Page 28 of Hers to Keep

When she drew close enough to catch their arousal, she almost lost her footing.Cisco spread a hand over the small of her back and steadied her without missing a beat.The heat of his hand pressing into her through the dress didn’t help at all.

She took a deep, cleansing breath.“You’re all going to be the death of me.”

Rio grinned like a cat who’d gotten caught with a paw where it shouldn’t be.“At least you’ll die smiling.”

He took one arm and Dante took the other, the two of them matching her pace as they escorted her through the main house toward the ballroom.

She was glad they’d taken the time to go see the location a few nights before, because the transformation was less of a shock now, seeing the warm wood and inviting colors.Dohal waited for them at the door to the ballroom.He’d been working on last-minute security details with Pris, making sure that the wards would both acknowledge guests and keep them safe.

A flowing skirt in red so dark it was nearly black wrapped his waist and draped to the ground, and around his neck and shoulders, he wore something that looked a bit like platinum armor patterned with dragon scales.Mari had to snap her jaw shut because seeing him decorated that wayreallydid it for her in ways she hadn’t expected at all.

One fang pressed into his bottom lip when he smiled in her direction.“You look delicious, bavi,” he said in a low rumble as she approached, bending to kiss her cheek.

She blushed under his attention.“So do you.I like this.”She reached up to run a hand over the metal scales, enjoying how they felt warm to the touch from their proximity to his skin.

“I’m glad,” he said with appreciation.“Pricilla and I have secured the building.No one should be able to enter who doesn’t have an invitation.”

“But you don’t think that will keep the Old One out if he decides to show up?”

“Likely not.”He sounded regretful.“Though that’s no different than any other day.”

“Okay, another thing I’m not thinking about.”

Cisco showed her a smile.“You ready to go in?Willow wanted to announce us.”

Mari rolled her shoulders and took a breath.It was going to be a lot, and she had known that when she’d agreed.There was a not small part of her that just wanted to drag the four of them back to the pool house—or better yet the grotto—and just hide from everyone until they all left.But she knew that wasn’t possible.This was important.They were doing it for a reason.After taking a moment to collect herself, she nodded.

Her gargoyle nodded and moved toward the entrance.Noise flooded into the quiet hallway the moment he opened one of the double doors a bit.He had a brief conversation with someone beyond and then shut the door again.“Two minutes,” he said.“They want you up front.”

Mariana moved to the front of the group, and the men organized themselves behind her without any discussion.She decided they must have talked about it beforehand without her, which made her smile.She tossed her head and stood up straighter just as the doors opened.

The music within shifted abruptly into a fanfare, and Willow’s magic-amplified voice filled the ballroom.“Please welcome your hostess, Mariana Reyes, and her coterie.”

A roar of applause overwhelmed the music, and Mari put on her best for-company smile.She stepped into the ballroom with every ounce of her confidence pulled around her like armor.Entering the packed ballroom wasn’t as difficult as she’d imagined it would be with all of her men at her back.The environment within was cheerful and excited, with everyone on their feet and most of them clapping.Nothing about the experience reminded her of her father’s parties.

Cisco and Dohal stepped up even with her to make sure the crowd parted as she moved forward, but it was hardly necessary.No one approached, and they all kept a respectful distance.

She led her men slowly along a wide red runner that crossed the room to the dais where the receiving line would be forming.Once they arrived, she took her place at the center of the curved lounge with Dante and Rio on either side of her, and Dohal and Cisco taking up guarding spots to either side.They waited for her to sit first, and then Dante and Rio sat flanking her.

By the time the normal party music came back on, Willow was directing traffic to form a line that bisected the large room.Many of the faces in the queue were familiar.The guest list had been vast, but they had vetted every name, trying to isolate potential threats before offering them access to their home.

Mica moved in once they were settled, putting food and drink for them along the platform at the back of the booth behind the seating.There was no table between her and the rest of the room, though there was a railing that prevented anyone from approaching her directly.

Rio rested a hand on the nape of her neck, his touch light and reassuring.“Do you want something to eat, bella?”

She showed him a smile that she hoped conveyed how much she appreciated him.“That would be nice.”

He pulled her into a brief and sweet kiss before getting up to make her a plate.

Pricilla approached with a smile for all of them and took up a position at a seating area adjacent to them on the dais where she could keep an eye on the rest of the line while Mari was distracted with talking to whoever was at the front.

Mari nodded to Willow to let them know she was ready.

Chapter 10

Thenexthourslidby slowly as Mari greeted her guests.Despite her fears, she was having a pleasant enough time.She didn’t get the opportunity to get out and be social nearly as much as she’d like.And this event was different enough from her father’s parties that the reflexive fear she’d felt when the idea had first been floated had eased substantially.

Almost everyone in attendance was a local, and she knew most of them already as she accepted their well-wishes and praise for the event.A notable exception was currently located two spots back.

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