Except, it was hard to keep a neutral expression when everyone around her was swooning over the passionate kiss Arezoo and Ruvon had just shared.
Drova waited for the couple to come down the stairs, and for the other bridesmaids to follow the newlyweds before abandoning her spot at the foot of the dais. But just as she was about to head out to find a place to sit, curiosity made her glance up to see what the Clan Mother was doing now that her task was done. Except,she wasn't there, and a quick scan of the village green didn't reveal her location.
That was odd.
She couldn't have just evaporated into thin air. But the Clan Mother was a goddess, and she probably had mind tricks up her sleeve that no one knew about. Perhaps she could shroud herself in an invisibility cloak and walk away from the green with nobody being any the wiser.
Yeah, that was probably the right explanation.
Drova followed the other guests who were walking toward the reception area, where dining tables were set up around a dance platform.
Her dress kept moving when she walked, the floaty layers of the skirt brushing against her calves with every step, and with all that air circulating under the skirt, she felt half naked and missed her pants. The bodice would have been tight on a human, but it hung loose on Drova's nonexistent breasts and overly slim waist. If not for the straps holding up the whole contraption, it would have slid down to the ground, leaving her naked save for her underpants and combat boots.
Not a big deal for a Kra-ell, who weren't bothered by nudity, but the immortals and the humans would have been scandalized.
It would almost be worth it just to see the responses, but Arezoo would be upset, and Drova hadn't gone through the trials of having her hair curled and her nails painted to make her best friend happy only to ruin it all for a gag.
But boy, was it tempting.
Drova crossed her arms over her chest, mostly to hide her stupid, sparkly fingernails, and stood at the edge of the dance platform watching Arezoo and Ruvon take their first dance as a mated couple.
Her best friend looked unbelievably happy, which was miraculous given how she had been when they had first become friends. There had been a haunted quality to Arezoo's expression in those early days that had seemed to be etched permanently on her face, but there was no trace of it now. Ruvon had done the impossible, dispelling every last shadow.
It was nauseatingly sweet.
"Not bad." The voice came from behind her right shoulder, and Drova's body responded to it before her brain caught up.
Plastering an indifferent expression on her face, she turned to face Pavel, who looked disturbingly handsome in black trousers and a dark grey shirt with the top two buttons undone. His long dark hair was pulled back in a low knot at the base of his neck instead of his usual ponytail, and there was something different about the way he was looking at her.
"You clean up nicely," he said.
She grimaced. "Can you please not comment on the monstrosity I'm being forced to wear?"
He chuckled. "You look ridiculous."
"That's better. Thank you."
"But you also look good. One does not negate the other."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're confusing me."
"I don't know why."
He was toying with her, and she felt an urge to punch him in his too-handsome face. He was dating a human, and he had no business teasing her over her dress.
"Where is Lusha?" she asked.
He glanced around the green. "I don't know. Perhaps she didn't come. I don't even know if she's in the village."
Drova tilted her head. "So, you have an open relationship?"
"There is no relationship. Lusha and I have not been together in a long time."
"I didn't know that. Why didn't you tell me?"
He smiled. "You didn't ask."
"Why would I ask? It's none of my business."
