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I hesitated briefly, did he think me one of them? My identity was a mystery to all but for some reason I felt bold enough to ask. “I don't think we've met before, do I know you?”
He chuckled, a sound that made my knees go weak. “Perhaps not formally, but I do believe we've crossed paths before,” he said, his tone playful.
I couldn't help but feel drawn to him, despite the fact that I didn't know who he was. “I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name.”
He bowed his head slightly, the emeralds and pearls on his mask catching the light. “Forgive me, how rude of me not to introduce myself. Caine Conwell,” he said, his voice smooth and velvety.
Kaston’s older brother.
My heart raced as I stood face to face with Caine, the middle son of Lord and Lady Conwell. Fear held me fast as my mind raced, my heartbeat increasing with every passing moment. I couldn't help but wonder if he was anything like his brother Kaston, cruel and malicious, or if he was different.
Should I talk to him?
Should I tell him my name?
Did he know who I was, what I was once to his brother?
The silence between us stretched on, and I battled an ongoing war within myself. Part of me wanted to run, to escape this uncomfortable situation, while another part of me was curious. What would happen if I talked to him? Would he be kind, or would he be just like Kaston?
Suddenly, he cleared his throat, and the sound broke my trance, pulling me back to reality. “What’s your name?” he asked.
“Serra.”
The blood leached from my face. His voice caused every nerve to scream, the dread of his presence. Caine looked up; Kaston had wandered over. Of course, he would know it was me, he would recognize the dress. I questioned if he had picked it out for his own pleasure, his own reasons. Probably to use it as a guiding beacon, a way for him to keep me in his sights this evening.
Caine smiled at his brother. “Kas.”
“Caine.” His greeting made my skin crawl. Kaston’s scent washed over me as he stepped closer. His proximity made me nauseous and while I battled the internal war to keep the contents of my stomach down, his voice echoed in the outer recesses of my mind. Grating on my resolve.
“I see you’ve found our mother’s guest. Thank you for doing so. She has been looking for her.”
I couldn't tell if it was a lie or if he was being genuine. But my stomach flipped as his hand grazed my lower back.
“Ah. Well... Serra, t'was lovely to meet you. I do hope I’ll see you again this evening. Save a dance for me?” He took my hand and placed a kiss atop it.
“Doubtful, Caine.” The disdain on Kaston’s face had his brother retreating. A dark smile on his lips as he left. This would not be the end of this interaction.
The grip on my upper arm pulled my attention to Kaston. His eyes were dark, dangerous. He was angry as he yanked me away from the table, away from the crowd. I had no choice but to follow. He pulled me alone out to the hallway, before shoving me against the wall. My head whipped back, hitting it hard.
My vision blurred slightly at the impact.
“Stay away from Caine. This is my only warning, Serra.” He glanced down, running a hand along the cowl of my dress, his knuckles grazing the skin atop my breasts before his eyes flicked back up. “Do you like the dress? I had it made for you. It pleases me to see you in it.”
Pain pulsed through my head- the intense throb of it caused me my vision to blur as I struggled to focus on Kaston's words. I knew I had to tread carefully around him, to avoid arousing his anger or suspicion. The touch of his hand on my dress made my skin crawl, and the way his knuckles grazed the top of my breasts made me feel sick with disgust. I wanted nothing more than to be free of him, to run far away and never look back.
But I was trapped, with no escape from his presence. Kaston's arm blocked my way out, and his menacing gaze held me in place. I avoided his gaze, trying to distract myself by looking back at the door to the ballroom, where the other guests were mingling. Suddenly, Kaston's hand gripped my face, forcing me to look back at him. His fingers dug into my skin, and I winced at the pain.
“I'm rather disappointed in you right now,” he sneered. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
My mind raced, trying to come up with the right words to placate him. “I- I don't know what you mean,” I stammered.
But Kaston was not fooled. His rage washed over him, darkening his eyes even further. “You can't even say thank you,” he spat. “Express any kind of gratitude for my generosity?”
I felt a surge of defiance rising in me as I pulled my face away from his grip. “Thank you,” I ground out, my voice low. It was all I could do to avoid his wrath, to keep myself safe for another moment.
To my surprise, he let go but then his grip found my waist, his fingers digging into my flesh. The pain that ran through me caused me to wince away from him as he leaned in. His breath was hot on my skin as he spoke- “You ignored my request,” his voice was dark as he whispered in my ear, “And because of that, I was alone. Do you know what lurks inside the Ebony Wood, Serra?”
I should have known better, I should have listened to the voice in my head but part me wanted to believe the man I had loved was still in there. That the person before me was not the real Kaston.
