka’s hair. Time seemed to stand still as the woman in front of him absorbed all his attention.

Defiant gold eyes stared back at him, daring him to move. A challenge he couldn’t refuse.

Rieka.

Mine.

The words whispered through his mind, instinctual rather than calculated, but no less dangerous. Lust surged through him. He forced it down. Now was not the time or the place.

He wasn’t the only one to notice Rieka’s presence. The dress emphasized her lean body, showing curves her normal black androgynous attire hid from view. Tumultuous curls cascaded halfway down her back. Rieka was breathtaking.

“Sypha can work miracles,” Rieka said as she walked up to him. Her eyes darted to the side as she smiled; the smile did not reach her eyes.

He was going to give Sypha a raise. Rieka was a goddess come to life. One that he wanted to strip and see if she tasted as good as she appeared.

“You look beautiful,” Dante said. It had nothing to do with the dress she wore. The fire that burned within Rieka shone through everything she did. It added an element of allure that no wealth or artificialness could buy. And the more astute Atlanteans in the room were aware of it.

“You don’t look half bad yourself.”

“Drink, milady?” the server asked, their gaze never leaving Rieka.

Dante fought the urge to steer the server away. “Is it what you were expecting?”

Rieka took a small sip of the champagne, her lipstick leaving a bloodred stain on the glass. “I didn’t know what to expect, but this—” Rieka nodded at their surroundings. “This is fantastical.”

Dante tried to imagine what the gala would be like to someone who had not been exposed to the lavish celebrations of the Houses. Even by their standards, there was an ethereal element to the ball that was not commonly seen at other Atlantean events.

“You could buy a small country with the gold and jewelry on display.”

“Perhaps,” Dante conceded. Or the loyalty of a peer. The ball was renowned for creating new allegiances and bloodlines. “One could say that about the bracelet you are wearing.” Another item Sypha had somehow found. He was going to have to discuss boundaries if they kept this up.

A pretty blush crossed Rieka’s features as she stared down at the piece of jewelry. “Sypha said it belongs to your collection.” Rieka half-turned, her skirt swirling around her. She kept her voice low enough that only he could hear her. “I would have assumed you would be surrounded by peers and admirers. Interesting, it isn’t just us mere humans you seem to scare.”

---