Since the Trials themselves aren’t the only things different this year, the second ball is being held in the gardens where the setting sun glints off goblets of champagne, casting everything in a dull gold. We step off the path and onto the edge of the plush open grass, eyeing the tables of desserts and grand garlands strung from surrounding sweeping trees. The musicians are tucked under a drooping willow, half-hidden behind the curtain of swaying leaves as they strum a lively tune. At the center of the festivities lies overlapping patterned rugs on the grass, all varying in size and style to create a colorful dance floor where several couples are already spinning.
“Well, unfortunately for you, I’m not your date,” Lenny says with a dramatic sigh. “So this is where I must say my goodbyes.”
I huff out a laugh. “However will I make it through the night without you?”
He sweeps into a mocking bow. “I know. Be brave, Princess. Now go find your prince.” And then he straightens, winks, and walks off into the gardens.
I shake my head at his retreating form before taking a breath and heading farther into the makeshift ballroom for the night. I scan the swirl of dancing bodies, trying to find Kitt among them.
“It’s a good thing you’re wearing that dress, or I might have never found you.”
I jump at the sound of Kitt’s voice behind me and spin to face him, my skirts swishing around my legs. He smiles and shakes his head, taking me in from head to toe. “Although, even if you were wearing green, I doubt you’d blend in.”
I swallow, unsure of what to say to that before settling with a soft, “Thank you.”
He holds out his hand. “Dance with me?”
I place my palm in his and nod before I’m swept onto the dance floor. I feel as though I’m dancing with an entirely different boy than I did at the previous ball. Except, the only thing that changed is my perspective of him. We talk casually as we dance, and it’s a relief to be able to look into his eyes, to not flinch away from his touch.
“Did my father say something to you yesterday? After I left?” Kitt asks curiously when the song comes to an end.
I open my mouth, ready to spew a lie when a cold voice cuts me off.
“May I cut in?”
I take a deep, annoyed breath before turning my head towards Blair who is waiting to whisk my partner away. She’s paired her smirk with a deep green dress decorated by intricate beading that clings to her form.
The look Kitt gives me is comical. I choke back a laugh as his eyes bore into mine, pleading with me not to leave him. I give him a small smile, hoping he sees the apology in my eyes as I say, “Of course. He’s all yours.”
He shakes his head at me, pinning me with a stare as I step out of his arms and am quickly replaced by Blair. “Have fun,” I add, unable to hide my smile. Kitt gives me a look that promises revenge, and I choke back a laugh at the sight of it. I spin around, still smiling—
And collide with something solid.
No, someone solid.
Something wet splatters across my cheek as I back away from the body I’ve so ungracefully rammed into. The scent of wine mixed with pine hits me, and I swallow, knowing exactly who stands in front of me before I raise my face to meet his.
Kai smiles, looking equally rugged and handsome in the final rays of the setting sun. His hair is messier than normal with his ruffled, inky waves falling wherever they please. His eyes are a bright, cloudy sort of gray, alight with amusement. The suit he wears and crisp white shirt beneath are not only slightly rumpled but now partially stained a deep red.
Red wine sloshes in the glass gripped in his hand. Well, there’s little left now seeing that he’s now wearing most of it thanks to me.
My eyes snap to his when he bursts out laughing.
Several of the guests around us cast bewildered glances in our direction, having heard his unusual outburst. And I’m quite certain my expression mirrors theirs. His shoulders are shaking with laughter, and I halt, holding my breath. His grin is wide, wild, displaying a stunning smile accompanied by deep dimples.
I’m suddenly concerned.
Wine is dripping from the edges of his suit, and he can’t seem to stop laughing long enough to notice, or even care, that my clumsiness has ruined his clothes. I clear my throat, eying the guests eying us as I say, “Kai,” another deep rumble of laughter at the sound of his name, “why don’t we go get you cleaned up?”
I grab his hand before he has a chance to argue or laugh some more, and lead us to the bordering trees, aware of the eyes tracking our every move. I snatch a handkerchief from one of the long tables before shoving us under the drooping branches of a shadowy willow tree, shielding us from the gossiping guests.
Kai leans against the rough trunk, grinning wickedly at me. I give him a quick once over, assessing the damage I did to his clothes along with his strange behavior.
He leans close, too close, studying me thoroughly. “You know,” he breathes the words in a way that sends a shiver down my spine, “you didn’t have to spill my drink all over me to get me alone. You could have just asked me to dance.”
I meet his gaze before it begins to trail lazily down my body. I hold my breath, practically feeling the path his eyes are burning. Then, slowly, so insufferably, sensually, scandalously slow, his gaze makes its way back to mine. “Better yet, you would have made me come to you in that dress, sooner or later.”
I swallow. My eyes scan over him, taking in the rumpled clothes, the rumbling laughter, the flirty rambling—though I suppose that’s nothing new.
“You’re drunk.” I sigh out the words, shaking my head at him.
He’s smirking at me again, though it’s wilder than the ones I’ve grown so used to. “Maybe a little.”
I roll my eyes, wading up the cloth I grabbed and beginning to undo the button of his suit coat to try and sop up the shirt beneath as best I can. “Are you undressing me, Gray?” His face is close to mine again, breath tickling my cheek. “I mean, I can’t say I didn’t think this day would come.” He adds with an amused whisper, “Couldn’t resist me, darling?”
I look up at him then, flashing a smile of my own with a confidence I don’t currently feel. “Oh please,” I snort, “the only thing I’m resisting when I’m around you is the urge to put a dagger to your throat.”
His eyes are locked on mine. “I love when you threaten to kill me, do you know that?”
“Oh? And why is that?”
The corner of his mouth twitches up. “Because every time you don’t, it only proves that you don’t want to.”
And then he flicks the tip of my nose with a satisfied smile.
I bat his hand away with a huff, flustered and frustrated and hating that he’s the reason for my frazzled state. I fix my attention on his stained shirt, the fabric now sticking to the muscled body beneath.
Plagues, well that isn’t helping.
I begin dabbing at the red splotch, forcing myself to focus on the task rather than the boy before me. I try to forget that it’s him I’m helping all while simultaneously trying to remember why I’m helping him in the first place.
Then fingers catch my chin, and my breath catches in turn.
Kai tilts my head up to meet his gaze, fingers dancing along my jaw. He’s looking at me like one would a painting—drinking in every detail, delighting in its originality, deeming it a work of art.