Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“I am not,” I lied and turned back to see if anyone would vouch for me. They all looked away. My presence was more disturbing than I’d thought.
“This is very immature.”
“I was merely sitting—”
“You were hiding.” He gave me a look. “You do not want to accept Tristian’s first dance?”
“Does everyone know the contents of my letters?” I frowned.
“Aphrodite, you are my most sensible sister.”
“Liar,” I muttered. “That is Devana.”
He smiled and nodded, and I smacked his arm. “Nevertheless, you have a great deal more sense than other young ladies. Please do not let Evander steal it from you again.”
“I am not—”
“Yes, you are.” He frowned. “You ran, because you are waiting for him. And that in itself is the problem. No gentleman, duke or not, should keep a lady such as yourself waiting. A true gentleman who requests the first dance comes on time to secure that dance. Who is here?”
I said nothing.
“You do not have to accept Tristian, but you still owe him better than to hide.”
“Yes, brother,” I replied.
“Good. Now let us return,” Damon said, offering me his arm.
I accepted it, taking his words to heart as we walked back toward the ball. Evander had been so adamant that I forgive him, that I give him my first dance, but he was not yet here. Even as I returned, I could see his sister with my mother. How had she arrived before him? Were they not coming from the same place?
Gentlemen were supposed to be reliable.
“Lady Aphrodite,” Tristian said, appearing before me. “As always, you are the sun in the room.”
I smiled as Damon released my arm and slowly stepped to the side. “Thank you, sir.”
“It would be my honor if I could have your first dance.”
His offer hurt, and the disappointment hurt. Once again, Evander had given me hope, only to fail.
“Of course,” I said, giving him my hand.
As if fate wished to mock me, that was the moment Evander entered the room. I looked away and allowed Tristian to lead me to the center of the dance floor.
9
Damon
His eyes were upon her like a starving man before a feast. All of him disheveled and distraught. When he took a step toward her, I was already before him, blocking his path.
“You are too late,” I said.
“Move.”
“I will not. And you will mind yourself, for you are in my home,” I reminded him. “You have no right to come here and cause a scene when you are the one who failed to show.”
“I was…” He stopped and looked down, breathing in through his nose. “I must speak with her. I must explain.”
“I said no,” I replied and grabbed his arm. He hissed in pain and I felt the dampness of his coat, lifting my hand to see blood. “What in God’s name?” I leaned closer to see the blood now spilling down his hand. “You are injured. We shall call for a—”
“Say nothing!” he snapped and stepped back. He glanced once more at my sister before taking his leave.
“Is everything all right?” Silva asked as she came to my side. “Why are you bleeding?”
“It is not mine,” I whispered, hiding my hand. “Remain here.”
“Damon.”
“Later,” I said before rushing out the door.
The fool cannot possibly be thinking of riding home alone in the dark while injured. I watched him lift himself onto his horse and take off into the night.
Shit. Shit! Do not get involved…I ought not to get involved. Really. Damn that man!
“Sir, I will need to borrow your horse! Forgive me,” I said to the first gentleman I saw dismount. I did not even wait for his reply.
Kicking the horse, I went as fast as I could, feeling the wind push against me. It was dark but not so much that I was unable to make way.
It took all of ten minutes before I caught up with the madman, which was proof enough there was something amiss, for he had always been the better rider between us. His figure hunched, and his horse slowed before he slumped from the animal’s back.
“Evander!” I hollered, coming up on his left side, gripping him before he fell. “Are you a fool?”
“Leave me be!” he hollered, trying to steady himself.
“I will not. Should you die, my mother would blame me.” Not to mention Aphrodite.
He chuckled, lifting his head as he struggled for air. “I am her favorite between us.”
“Oh, shut up!” I snapped, rolling my eyes. “Can you still ride? We need to get you home and seen quickly, or I can go back—”
“So you still do care, bro—”
“Do not,” I cut him off. “I am merely acting as a Good Samaritan for a mentally challenged man.”
“You believe me to be mentally challenged?”
“Clearly, for there are only two of us here, and I am not the one short of breath and bleeding,” I snapped. “Can you still ride if I am here guiding?”