47. VANYA: THE CHRISTMAS BALL

“We don’t split up,” Obsidian rasped as the car stopped. “If we do have to split up, we do it in a pair of two.”
“Sounds good,” Devrim muttered, staring out the window. “There’s even more people here than there had been last time we attended.”
My eyes darted between the three of them. Out of all of them, Obsidian looked the most nervous. It looked like he wanted to bolt, and I didn’t blame him. Ezra and Devrim had been here before and they knew what to expect, but Devrim was right; there were a lot more people than there had been before.
Devrim got out first when the door was opened, followed by Ezra. I scooted to the edge of the seat, but Obsidian didn’t move.
His hands were curled into fists on his thighs. I took note of his skin parlour.
Swallowing, I leaned forward and carefully placed a hand on his knee. His body jerked and his eyes snapped over to mine.
“Obsidian, I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours, but I can tell you—”
He growled. “You don’t know anything.”
“That’s because you never tell anybody anything! How are we supposed to help you or support you when you—”
“Enough, Vanya,” he snapped. “Get out of the fucking car.”
I hesitated but climbed out of the car with the help of Devrim.
Cameras flashed but a shocked silence had descended, and I knew why I turned slightly and watched as Obsidian straightened.
He pressed a hand under his jacket over his ribs for a few seconds before dropping it and looking up. It still looked like he wanted to throw up but his face was void of emotion and his body seemed relaxed.
He was acting, and he was fucking good at it.
Our eyes locked as he stepped forward.
“No splitting up,” he said softly.
He placed his hand against my lower back as we made our way up the stairs and into the lobby. With Ezra to my right, Obsidian to my left and Devrim behind me which confused me.
I glanced at him over my shoulder and received a wink from him.
Obsidian’s hand slid across my back to my hip. Hope soared when he pulled me closer to his side.
“He’s protecting us from the back,” he rasped against my ear. “We can sense if someone approached from behind, but we might react too late.”
“Oh.”
His fingers traced the band of my thong, making me shiver. I hadn’t forgotten his warning of an impending punishment. After what I had seen, I was a little reluctant to have him close. There was no telling how far he’d go.
“What colour?”
I swallowed. I knew exactly what he was asking about. “R-red.”
He hummed as his hand slid around my hip. His fingers brushed along my thigh and then dipped underneath the material. I stumbled but luckily Ezra’s hand shot out to grip my arm to steady me. Giving him a small smile, I blew out a breath and turned my head to look up at Obsidian.
He gave me a wicked smile. “I’m going to enjoy implementing my punishment, sweets.”
I had no time to try and make any sense of his words because I spotted my father at the same time he spotted us. Judging by the look on his face, he wasn’t expecting Obsidian.
I sucked in a breath and blew it out as I forced a smile onto my lips. Luckily Joy wasn’t anywhere near him, but I knew she wasn’t too far away.
“Vanya,” he said in greeting. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Father.”
He hesitated before he leaned forward and pecked my cheek, but he instantly moved away again, out of reach.
“Devrim, Ezra,” he greeted them but he avoided looking at Obsidian or greeting him.
“Aren’t you going to greet him, father?” I asked him.
My father glared at me for a few seconds and then turned to look at Obsidian.
“Obsidian,” father greeted after a few tense minutes.
“Rafael,” Obsidian rasped, gripping my hip a lighter tighter.
So my father and Obsidian were on a first name basis. How the hell had that happened? The only time Obsidian was in town was when I found the body in my apartment. Had they met then?
“Can we talk, Devrim?” my father asked.
“Later.”
After a few seconds, my father gave him a stiff nod and looked at me again. “Why don’t you join me in greeting everyone, Vanya?”
He directed it as a question but I knew it wasn’t one. It was his way of demanding I do as he ordered.
“Where’s Joy?” I asked.
He paused. “She went to the bathroom.”
I gave him a sweet smile. “Good, then she will be back soon to fulfil her duty as your wife.”
Ezra led the way into the ballroom. There were a lot more people than what there normally would be. The gathering weeks ago was for my father to show off his newest development—not that I knew much about it.
Nervousness made my stomach churn as we walked further into the room.
My eyes darted up to Ezra’s when he grabbed hold of my fidgeting hand and entwined our fingers. He winked at me before looking away.
A smile slid onto my face. I wasn’t doing this alone. I had my men with me.
I spotted a few familiar faces but none of them came over to greet me. Betsy waved from across the room when our eyes locked a few minutes later. Her smile faded a bit when she realized who I was with, but she never stopped making her way over to us.
“Vanya!”
I stepped away from my men to hug her. “How are you?”
“Oh my dear, better than you I suppose.” Her eyes darted past me.
“Right.” I moved back to Obsidian’s side and without thinking, slipped an arm around his waist. “Betsy, I’d like to introduce you to Obsidian, Ezra and Devrim.”
“The cat-shifters.” She nodded. “It’s nice to finally meet you face to face.”
“Likewise,” Ezra said with a smile.
“Listen, Vanya.” Betsy reached out, but a low growl from Obsidian made her freeze.
It came as a big surprise when he stepped in front of me. My wide eyes darted over to Devrim in question. He blinked and seemed to snap out of his shock when Obsidian growled again.
Devrim gripped his shoulder and leaned closer. “Easy,” he whispered. “She won’t hurt, Vanya. You know that. You—”
I stepped around them so I face Obsidian. There was no hesitation when I placed my palm against his chest over his racing heart. Obsidian’s lips curled up slightly to flash his teeth.
“Vanya,” Devrim warned.
I ignored him and tilted my head back as I took another step forward until my body was pressed flush against his front.
“Remember what I told you about those friends and family I would do anything for?” I questioned. “Betsy is basically family. She’s the reason I’m following your stupid plan.” I poked him “Here’s another thing I just realized,” I whispered. “You rejected me so you have no fucking right to act the way your acting. Got it?”
I didn’t wait for him to answer. Stepping away from him, I turned to Betsy and hooked my arm through hers.
“I’m sorry about that,” I muttered as I steered her away.
“It’s okay, dear,” Betsy said as she smiled, patting my hand. “It’s good to know that you’re protected.”
I smiled, unsure of what to say to her words. Betsy stopped and turned to face me. Reaching out, she pulled me in for a tight hug.
“I’m sorry about Charlene,” she whispered. “She’s going to be very happy where she is now.”
Tears burned my eyes. I missed her—there was a big void inside my chest. I knew that I was never going to be able to pick up the phone and call her. I was never going to be able to go visit her and talk shit about all the people who pissed me off. It was never going to happen again, because she was no longer alive.
And it was because of me.
“T-thank you,” I whispered.
After one last squeeze, Betsy stepped back. Her eyes darted to where Ezra stood waiting. I frowned and glanced around, searching for Devrim and Obsidian but they were nowhere to be seen.
“He looks better in person.” She winked before she walked away.
I smiled as I watched her disappeared in the crowd. Turning around, I made my way towards Ezra.
“Where. . .?”
He pulled me against his chest. “In the bathroom. Devrim’s schooling Obsidian on how to act all humanly,” he muttered.
I dropped my forehead against his chest and sighed. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced a smile onto my lips and straightened.
“Let’s get this over with.”