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“Oh, you.” Tabitha slapped Jina’s shoulder. “She does have a point; Torick isn’t the honest type.”
“No, I suppose he isn’t.” If she thought about it, Castian wasn’t exactly the poster boy for honesty and hero behavior. Wait, no she wasn’t going to let him get away with his lies. “Still, he shouldn’t have lied tome.”
“Why, because you’re special? Or because you’re his girl?” Jina asked, settling her empty glass on a passing trey.
“No, because he should respect me enough not to do it,” Oye snapped.
“Then ask yourself this, have you never lied to him?” Tabitha asked.
Oye frowned; she hadn’t lied about anything, but she avoided telling the truth about him. The truth related to the only people she’d be avoiding like the plague. She glanced over to where he stood near Tillon, and the Renson brothers. His eyes happened to look up at the same time and their gazes clashed.
She quickly looked away, “That doesn’t change anything, any lies I’ve told have nothing to do with him.”
“A lie is a lie even by omission,” Jina said with the tone of a wise woman. Side eyeing Oye, she added, “It looks to me that you and Torick need to have a conversation. And not that bullshit that passes for an “Adult conversation’ in trendy movies. A real one.”
“Ew,” Tabitha said and paused when she saw Oye’s questioning look. “Not to the advice, just that she actually watches trendy movies.”
It was such a ridiculous thing to hear that Oye released a short laugh, she stopped when a hand appeared in her line of sight.
“Can I lead you into dinner,” Nathan asked.
She felt her skin crawl when she met his light green eyes. But in front of Tabitha and Jina, she had no reason to tell him no.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are ready for you to enter,” one of the servants called.
Oye knew she couldn’t avoid him, so she slowly placed her hand in his. Swallowing back the hot words in her throat. She wished that she could run to Castian. She wanted to look at him, somehow she knew if she did he’d come to her rescue, but she wouldn’t. That would be showing weakness, and she wouldn’t do that.
It was physically impossible for her.
She held back her disgust and allowed him to lead her to stand behind the other guest who lined up in front of the door.
“Oye, I don’t know if you remember me, but I want you to know I’ve never forgotten you.” Nathan’s voice felt like it was coming from far away. How couldn’t he feel the waves of dark emotions that were choking her.
Looking at him she forced herself to offer him a pleasant smile. “Well, I can’t wait to hear the stories of how we met, maybe it will jog my memory.”
Seemingly pleased with her words, he smiled. “I would love nothing more than to do that.”
They faced forward once more when the dining room doors opened, and they followed the others inside. Tillon and the servants had done amazingly well with the decorations. The long table was covered with crystal goblets, porcelain plates with silver lining and white linen that was covered with intricate magical symbols of dark red. The table itself had to be at least 10 feet long.
As she was led down to the side of the magnificent setting, her eyes spotted something shining. Then Tillon’s voice filled the room, “The chair that shines, is your seat.”
She paused, resulting in her hand being tugged on. Nathan looked at her in question, and she pointed to the seat in front of her. “This is me.”
He frowned, looking further down, before he returned his gaze to her. “It looks like we won’t be able to reminisce over the past.”
Oye pulled her hand from his, feeling only relief. “Unfortunately. Maybe another time.” With that she left him, and reached for her chair when another hand grabbed it.
“I wouldn’t be a true gentleman if I didn’t assist a lady with her chair,” Arwin teased as he pulled it out. His gaze held desire that Oye blatantly ignored.
“Thank you,” she said as she sat down.
“My pleasure,” his warm breath brushed over her shoulder. He drew away, and took the seat right beside her. Oye soon realized that he was openly flirting with her despite knowing she was dating Torik. Before she could say anything the sound of metal knocking against glass caught her attention and she found Robert Renson at the head of the table with his wife by his side. Oye couldn’t help noticing she was eyeing Jake like a slab of meat.
“Let us raise our glasses, as we draw closer to the final night of our gathering. At this table is the true blood of the highest of families. Renson, Shran, Colton and Napier. All of us are gathered at this time to celebrate the dawning of our power and the rise of our rule here and beyond the Veil. Ring of Syed, we are power, honor and ruthlessness personified.”
He raised his glass as did everyone else but one person. Oye gaze met Castians. She quickly looked away, how hadn’t she noticed that she was sitting right across from him. She quickly raised her glass along with the others.
“To Syed.” Renson shouted.
