Page 38 of Imbalance
Clearing my throat, I deadpanned, "You look like a cupcake."
She held her hand to her chest in mock pain, "You wound me. If you are going to compare me to a dessert, Dray, at least make it a better one than that.”
Chuckling, I strode to her side and chivalrously offered her my arm. She slid her small hand into the crook of my elbow, fitting perfectly. Glancing up at me, she asked, "Where are the others?"
I began walking towards where Jace had instructed me to take her. "They're in the ballroom already. We knew it would be best to not crowd you right now."
In my peripheral vision, I saw her eyes cast down to the floor, and a flash of pain crossed her face, causing me to growl. "Say the word, and I'll pummel him into the ground. Nico and the prince, actually."
She huffed out a laugh that didn't sound authentic as she shook her head, "That won't be necessary."
The sound of the celebration grew louder, and I stopped walking and turned towards Ama, knowing I couldn't let her go in there in this mindset. Backing her against the wall, I crowded her with my arms on both sides of her, effectively shielding her from the few stragglers heading into the ballroom.
They were giving us disgusted looks, and I couldn't help but bare my teeth at them and growl, "Avert your fucking eyes, unless you want me to pluck them out with my scythe."
My words brought a genuine laugh out of her this time, which was music to my ears. She hit my chest lightly, bringing my attention back to her. "Dray, you can't threaten the people of the kingdom whose army we’re asking for."
"Fucking watch me," I rumbled out, turning to bark out a harsh warning to those still looking at us. Ama was quick to grab my chin and bring my face back to her. She surprised me by rising up and dragging my head down to hers, pressing a kiss to my lips.
Growling out of desire this time, my arms encircled her waist, pulling her firmly to me. I'd missed her immensely. I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed this time alone with Ama, even if it was just a few minutes. Despite our distance emotionally back home, Ama had been a staple in my life, and I wasn’t used to sharing her attention—even if that attention included glares.
I drank her in. Greedy for more, but knowing we had an obligation to show up to this damned event, I pulled back enough to breathe out, "I love you, Ama. I think a part of me always has, from the first time we played together out in the gardens. I'd do anything to protect your heart so it never cracks again."
Her lower lip quivered as tears sprang to her eyes, and she muttered, "Damnit Dray, I do not have time to fix my makeup."
"It doesn't matter. You could cry it all off and still be the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on," I answered, dismissing her concerns. I meant every word. She was beautiful, with an even more gorgeous soul that shone so brightly.
"You really hurt me all those years ago," she admitted, and all I could do was nod my head in understanding. I knew I had fucked up. "But I think a part of my heart has stayed with you ever since that day, despite the pain you caused."
Hope blossomed in my chest, surging through me when she whispered, "I love you too, Drayven."Holy hell.Ama had absolutely no idea what her words did to me.
My gaze turned primal, and she must have seen the intention in my eyes because she pushed on my chest and laughed, "We'll save that for later. For now, we have an army to procure."
I grumbled under my breath about not giving a shit about the army, but the look she sent me told me she knew I was full of shit. Sometimes, it was insane how well she knew me. Couldn’t we get the army while I laid her out on every surface of the devildamned castle? I wanted more of Ama, always so much fucking more.
We headed into the ballroom, and I paused to take it all in, immediately wanting to secure routes of escape. It was a massive room, with either side opening to large balconies. Annoyingly, there were high cocktail tables that separated the balcony from the room itself. Enough people were standing at them that it would be a pain in the ass to get through them, but I'd knock people over like dominos if needed.
"Wow, they look so regal," Ama breathed out next to me, and I followed the direction of her gaze to the king and queen, who were at the head of a long table at the far end of the room. It gave them a clear line of sight to both the dance floor in the middle and all of the cocktail tables, while offering the protection of the wall at their backs.
Smart. That's where I'd make sure Ama remained.
Pushing her directly through the dance floor, I ignored the grumbles of the people I pushed through, while Ama offered them quick apologies and shot me a “what the fuck” look. We stopped in front of the royal table, and the king and queen rose to greet us with huge smiles on their faces.
"Welcome, Ama," King Cyrus said, his voice booming out with the ease of a practiced leader.
She dipped into a weird curtsey that had her almost falling over. Reaching my arm out, I grabbed her arm before she could tip over, and she shot me a meek smile, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"No need for such formalities, dear," Queen Safiya chided, "You are family after all."
Wow, they had really accepted her into the fold with no hesitation.
King Cyrus picked up his glass and lightly hit his knife to the side, the universal sign for the room to quiet down for someone to give a speech. I wasn't sure how it carried through the crowded room, though...probably some magic I couldn't see.
They walked around the table and stopped at Ama's side, the king inconspicuously elbowing me out of the way. I bit back a growl and backed away just a few steps, glancing around the room to see where the other guys were. I finally spotted them at a cocktail table that was almost on the balcony itself. They gave me nods of greeting, then glued their eyes back to our girl.
Fuck, I was actually accepting her as ours and not just mine. When had that happened?
"We've gathered you all here for a celebration, but we have not told you the reason," Safiya called out before looking at Cyrus to continue.
