Matthias grimaced. “My mother’s psychic.”
Oh, she hadn’t been kidding about that. Interesting.
“She’s a seer,” Lady Hartford corrected. “She’s got a real gift.”
“Uh huh.” I gave a polite smile. Even as a vampire, there were some things I found hard to believe. Back in Beechwood Harbor, I’d been friends with a telepath who could read nearly anyone’s thoughts at will—or, sometimes without even trying, as was the case with her overbearing mother-in-law. But a seer? Someone who could actually foretell the future? How could that be possible?
“In any case, dear, she was right. You were simply splendid and you put the fear into all of the others,” Lady Hartford continued, nearly bouncing in place as she beamed at her son. “I was just over at the bar and overheard Lenora Parrish telling her son he needed to step up his training in the next week if he has a prayer at beating you in the second round.”
Matthias didn’t comment, but the tension at his jaw spoke volumes about his thoughts on the matter. Though, I still didn’t know what his plan was, he’d proven he could capably win the next round. But if he did, he’d land himself in the final fight, where the stakes got much, much higher.
It wasn’t the right time to ask him. I wouldn’t get the real truth with his mother looming over us.
“Lacey, would you like to dance?” Matthias asked abruptly, turning away from his mother.
Lady Hartford squealed and excused herself, scurrying away, likely to gossip with the others about how her son was the frontrunner to win the tournament and how he had clearly also caught the favor of the woman at the center of it.
“That worked better than expected,” he mused as he watched her go. “She didn’t even wait for you to accept the invitation.”
I laughed. “Was the offer real?”
Matthias looked back at me and smiled. “If you’d like. Might as well make some use of all the dancing lessons she made me take as a child.”
He rose and I offered him my hand. He gently pulled me to my feet and led me down the steps and out onto the dance floor. Soft music was piped in through a series of speakers throughout the expansive room. Apparently the occasion hadn’t warranted the string band my father had hired the night of the gala.
Matthias placed a hand on my waist and then took my hand to lead. Despite the exertion in the ring, he moved with light feet and didn’t miss a step as we moved around the floor. No one looking at him would believe he’d just endured a twenty-minute-long battle with a vampire.
“Having any second thoughts?” I asked, smiling up at him.
“About?”
“Winning your fight.”
He watched me for a moment and then shook his head. “Not a one.”
Flutters of excitement whispered over my skin. A creeping doubt edged in, but I quickly banished it and smiled again. “That’s good.”
“What’s my competition like?” he asked, nodding his chin back toward the dais where Leo Parrish had retaken his seat. “They didn’t let us watch the other fights from the guest house.”
“Oh.” I bit the corner of my lip for a moment. “I wouldn’t worry about him too much. But, Matthias, you do realize that if you—”
“Lacey, I know. I’m well aware of where that would land me.” He wasn’t angry, but the words were firm.
I bobbed my head. “Right.”
We danced through the end of the song and then effortlessly drifted into the next, this one a little slower than the first. Matthias dropped my hand and settled both hands on my waist, bringing me in closer. For a moment, I wondered if it was for the benefit of the crowd, but he wasn’t looking at them. His emerald eyes were locked with mine, reflecting startling clarity. “You look beautiful tonight.”
Heat crept up my throat. “Thank you.”
Over the years, a lot of people had told me the same thing. It wasn’t a foreign compliment. But somehow, when Matthias said it, the words were reinvented, infused with new meaning.
“I have to say, it was a little quiet around the house today,” he added, smiling at me.
I laughed. “You missed me, huh?”
He chuckled and moved in so his mouth was just above my ear. “It still smells like your perfume.”
Shivers raced down my arms and Matthias’s fingers moved up my back. He’d felt them too. “I’d rather be there again,” I told him. “It feels like every painting around here has grown a pair of eyeballs since the last time I was home. Everywhere I go, people are watching me, whispering. It’s creepy. At least if I go through with this insane sham of a marriage, I’ll be gifted my own house and property. Might be worth it.”
Matthias made a noise of acknowledgement, but didn’t add anything. After a moment, he moved back and met my gaze again. “Any word on Jupiter?”
My heart clenched making my chest feel tight. “No.”
He winced. “I’m sorry.”
We took another turn, silently going through the motions of the dance. I caught a glimpse over one of Matthias’s shoulders and found the room staring, silently transfixed on us. A sudden bubble of panic welled up. What was my father going to think? He’d already picked up on the attraction. Would he lecture me about playing favorites?
Matthias turned us and I saw my father at his table. He was beaming.
My gaze drifted past him and landed on Jerrod. If he was a cartoon character, plumes of red smoke would have poured from his ears. His eyes were dark and fixated on Matthias’s back.
I almost pitied him. He’d spent years of his life following my father’s every whim, thinking that someday it would get him the recognition and prestige he was so desperate to find. Instead, he’d find himself sacrificed and tossed aside, just another pawn in my father’s game.
Jerrod rose from his place at the table and I stiffened.
“What’s wrong?” Matthias asked, following my gaze. “Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Come on,” he said. We broke apart but Matthias kept a hand on the small of my back as he led me to the nearest exit.
“He’s going to follow us,” I said.
“Let him,” Matthias replied, a hardened edge to his tone.
“I think I’ve seen enough fighting tonight.” We got into the hallway and I stopped. “I’m going to call it a night.”
“Leaving your own party?” he asked.
I laughed. “I’m sure no one will even notice.”
“I will,” he said, his voice thick.
“You’ll be too busy getting fawned over as one of the victorious!” I teased.
He groaned. “Thanks. Nothing like getting thrown to the wolves.”
“You’ll be all right. You’re a big tough guy, remember?”
He laughed and walked me to the grand staircase. “Thank you for the dance.”
“Anytime,” I said, surprised that I actually meant it.
I took the first stair and paused, the step up bringing me level with him. Matthias’s eyes dropped to my lips and the embers of heat in my stomach erupted into flames.
His lips brushed over mine, the moment sweet, soft, and over far too soon. When he pulled away, his eyes were wide, as though he’d startled himself with the kiss.
“Matthias, I—” My voice faded, unsure of what to say. My heart beat rapidly against my ribs. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
He smiled down at me and gave a slight nod. “Me too.”
“I guess I’ll see you next Friday,” I said, immediately regretting it. Why did I have to bring up the next fight? It was the last thing either of us probably wanted to think about.
“See you in a week,” he said. “Goodnight, Lacey.”
Chapter 16