Caspian’s eyes reflected like sapphires as he looked up at Asher, a flat expression on his face. "Did you get the rings?"
Asher looked sheepish, "Yeah I did."
"Then I’m not upset anymore," Caspian said, turning to the exits again.
Asher had been about to interrupt him with a kiss when the person Caspian had been waiting for this entire time showed up.
Caspian turned around with the happiest look on his face that Asher had seen all evening. "Lake is here!"
Asher begrudgingly straightened up and walked beside Caspian as the Omega started for the recent guests who had just arrived.
Caspian pulled Lake into an easy hug, already chatting his friend’s ears off.
Asher shot Davian a dark look, "Aren’t you due for a vacation or something?" He muttered, displeased. "Your mate is stealing mine."
Their harmless conversation had attracted the attention of practically everyone in the hall. It was the first time in decades Mafia Kings had been so friendly with each other, there were already rumors of an alliance.
Davian would jump on the chance to take Lake on a vacation if he could but he knew the Omega wouldn’t agree to it.
"More like yours is stealing mine," He countered calmly, looking at the direction that Caspian was pulling Lake in.
Now that Lake was here, Caspian was quick to complain about all of his woes to his best friend, sighing and complaining as he gave him a tour of the hall.
On their brief walk around, they bumped into Quinn who was genuinely pleased to meet them.
Unfortunately, Caspian couldn’t remain with Lake for the rest of the night, the engagement party was about to kick off so he needed to do the needful with his husband and welcome guests.
Lake could finally take a breather with Caspian busy, Davian pulled out a chair for him, a cool drink in hand.
"Thank you," Lake breathed, grateful.
Davian was so attentive, most times, it felt like the Alpha knew him better than he knew himself.
Lake sipped on the refreshing drink, while he had been wandering around arm in arm with Caspian, the Omega had mentioned that Nikolai had been properly invited to the wedding.
Lake hadn’t seen the third Mafia King yet, so unless he intended to be very fashionably late, he didn’t think the Alpha would be showing up.
He had also learned from Caspian that Bella had been given an invitation, and she had actually shown up.
The heiress had avoided them while Caspian was showing him the finished decorations and Lake hadn’t spared her a second look.
"We should socialize," He suggested after emptying his glass.
Davian’s expression soured at that, "It’s not our engagement party."
"It could be," Lake murmured under his breath.
"What?" Davian leaned in closer to better hear him.
"Nothing." Lake shook his head, but he didn’t push for them to socialize again.
Although there was a special seat for Asher and Caspian to sit while the festivities went on, Caspian beelined for his best friend when they had said a word to practically everyone in the hall.
Lake’s smile was contagious when Caspian practically flopped in his arms with a soft groan.
"Ugh! My mouth hurts," He complained, hanging off Lake’s neck.
Lake patted his back sympathetically, "The party is just starting."
Caspian’s groans dialed up at that, his eyes glassy with unshed tears when Asher picked him up from Lake’s arms and disappeared into the crowd.
"I need to use the bathroom," Lake rose to his feet.
Davian made a move to get to his feet but he intercepted him. "There’s no need, I’ll be back soon."
Davian sat back because there were very few things that would make him not listen to Lake, and one of those was the Omega being in danger.
But this couldn’t exactly count as a danger.
As soon as Lake’s slender figure disappeared into the crowd, the harmless expression on Davian’s face dissipated into nothingness, his slate gray eyes icy cold.
Lake never noticed it because Davian was a declawed wolf next to him, but when the Omega’s back was turned, the menacing Head of the House of Black effortlessly slipped back in place.
Davian had wanted to tag along with Lake because he had seen an unwanted face.
Davian honestly shouldn’t have been surprised. Practically everyone was at Asher’s engagement party, the Alpha had always been good at making connections despite how impulsive he was.
So the presence of the heir was expected even, it didn’t mean that Davian had to be happy about it.
News had reached him about Clint’s inquisitiveness, the heir had been asking around about Lake. He didn’t care about what the elusive heir had gotten into his head about Lake, he just wanted him far the fuck away.
His cold eyes closely trailed after Lake until the Omega slipped out of the hall, and then he watched the door closely for when Lake returned.
Lake stretched as he walked down an empty hallway. He had been to the event center a couple of times before so he already knew where the restrooms were.
The party was less hectic that he had thought it would be, at least for him. His friend was going through it, but all he did with Davian was people watch and munch on hors d’oeuvres.
When he lifted his hands to gently caress the hairpins in his hair, his sleeves dropped to show the bracelet around his slender wrist, the black diamond catching the fluorescent lights in the bathroom.
Lake was careful not to dislodge the hairpins that Davian had painstakingly put in his hair, reminded of the first time that the Alpha had tried putting a hairband in his hair because he wanted to be ready for when the baby was born.
There was an absent smile on his face as he walked out of the bathroom, hurrying back to Davian’s side, he knew that Davian didn’t do well with being separated.