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“You’re going,” Audria said. “Both of you. And we’re bringing the boys too. We need to get out of here. There’s more to life than training.”
“Is there?” Noda grumbled.
“Yes!”
Audria didn’t let them have an opinion. She forced the boys to put on their suits as well, and they all met an hour later to go to the first Season event. The Society offered up a carriage to take them to the Row. Kerrigan was crammed between Audria and Noda, trying not to look at Fordham and how handsome he was in that black suit with the House of Shadows insignia on a little silver pocket square. His dark hair slicked back and those impossibly gray eyes looking anywhere but at her.
She didn’t blame him for the attention considering the scandal of a dress she was wearing. When she’d returned to her rooms, a dress in a pale blue box had been waiting on her bed with the word Parris hand-lettered on the top in gold. Parris had once been a member of the House of Dragons. He was moved into a tribe with a female fashion designer who had seen his talent. He’d opened up his own boutique under her tutelage, and he was all the rage. They’d been friends long enough that he always made room for her. Somehow, he’d given her the best dress imaginable.
It was a black lace bodice with just enough material covering her breasts to leave a little up to the imagination. There were no sleeves, and the back dipped nearly to her hips in a generous V. The skirts were full tulle with a slit to her thigh. It was only exposed when she wanted it to be, but in the carriage, it was nearly impossible to conceal it. The Society logo had been threaded into the lace in a shimmery black thread that caught the eye and said precisely who she was.
Audria had nearly collapsed at the sight of it. She was jealous of Kerrigan’s association with him and insisted she introduce them. Which, if they ever had time away from the mountain, she would be happy to do.
The carriage finally came to a halting stop, and a doorman opened the door for them. He held his hand out to Audria, who gracefully stepped down onto the cobblestone steps. Kerrigan was next, not half as graceful, and then Noda. The boys tumbled out after them.
Kerrigan sighed with displeasure at the state of the mansion. It was so large that it must have at least a hundred bedrooms. Enough space to house an entire section of the homeless population, and no one even cared. She hated this part. The belonging and not belonging.
It was Fordham who held his arm out. “It’s a bit much?”
“No different than the House of Shadows,” she countered. “It might have been worse.”
“Assuredly.”
A voice proclaimed Audria’s entrance in front of them, and Kerrigan froze, realizing that they were going to announce her.
“I don’t want to be announced,” she whispered.
Fordham tugged her closer. “We could just leave.”
She laughed. “And miss all the fun?”
“What fun?”
“Dancing. For some reason, I remember you being quite amenable to dancing and having me… take orders,” she teased.
His eyes dipped to her lips. “You were quite good at following orders.”
“I was,” she breathed. Then she winked at him. “It’ll never happen again.”
He burst into laughter just as they reached the entrance. The man at the front looked at them both in surprise at the outburst.
“Prince Fordham Ollivier of the House of Shadows,” the man called out. “And Lady Felicity Argon, First of the House of Cruse of Bryonica, now of the House of Shadows.”
Kerrigan stiffened. Lady Felicity. Everyone in the room turned to look at her in that moment. They all knew. They all knew exactly who she was. That she’d been abandoned for being half-Fae. It didn’t matter that she’d made her own way. None of it mattered. They were all staring.
“It’s Kerrigan,” Fordham growled at the man. His shadows flared in the bright room, darkening everything just a touch.
The man took a step backward, his hand flying to his chest in affront. “I must give full titles.”
Fordham’s seething was next level, and people here didn’t know him like she did. To them, he looked utterly terrifying. A frightening sight to behold on any day. That sinister energy that always radiated off of him was choking the room. All for… her.
Kerrigan tugged his arm, looking at all the faces full of fear. “Stop. You’re causing a scene.”
His magic dropped as his gaze shifted back to her. “My lady.
Kerrigan dragged him into the ballroom and out of the line of sight. “You can’t just unleash your magic like that. It was bad enough without you making it worse.”
He stilled at the vehemence in her words. His shoulders straightened, and those thunderstorm eyes found hers. He was mad. He was still very mad that someone had presented her like that without her permission. “You wish to allow them to treat you that way?”
