42

Word Count: 2154

~Dove

"Get out here woman," Dev demands. "I need to see my handywork."

I peek around my bedroom door, seeing Varian and Dev sitting on our couch. It's strange seeing Varian in such a mundane environment, his enormous form taking up most of the room next to Dev.

Holding my breath, I step out into view, holding my arms out before I do a twirl in front of them.

Dev made this dress last minute for my quasi-date with Matthias this evening. It's a soft blush pink, made with flowy fabric that reaches to my ankles. The gossamer sleeves are loose and light, and for the first time in a while, I feel pretty.

"This is far too nice of a dress to wear around Matthias." I pick up the skirt before letting it go so it billows around my legs.

Varian is staring at me with a heavy gaze as he leans forward, bracing his forearms on his thighs. I try not to acknowledge the way my skin heats under his scrutiny.

"Yeah Deven, we are trying not to have my mate seduced by another Alpha," he mutters, raising a brow at my friend who shrugs innocently.

"I think I did a great job. It's simple, feminine and beautiful," he says. "We want him impressed, don't we?"

While Matthias' interest in me is important for us to have any success, I don't want him so attracted to me that he wants to launch back into how things were before.

And by the way Varian's eyes are darkening, I know he doesn't want that either.

"You did do a great job, Dev. Thank you." I smile, adjusting an old necklace Matthias gifted me that now hangs around my neck. I figure it might help him remember the ways things once were between us.

"I don't think Dove needs help impressing anyone," Varian murmurs, our gazes clashing.

He needs me to do this for him, and yet somehow, he looks ready to shut this mission down entirely. He knows there's a romantic history between Matthias and I, and by forcing us together, anything can happen.

But he doesn't know what Matthias did to me. There's not a chance in the world that I'll ever have feelings for him again.

"Excellent point." Dev pats Varian's shoulder. "And thank you Varian, by the way."

"For?"

"For not breaking my spine when you thought I was dating Dove," he says with a grin. I roll my eyes. It's not as if Varian and I were anything to each other at that point — our only connection was through the mark on my thigh.

Varian leads back, smirking. "It was tempting, but I figured a wedding wasn't the best place to exert my anger."

I sigh, turning to the mirror hanging on the wall. I begin collecting my hair off my neck, sweeping it up into an updo.

"I really hope Matthias learns to keep his hands to himself this time," I mumble under my breath, more to myself than anything. I'm trying to soothe my own nerves, but I still find myself afraid of how this night is going to go.

Unfortunately, Varian's uncannily tuned in senses catch my barely uttered words.

"This time?" He questions abruptly.

I turn to see him rise off the couch. Dev pulls a face like he's mortified, although I know he's enjoying every second of this.

"He ah..." I clear my throat, shaking my head. "It doesn't matter."

Varian stops right in front of me, bumping a knuckle under my chin to encourage me to look up at him. My breath vacates my lungs as I do. His brows are knitted together in concern, and there's a tumultuous fire in his eyes that senses my unease.

"Dove. Tell me."

"He tried to force me..." I grimace. "I told him I wanted to end our relationship and he tried to assault me. He said he wanted me one more time before I left."

Varian stops breathing, a tension moving through his jaw. Murderous rage consumes him, but no part of his face reveals it. I can feel it in the air around me, cold and heavy, like I could reach out and feel its tangible presence in my palm.

His hand shifts to the side of my face, where he gently brushes stray strands of hair back that fell from my updo.

"We will get our revenge, okay? Whatever that looks like, we'll figure it out," he assures me quietly, his lethal calm unnerving. I can only imagine what he's thinking.

"Seriously Dove, that's fucked up." Dev stands, hands balled into fists. "I will hurt Matthias. I reckon I can take him."

Varian glances back at my friend, raising a brow.

"Okay, maybe not," he concedes, flopping back onto the couch, letting out a defeated sigh.

"Thanks for the thought, Dev." I smile softly.

When Varian looks back at me, the anger has melted back, forming into deep and unflinching concern.

"Seriously," he whispers. "Are you going to be okay doing this?"

He would let me back out of this right now, and he wouldn't ask another question about it. The thought is comforting, reminding me that I'm in control of all of this.

"I'm sure it will be fine. Although I'll admit, it was harder to be around him then I thought it would be," I admit, awkwardly adjusting my dress as if Matthias is here right now, looking at me, searching for my vulnerabilities.

Varian's jaw tightens. "One word and we end this."

He almost sounds like he's about to beg me to.

"What about your brother?" I ask.

He doesn't hesitate for a moment. "We'll figure it out."

I'm not sure there is another plan for him. I'm the only person who can get this close to him without rousing too much suspicion. I may be his only chance at finding out what happened to his brother.

Just knowing that he's willing to give up his hope of closure for my comfortability is more than I could have expected from him...it's a pleasant surprise.

"No, it will be fine," I assure him with a weak smile. "Like you said, we'll get our revenge."

***

Led by a member of Matthias' staff, I head through his estate and toward his back lawn.

His house is as I expected it to be. It still smells brand new, the faint scent of construction hanging in the air. It is all modern and well furnished, and has absolutely no character.

I suppose Varian is to blame. He had Matthias' original estate destroyed, which is a fact that now pleases me immensely.

The man in front of me glances back before clearing his throat uncomfortably. Him and I used to work together, and while I paths rarely crossed, he knew me well enough to know that I don't belong here. Not as a guest, anyway.

He leads me through wide open glass doors, revealing a lawn bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. It makes everything golden, including all the guests that mill about, drinking and eating from tables set up to the side.

Matthias stands with two vaguely familiar people. He's wearing a navy blue suit that hugs his body, reminding me of his incredible physique.

I swallow my nausea, trying not to adjust my dress as eyes sweep to me.

Were it not for the soft drift of music floating in the air, I'm certain there would be silence. I am, after all, just a maid, and have no business socialising in these circles.

Matthias follows everyone's gazes, eyes brightening upon seeing me. He immediately rushes over, rubbing his hands together like he's about to eat me alive.

"Dove," he breathes. "You made it."

I nod, wiping my sweating palms down the front of my dress. Dev put so much effort into this, and yet I see some of the guests looking on, a wrinkle between their brow as they survey it. I suppose it wasn't made by some renowned designer, but to me, it's easily one of the most beautiful dresses Dev ever crafted.

"Is my father here?" I question, scanning the place for him.

Matthias places a hand on the small of my back, guiding me down onto the law and toward the gathering.

"He doesn't enjoy these kinds of things," he exclaims in my ear. "Drink and I'll introduce you to my friends."

I take the flute of wine he offers me, cradling it uncertainly in my hands. "Okay sure."

Over a year ago, the thought of this event would have excited me so much, I would be faint. Having Matthias' hand on me like I belong to him, while he shows me off to his friends and important people would have been an unfathomable dream back then.

Now, I want the ground to open up beneath my feet to swallow me whole.

We approach the pair Matthias was speaking too when I arrived. They regard me with cool, guarded expressions, like they can't trust me around the expensive jewels draped over them.

"Dove, this is Victoria. And old friend of mine," Matthias says, gesturing at a woman with immaculate posture and raven hair.

I offer her my hand first, since she hesitates. Reluctantly she takes it, giving it the tiniest of shakes as if she may contract something from me.

"Nice to meet you." I smile, trying to be polite as possible.

She nods blandly. "You too."

"And this is Kage." Matthias claps his friends back with his palm before giving him a little shake. "We grew up together."

Kage has the stupidest grin on his face, which is only exaggerated by his overly large mouth. He's handsome, I suppose, but his beauty doesn't compare to Matthias'.

Or Varian's.

"I recognise you." He folds his arms, giving me and overexaggerated look over, his expression contorted in faux concentration. "You were the one wearing that hot maid outfit everywhere, huh?"

Repulsion spills into my stomach. "Uh—"

"Don't be an asshole Kage." Matthias pushes at his friends shoulder, but I don't miss the slight smile on his lips as he turns to me. "Don't worry about everyone else here. I want to this evening to be about you and I catching up again."

I nod vaguely, bringing the rim of the glass to my lips. I don't want to get drunk, or else I'll disarm myself, but I don't want to be sober either. I don't fit in with these people. They are always going to see me as someone who worked herself to the bone every day in service to their Alpha.

"Yeah. I missed you," I murmur.

Kage and Victoria peel away, immediately uninterested in me.

"I missed you too." He gazes over me before his fingers reach for the strap of my dress. "You look beautiful in that dress. I never got to see you out of your work uniform very often."

I stiffen as he pulls the strap back, and lets it go. It stings as it snaps against my skin, but it's the list deepening in his green eyes that haunts me the most.

He's flirting with me. It's not unlike how he's flirted with me before. Back then I fell into his arms without much persuasion, initially intrigued at the thought of being with an Alpha until that morphed into love.

"No, I suppose you never did," I retort, taking another drink. At least the wine is cool, which hopefully is helping my nervous flush retreat from my skin.

"Actually, I probably saw you more out of it than in any clothes at all." He pushes the strap further across my shoulder, like his making room for where he wants his mouth to be.

I fight the urge to wince as his fingertips dance along my skin. People might be watching, but I doubt he cares. Now that he has decided he wants this relationship to be public, he has no problem showing it off.

"Right." I take another drink, but it lasts longer this time.

"Ease up there, you're drinking quickly." He raises his brows. "Maybe you should eat."

"I don't have an appetite right now." I set the glass on the table nearby. "Why don't you take me on a tour of your home?"

I need a chance to get him alone, to ask him questions pertaining to the mission.

He offers his arm. "I would love to."

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***

My hands tremble by my sides. "Don't sleep with her..."

He steps toward me, his eyes dark. "Why not?"

"Whatever you were planning to do to her tonight, do it to me instead," I whisper.

***

~Midika 🐈‍⬛💜