Page 97 of A Silence So Divine

I’m faintly aware of cheering, but I’m completely honed in on Eden’s reaction—or lack thereof. Aside from the faint quiver of her lower lip, she’s a blank slate. It’s unnerving, but preferable.

“So as you enjoy your night, be sure to give your thanks to Bastien. He has truly blessed us all.”

Bless them with a death sentence, maybe.

With that, the party commences and Curran grabs a tall, dark skinned woman for his arm candy of the night, disappearing into the mass of bodies.

I release a breath I’d been holding, as well as Eden’s arm. Neither of us dare look at the other. Instead, she follows me obediently as we weave through the crowd, garnering stares of wonder and a few envious sneers.

Perspiration prickles at my hairline, and it’s not only from humidity and body heat. The environment is both sensory deprivation and overload. Music has been cranked until it’s deafening, the crowd swaying with the beat.

A guy around my age kisses the neck of a sex worker, his palms groping bare breasts. Eden stops in her tracks, eyes widening until they're the size of the full moon outside.

My palm presses to her lower back, ushering her ahead of me. Making our way to the bar, I pull out a stool.

“Sit,” I order. She does, but not without first craning her neck to look past me back at the display. There’s a mixture of worry and confusion in the way she nibbles her lip. Now isn’t quite the time for sexual curiosities, so I press my chest to her shoulder blades and force her attention forward. I lower my mouth an inch from her ear.

“Eyes to yourself.”

Desperate for something to keep my hands busy, I order myself whiskey. The moment the bartender sets my drink in front of me, I throw it back and return the glass. I have nointention of getting drunk, but if I don’t calm my nerves fast, I’ll give us away.

Time drags in a current of red lights and whirling smoke. All the while, I shield Eden from prying eyes to the best of my ability. There’s no rule that says we have to stay the whole time, but if I leave early, that will raise more brows than I would prefer.

The party grows in its intensity, cocaine dusting tabletops and the scent of sex in the air. Luckily, Eden does as she’s told and doesn’t turn around again. On top of that, most of the guests are too preoccupied with their vices to try and bother us.

That is until I hear my name being shouted.

Two men approach, disheveled and soaked with sweat, and I recognize them as Hunters I’ve worked with dozens of times. They’re fucking dickheads. I groan internally, but keep my face bored.

The taller one, AJ, reaches a hand out in greeting. I take a moment to look him head to toe. His platinum hair is stuck up in every direction, his dress shirt unbuttoned all the way down. And, of course, his pupils are as wide as saucers.

I ignore the handshake, stuffing my hands in my pockets.

I’m careful to keep Eden at my back.

“Are you gonna hog our little demon all night?” The shorter one pipes up. He’s the cockier of the two–little man syndrome and all that.

“She’s not really one for socializing, Richie,” I supply, uninterested.

He smiles at that, grazing his fingers over the sparse hairs of a very underwhelming beard.

“No? She looks pretty cozy with you.”

My muscles tense, but I force an eye roll. He’s a perceptive little shit, whilst also somehow being the definition of a moron.

“Did you two need something?” The exasperation in my voice is the one thing I don’t have to fake.

Richie and AJ laugh like I’ve told a joke.

“Come on, Cecil. Don’t be so selfish. Didn’t your mother ever teach you to share?” AJ croons, bouncing on his heels.

A scathing remark sits on my tongue, but I swallow it down. More faces in the crowd have turned towards us, and I can’t allow any room for doubt on where my allegiance lies.

Reluctantly, I step to the side and grip Eden’s stool, spinning her around. The movement startles her, but she doesn’t budge.

Dumb and Dumber look like kids on Christmas, splotchy faces alight with wonder.

“Damn, Curran was right. Sheistempting,” AJ remarks. “You should’ve put her in a dress or something.”