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Alarie
“Al, why aren’t you packed?” Luke asked, his eyes scanning around my room and noting the lack of suitcases. “You’re still coming with us, right?”
He was talking about House Bellamy’s Summer Gala in Port City. The prior year, Luke and Rhett had abandoned me at the High Court for the warmer, beachy gala put on by House Bellamy each winter at the Silver Court. And last year, I had sworn to myself that I would not let the boys abandon me to the cold Winter Gala at the High Court again. I wasn’t going to let them abandon me at the High Court alone, period, whether it was for the Summer or the Winter Gala.
The issue I was struggling with was that this year’s trip to the Silver Court was taking on a decidedly couple-y feel. Rhett was going again, but this year he was bringing James with him. I knew I was being stupid. Luke and I did not place expectations on each other or abide by labels. We did what we wanted, when we wanted, and people were free to think whatever they wanted in return.
And some people had somestrongopinions. Lauren LaFleur, for instance. It wasn’t until I saw Lauren at Court several days after our night out that it had dawned on me that her date with Lukemightnot have goneexactlyhow she had expected. Lauren and I had been friendly before, but when I saw her again, there was a coolness in her eyes and in her words. That’s when I realized that Lauren probably thought that since she had been Luke’s date for the evening, I should have been the one who had been unceremoniously pushed out of Luke’s front door that night, not the other way around.
The funny thing was that it had not even crossed my mind that night to head back to my place. And Luke hadn’t given me the slightest indication that he had wanted me to. It just seemed like the usual order of operations for me to fall into Luke’s bed after a night out together. We hadn’t even kissed that night. Instead, we’d just fallen asleep tangled in each other’s arms and legs. But Lauren was convinced that Luke and I were an item and was miffed that Luke had bothered inviting her on a date in the first place.
Further complicating my dilemma was the fact that I had not been with anyone except Luke since I had quite literally run from Stefan’s bed. I didn’t know if Luke was sleeping with anyone else. It really didn’t matter to me. But if he was, he wasn’t parading it around in my face. So, by coincidence, Luke and I had stumbled into something that was beginning to feel very much like a relationship.
“Or what? Let you guys leave me again?I don’t think so,” I replied, nudging Luke playfully in the ribs. “Are you sure your parents will be okay with me coming?” I asked, giving him one last opportunity at an easy out.
Luke’s parents had been pushing for him to get involved with Karina Dempsey. They had already gained a concession from Luke in exchange for his role as acting high lord on the High Council—Luke had agreed to take Karina to the Fall Ball at the High Court later this year and to engage in some amount of “courting” after. But his parents were pushing for more, sooner. Luke, however, had made it plain to his parents that he was not interested in an arranged marriage, no matter how politically advantageous it may be for House Bellamy.
I had faith in Luke’s resolve when it came to his parents, but he’d shared with me that the King had also expressed an interest in his courting of Karina, although not in those words. House Dempsey’s ports in the northeast were taking on a new importance in the face of a conflict with Alancia. I knew that behind Luke’s blindingly beautiful smiles there was a willingness to do whatever it took to make his spot on the High Council permanent.
It wasn’t like I was trying to lock down Luke or keep him from dating other women.I wasn’t. As far as I was concerned, he could date Karina or Lauren or anyone else he wanted. I didn’t feel the need to be possessive or jealous when it came to Luke. But I didn’t think his parents would see it that way. Luke’s father had seemed to like me when I had met him at the Spring Ball last year. I had a feeling that things would not go over so well with his mother, however.
“I’m 135 years old, Al. I think they’ll just have to come to terms with the fact that I can make my own damn choices,” Luke said like he was joking, but there was a seriousness behind his words that indicated he meant exactly what he said.
“Ahh, the beach! I can’t fucking wait,” I replied, getting excited about our trip. “I have to finish packing,” I noted, a little less enthusiastically.
* * * *
The trek from Vlaise to the Silver Court hadn’t taken too long. Or maybe I just felt that way because I ended up taking a nap tucked under Luke’s arm. Luke, Rhett, James, and I arrived in Port City the day before the Summer Gala. The plan was for Luke and me to stay through the weekend and into the next week, giving me the opportunity for an extended beach vacation while Luke caught up on some of his familial duties. Rhett and James intended to head back to Vlaise after the weekend.
House Bellamy had an expansive beachfront property along the southernmost point of Valencia, overlooking the Azure Ocean. When we arrived in town, we headed straight toward Luke’s estate, which included a mansion-sized cottage along the beachfront. I recognized the feel of Luke in the cottage immediately—the decor was modern, and sunlight freely shone through its interior.
Rhett and James immediately claimed one room and disappeared into it. Luke automatically put my stuff in his bedroom. There were plenty of rooms available. I could have taken my own room,if I had wanted. But what would have been the point? We all knew I would end up in Luke’s bed every night we were here.
The entire back half of the cottage was made of glass and looked out onto the beach. I made my way to the back porch off the lower level of the cottage. A set of stairs led directly down to the sandy beach. The moment I walked out of the door, I took a deep breath, allowing the ocean air to fill my chest and calm me like it had my entire life. The wind lightly blew through my long brown hair. The straight, sleek hairstyle I often donned at the High Court would soon be replaced with soft, beachy waves. I closed my eyes and soaked in the sounds and smell of the beach like it was an antiseptic for the troubles I’d had at Court this year.
Luke came up behind me, an appreciative smirk on his handsome face as he ran his fingertips across my shoulders. He looked as irresistible as he ever did, perhaps even more so. The humidity in the salty air gave his caramel hair a tad more curl and volume than normal, and I felt the urge to tangle my fingers in the wavy, curly mess.
“Let’s go down to the beach for a while,” he suggested.
“Don’t you have to go meet your parents?” I asked, leaning the front of my body against the banister of the porch.
Luke came up behind me, placing his hands on the wood of the banister on each side of my body. I could feel his warmth against my back. He pressed his lips to the side of my neck. A chill rose on my skin despite the warmth of the sunlight.
“Nah. We have the afternoon to ourselves. But we’ll head over for dinner later,” he replied.
“Rhett and James?” I inquired, looking over my shoulder and up at him.
“Will be busy for a while, I imagine,” Luke replied with a knowing smirk.
Rhett and James were definitely in one of their “on” phases. I bet they would hardly leave their room the entire weekend. Luke took a step back from me, and I immediately missed the feel of his body pressed to mine. But then he extended his hand to me.
“Let’s go for a walk,” I suggested, kicking off my heels and gripping his hand in mine. “Does this beach have seashells?” I asked excitedly, thinking of how I used to spend hours walking the beach back home, picking out a seashell and declaring it my favorite, only to drop it a few feet later for my next favorite shell.
“Come see for yourself,” he replied with an enticing smirk, tugging me to follow him down to the beach.
7
Alarie
