Page 56 of Bonded Chaos

What the hell was wrong with me?

I decided I didn’t want to ruminate on it and, instead, returned my attention to my reflection in the mirror. Scarlette had visited earlier to do my makeup, and I had to admit, she had done a masterful job.

The light dusting of blush accentuated my high cheekbones, and the kohl that lined my eyes gave them a seductive allure I was rather fond of. The bright red lipstick that had been painted on my lips only worked to enhance the appeal.

I looked beautiful, and the thought made me miss home.

My mother would have been beside herself to see me dressed so elegantly. She’d often encouraged me to embrace the beauty I was half convinced only she saw, but now I could finally understand what she’d been saying all along.

A loud knock at the door startled me and drew me out of my reverie.

Riordan didn’t wait for me to answer before he strode into the room. He stopped halfway toward me, his mouth gaping open before he scrubbed a hand down his face.

“Gods, Cadence,” he groaned. “Keeping unwanted attention off you tonight is going to be an impossible task.”

I shifted nervously on my feet, unsure what to make of his reaction.

“Fuck! Keeping my hands to myself, and thereby my head attached to my shoulders, will be a godsdamned miracle,” he muttered.

“So do I look all right?”

“Do I look all right, she asks.”

Riordan blew out a breath before meeting my eyes.

“Cadence, sweetheart, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You are a goddess made real. Every man in that hall would trip over himself for a sliver of your attention, and if one succeeds, Ryker will surely skin me alive.”

“So, that’s a yes, then?”

“That’s a fucking hell yes!”

My shoulders relaxed, and I chuckled at Riordan’s response.

“Good, because I’m awful at these types of events. Honestly, I’ve never been to anything this fancy. The closest I have come is the Beltane festival back home.”

I was rambling. My nerves were getting the best of me.

Riordan crossed the room and clasped my hands.

“Stay at my side, and you will have nothing to worry about,” he grinned. “And I’ll be the most envied fucker there,” he added with a wink.

I laughed despite myself.

“Shall we?” he asked, as he waggled his eyebrows.

“We shall,” I confirmed, feeling more confident.

As we made our way toward the ballroom, we drew more than our fair share of stares from other partygoers.

“Why are they staring?” I mumbled to Riordan.

“I told you, you’re gorgeous.”

A blond woman with a pixie cut stopped in front of us, and she reached out to place her hand on Riordan’s forearm.

“Will I be seeing you after the festivities, Your Highness?” she purred.

“What do you think, Cadence? You up for it?”

---