Evaline:
I had never felt more trapped by shimmering silk, polite smiles, and the weight of a thousand eyes pretending not to stare.
Ten minutes after River and I entered, the air shifted again, like thunder rolling in before a storm. And there he was.
Kieran.
He was the first of the brothers to make an appearance after River. The murmurs started from the far end of the ballroom and rippled forward, parting the crowd like they had rehearsed it for years.
Kieran stepped in dressed in all white. His blonde hair was pulled into a perfect manbun, and he was wearing a simple but elegant half-mask that only made his sharp jawline more striking. He wasn’t looking at anyone. Not yet. His gaze moved slowly over the room like a silent predator getting a read on the battlefield.
My breath hitched as our eyes met across the room.
I offered a smile, timid but genuine. He didn’t smile back, but his gaze softened just enough to let me know he saw me.
A few minutes later, Oscar strolled in with his usual swagger, and the mood in the room changed once again - lighter, flirtier. Gasps and giggles followed his every step as he adjusted the cuffs of his dark red-colored suit jacket.
His mask was gold and black, and the confidence in his walk said he wasn’t hiding. Not really. Like Kieran, he also looked right at me, winked, and then blended into a group of high-ranking officials, probably already charming the Luna daughters standing nearby.
I sighed. I knew the look in their eyes. The soft accusation. The silent plea. Why River? Why not him or Draven?
Because River felt safe. Because his fans would pass me as his secretary or one of his assistants unless they saw me hanging on his arm after this night as well.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get more intense, Draven arrived.
The ballroom went silent... for the fourth time.
He didn’t walk in. He entered. Dressed all in black with a silver-trimmed mask and not even the hint of a smile. His presence was overwhelming, dangerous even. Women visibly stepped aside as he passed, some clutching their wine glasses like the very glass might melt if they stared too hard at him.
He didn’t spare a glance at anyone... until he spotted me.
His gaze pinned me to the spot like a mark waiting for judgment. And for a second, I forgot to breathe.
I turned my head quickly, pretending to sip the apple juice I had picked up earlier. I could already feel the weight of their gazes following me from across the room.
"Careful," River murmured beside me, his voice low, amused. "You looked like you were about to choke."
I didn’t respond. I was too busy trying to calm my racing heart. But then my gaze drifted past River’s shoulder, and I stilled.
Celeste.
The very image of elegance and venom in a deep green gown, standing with her usual entourage. And her beautiful violet eyes were locked... not on River... but me.
And the second our eyes met, I looked away while my heart started pounding in my chest. Of all people... her? When I was considering River’s fan girls, I completely forgot about her.
"Something wrong?" River’s voice pulled me back to the moment.
"Your future wife is drilling holes into my skull," I whispered back dryly.
His brow arched over the edge of his mask. "Future wife?"
I resisted the urge to sigh. "Celeste Renwyn," I said, trying to gesture subtly with my glass.
He glanced over my shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Green dress?"
"Yeah."
He turned his attention back to me, looking completely unbothered. "Never seen her before."
I blinked. "What?"
"Don’t recognize her."
"You don’t-" I almost choked again. "She’s been obsessed with you for years. Rumors say she’s already picked her wedding dress."
He chuckled under his breath. "And what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Have you picked your dress?"
I just stared at him for two long seconds in disbelief. "Not funny."
He only shrugged. "If she’s so set on marrying me, maybe I should be warned about women like her trying to leap into my arms during the waltz."
"She looks like she would do it."
He nodded sagely. "I’ll stay close, then. You’ll protect me."
I looked away, unable to keep up with his shift in behavior. These days, his behavior toward me was beyond my understanding. Either he would ignore my very existence even if I was standing right next to him, or this... whatever this was to begin with.
I caught sight of Kieran standing near the orchestra, while Oscar speaking to some influential dignitaries, and Draven was standing in the far corner talking to absolutely no one, drink untouched in his hand. But their eyes... their eyes kept drifting back to me.
I told myself this was the smartest move. That playing River’s assistant, or secretary, or whoever the public decided I was, gave me enough cover to exist at this event without becoming tabloid bait. No one would question River bringing a woman around. They already suspected every beautiful girl he was seen with was "just another assistant."
"I’m getting something to eat," I muttered, taking a step back, trying to shake the heaviness in my chest.
He turned to me. "Wha-"
"I’ll be back in a minute."
I barely made it three steps when I felt it... his hand around my waist, pulling me back.
I stilled, my breath caught. The touch was light, not demanding, but firm. Comforting.
And it made my pulse race.
* * *
Author’s Note:
A special "Thank you" to all of you for the immense love and support you guys showed to this story throughout the month. The milestones we achieved together were not even imaginable for me when I started this story.
I will try my best to keep the story entertaining as we enter a new month. Hopefully, you all will keep showering the story with your love and support too.
And the promised 5 Chapters Mass Release will be up in next few hours. I won’t rob you all from it :)