Chapter 8: Just Effing Great
The sun was on the verge of setting when Vanya had stopped fretting and finally began to prepare for the party. After an hour, she was blinking shyly at the reflection of the woman she saw in her full-body mirror. She was dressed in a seductive A-line gown with a high slit. Her skin looked great in the Merlot silk dress that made her hair looked even hotter.
Lanie stood a few feet behind her, smiling as she praised her work.
Vanya stood there for a bit, trying to figure out if she was truly well enough to attend the party, till she took a step away.
"I can't do this, Lanie," she whimpered. "Whatever that concoction was that Dr. Ryan made me drink sure did make me feel much better, but I can’t do this. I can’t attend the party. "It's just not me." She looked up at the young omega with pleading eyes, but Lanie just shook her head.
"Vanya, it’s fine. Stop worrying. You’re fine now. Just try and have a good time. I think Cassian has the hots for you. It was nice of him to carry you to your room when you fainted. Why don’t you flirt with him? If you ask me, I think you actually owe him a kiss." Lanie smiled teasingly and Vanya sighed.
"I don’t owe him anything. He didn’t have to carry me."
"Well, he did. And your sister’s pissed, I heard."
"Pissed? Why?"
She shrugged. "I don’t know. Maybe she has her eyes on Cassian, but you felt his strong arms around you first."
"What? Well, she can have him. I don’t care about him," Vanya said then reached behind her head and began fumbling with her hair. "Should I tie it up?"
"You have nice boobs. I believe you should."
"Leave it down then." She exhaled loudly. "How old are you again?"
"Eighteen. Trust me, Vanya. You look great. You and Ares make a hot couple, to be honest." Lanie picked up a brush and and slid a stool closer to her. Vanya sat down in front of the mirror.
"I thought you were on team Cassian." Vanya smirked.
"Team Cassian?" Lanie grinned. "I thought you didn’t care about him," she reminded Vanya and began softly brushing Vanya's long, red hair.
"I don’t. I think I’m still sick. My mind is a mess right now. I just want to get through this stupid party without humiliating myself."
"Why would you humiliate yourself?"
"Because I’m not cut for this."
"Well, just try and have fun." Lanie placed the brush back down and handed her a gold macrame mask. "You look great. No one will suspect that your mind’s a mess."
The masquerade ball was already in full swing in the manor's banquet hall on the first level by the time Vanya sneaked out of her room. She was a little apprehensive as she made her way to the stairway when she noticed how many people were already there. There were numerous tables set up around the area, and a group of musicians were playing from the front of the massive room. The women looked sophisticated and mysterious with their masks on, the same as the men. Some people sat together, while others danced.
She caught sight of Lord Alaric at a table with two generals from The Capitol, and Lady Bonnevie, who was not looking so impressed, was looking at him gobbling up a bottle of wine. Alpha Callum, Luna Beatrice, Randall, and Lachlan were all seated at the same table as the drunk nobleman. Then she noticed Rowan stroll over to Selene and start talking to her.
She turned to her right and noticed that the majority of the guests were entering from the first floor, and she would undoubtedly draw some attention if she descended the stairs. Embarrassment poured over her, and she contemplated taking a different route down and entering by the first floor entrance.
Gazing down from the top of the staircase at all these people, she felt queasy and took a step back behind the railing, where no one could see her.
"Vanya?" A familiar voice sounded behind her and she turned to see Ares. She couldn't help but gasp in surprise. The war general was clad in a Victorian-style gothic suit. The black brocade frock coat with silver embroidery accentuated his physique and stature.
Ares, on the other hand, seemed taken aback. "You look gorgeous, Vanya," he breathed.
"I think I look OK," she replied modestly. "You don’t look so bad yourself. Where’s your mask?"
Ares raised a black leather mask to her before putting it on. "Shall we go?"
"How about your father? Won’t he be too unhappy to see us together?"
"He’ll be upset. I’m not going to lie. But when did I ever really listen to everything he said? I’m thirty-three years old, not twelve."
"If you say so."
As the two began to descend the stairs together, practically every head in the dining hall turned toward them. Vanya blushed fervently all the way down until they reached the bottom.
Selene and Rowan rushed over to them from where they had been standing. It was obvious that Vanya was not at ease with the way they were looking at her. Not to mention how Alpha Callum's fleeting glance at her made her anxious beyond words. She was also concerned by Selene and Rowan's knowing looks.
"Ares," Selene smiled flirtatiously. "I was looking for you."
"Well, I’m here. What is it?" Ares asked.
"Want to dance?"
He briefly looked at Vanya before answering, "Maybe later."
"Vanya, you look... I can't put it into words." Rowan said with a thoughtful expression on his face.. "Amazing?"
Vanya smiled. "How about Selene?"
"What about her?" he asked tersely, rather surprised.
Her smile broadened into a full, teasing grin. "Isn’t she lovely?"
Rowan flushed as he looked at Selene. "Of course, she is."
"Then why don’t you dance with her?"
Selene narrowed her gaze at her. "What are you doing?"
She shrugged. "Nothing. I just think Rowan here is dying to dance with you." She turned to Rowan. "Well?"
Rowan turned to face Selene, bowing deeply before straightening up and quickly grabbing her hand in his. "May I-?"
"Oh, shut it." Selene pushed him away, suddenly pissed. "I'll go look for Cassian," she said as she walked away.
"Cassian?" Ares asked.
Rowan pursed his lips. "Yeah. I’ve been asking her for a dance, but I think she’d rather dance with you,” he nodded at Ares, “Or with that ass knight from The Capitol." He sighed, then added, "Excuse me."
"Poor guy," Ares noted.
Vanya shook her head, recalling what Celeste had said to her about Rowan. The guy was definitely smitten with Selene.
"Shall we dance and annoy my father?" Ares inquired as the violins in the background began to play at a slower tempo. He took a step forward and extended his right hand, gently bowing.
"Well, okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you." Her eyes were aglow with the glints of the glittering lights all around them. She could feel her heart pounding like a drum in her chest, almost drowning out the other sounds around her. But she pulled herself together and gently put her hand into his upturned palm, before Ares led her along by the hand.
"Have I already told you that you look stunning?"Ares sounded entranced.
"No. You previously said I looked gorgeous," Vanya replied, feeling the blood rush back to her cheeks as she tried to remain nonchalant.
"Right. Well, now, I’m telling you, Vanya. You look stunning," he repeated, as they stepped into a more spacious area. "And hot as fuck, too," he cautiously added. He laid a hand on her waist.
Vanya blushed at the contact and shakily placed a hand on his shoulder. Since discovering she was Ares’ mate, she couldn't seem to stop blushing at even the smallest and silliest things he said or did.
Ares couldn't help but smile of her reaction as he gently began to move his feet. She followed him, focusing on his movements and the little tugs and pulls he would offer to guide her.
Vanya didn't even have to think about how to move her body in sync with his as they danced on, because her body moved on its own, as if she was inextricably linked to him and they moved like inseparable entities trapped in the dance.
"So, Cassian." His face twitched as the knight’s name left his mouth.
"What about him?"
"I heard you fainted earlier today, and he carried you to your room."
"That’s right. I guess you could say I was lucky," Vanya murmured.
"I'm not happy to hear about it. Vanya, you are mine, "he reminded her, a look of jealousy crossing his face.
"Should it even matter? Your father wants you to reject me," she said, looking upset and hurt. "Or else we’ll be banished."
“Don’t worry about my father," he reassured her. “Just stay away from Cassian.”
They continued to dance in front of Alpha Callum's watchful gaze, but neither of them cared.
Ares raised his arm, allowing Vanya to spin, and she felt the rush of air about her as she did so. Her worn feet, however, failed her footing at the last time, and she faltered and fell backward. But he was prepared and sprang forward to catch her in his arms, making the stumble look like a natural part of the dance.
As the two ended their dance, several couples around them, including Lady Bonnevie and her son, Jaime, clapped momentarily. The lady turned her back on Lord Alaric, who was already as red as a tomato in his chair.
Ares held Vanya in his arms for a bit longer than necessary, savoring the feeling of having her in his arms until he saw she was panting. He drew her weight forward and let her find her balance, unsteady as it was, with one hand supporting her back and the other still holding her hand.
"Are you alright?" he asked, concern crossing his face.
"Yes!" Vanya said breathlessly, looking up at him. "I’m just not much of a dancer, I guess."
"Maybe you just need to rest some more."
"Maybe." She agreed, feeling her feet wobbling and her arms weak from being held up for so long.
They recovered their breaths and laughed together for a time before Ares suddenly reached forward and swept her off her feet, holding her bridal style.
"W-what are you doing?"Vanya stuttered, throwing her trembling arms around his neck.
"I’m carrying you back to your room." Ares could feel her pounding heart stop for a split second, and she held him even tighter as he pulled her closer to him.
"Are you out of your mind?" She noticed people were already looking at them. "Put me down, Ares."
"You let Cassian carry you," he murmured into her ear. "You’re not being fair, Vanya."
"I was fucking unconscious."
"Well, you just lost your balance, didn’t you?" He made his way out of the hall with her in his arms. "Carry on, people," he announced. "She just tripped and hurt her foot."
Vanya sighed annoyingly. "Just fucking great."