Chapter 7 Chapter 7

Liora's POV

Selene's face twisted in rage. "I'm not his mistress."

"No?" Rowan blinked innocently. "That's not what you said in your messages. The ones you sent him while he was still with his actual mate. What was it again-'She doesn't deserve you. I'll make you Alpha.' Something like that."

"You're lying." She spat out, her face red with anger.

"Am I?" He looked around. "Pretty sure Kade could confirm." Kade didn't speak. His silence was louder than anything.

The crowd began to murmur-whispers traveling like wildfire. People leaned in, turned away and judged them heard. I stood still with Rowan's arms around ,e.

Then he leaned down, his mouth brushing the shell of my ear. "That's twice now I've saved you."

I angled my head slightly. "I didn't ask you to."

He chuckled low in his throat. "So ungrateful." He said teasingly.

"You're enjoying this too much." I pointed out to him.

"You're underestimating how boring most parties are." His breath was warm against my skin. "At least when you're not here."

Before I could respond, a bell chimed taking all of our attention. The host finally arrived, smoothing over the chaos with a practiced smile and cheerful announcements. But the damage was done. Attention still clung to us like static and Selene was shaking.

She turned on Kade, eyes blazing. "You didn't deny it."

Kade held up his hands. "Selene, not here. Let's talk-"

"Oh, now you want to talk?" she snapped. "After letting him humiliate me in front of-"

"I didn't let him-"

"You looked at her," Selene hissed. "You still look at her."

His gaze flicked toward me, it was brief but I saw the look of guilt on his face. I could hear them clearly but I didn't give a damn about them. Selene saw this and this angered her more.

She shoved his shoulder, voice rising. "You're pathetic."

Kade tried to keep it together, murmuring something low I couldn't hear. But Selene wasn't having it. She turned and stormed toward the back, and he followed like a scolded puppy.

The host tried to redirect the room again, ushering guests toward the main ballroom. Slowly, the crowd shifted, still buzzing. I let out a slow breath. Rowan hadn't moved. He was stll beside me, still watching me like I was a puzzle he couldn't stop picking at.

I gave him a sidelong glance. "You didn't do that for me."

"No," he said. "I did it because it was entertaining. You just happened to benefit."

"Charming." I snorted at him.

"I try." He shrugged with a little smile.

I started to walk away but he matched my pace.

"You're not going to thank me?" He called after me and I rolled my eyes, what was his deal with me thanking him.

"I already told you-I don't need saving." I said to him.

"And I already told you-" he stepped slightly ahead of me, blocking my path with that damn smirk again- "you're soft. Even when you act like you're not."

I didn't flinch. "And you're arrogant. Even when you try to pretend you're doing someone a favor." I threw at him and he didn't look offended. He smiled like I'd just handed him a compliment. We walked side by side into the ballroom. And even though the lights were blinding and the music too loud and the pressure of so many eyes still lingered on me, I didn't care.

I felt it before I saw it. I was being watched. I turned my head slightly, scanning the ballroom over the rim of my glass. And I saw Kade, he kept glancing at me nervously, probably not wanting to be caught by Selene. I didn't look away. I let my gaze meet his head-on, flat and hard and cold. His jaw tightened.

Good.

I turned back to the conversation I wasn't really listening to, some debutante trying to guess which royal family's cousin I was.

"You're wasting a perfectly good glare," Rowan murmured in my ear. I didn't flinch. He'd been at my side too long tonight to startle me anymore. Somehow, without ever really announcing his intention, he'd claimed that space, beside me, just slightly behind, always leaning in. He was too close now. But he always was.

"Let me guess," he said, not bothering to look at Kade. "Still staring?"

"Obsessively," I replied, sipping again.

"Pathetic. I'd say I pity him, but I don't." Rowan gave a smirk.

I ignored the warm curl that stirred low in my stomach. "You're enjoying this." I pointed out to him.

"Deeply." He admitted.

"Sadist." I replied rolling my eyes at him.

Rowan leaned in again, voice lower. "Come with me."

I turned to face him. "Why?" I asked but he didn't answer. Just gave me a look, one of those unreadable, half-daring glances that made everything feel like a game.

"Rowan." I called raising my brows.

"You'll like it," he said, and offered me his hand. Not polite. Not gentle. Just waiting. I hesitated. I shouldn't have taken it but I did. I was curious and intrigued by this man even though I didn't want to admit it. He didn't wait for me to change my mind. Just tugged me through the crowd, weaving through bodies and conversations. He kept going, past the main hallway, past the heavy oak doors, down a corridor. I glanced over my shoulder once, half-expecting someone to follow. He pulled open a door. It was a private restroom that was dimly lit.

"What-" I started, but the door clicked shut behind us. I turned to see him in front of me, he was so close it felt like we were breathing the same air. His palm flat was against the wall beside my head, his body heat pressing in. I took a breath, but the scent of him filled it-dark, crisp, addictive.

"What are you doing?" I asked, voice low.

He didn't answer right away. Just looked at me, like he was memorizing something. Then, slowly, he lifted his hand and brushed a curl from my cheek.

"I said I'd show you something." He whispered.

"You dragged me into a bathroom." I didn't know why I whispered back.

"Private bathroom," he corrected, grinning. "Details matter."

I narrowed my eyes. "You brought me here to flirt?" I asked him.

"I flirt everywhere." He leaned in a fraction closer, the air tightening. "Here, I get to touch."

My heart thudded.

"You're ridiculous," I whispered.

"Maybe. But you're not moving." He tilted his head as he spoke. I hated that he was right. I hated more that part of me didn't want to. His hand slid to my waist, fingers grazing silk and skin. "You're always so composed out there," he said, voice soft. "But in here."

"Don't."

He didn't listen, of course he didn't. He leaned in, lips lowering toward mine, slow enough to let me stop him and I did. My hand came up between us, pressing flat against his chest. His chest was so hard, solid and warm. He didn't pull back. Just shifted, smile curling wickedly as he angled lower.

His mouth landed on my collarbone.

"Ah" I bit on my tongue. Right where he'd marked me that night, he kissed it and then bit. Hard enough to draw a sound out of me before I could stop it, a small, involuntary moan that escaped like a betrayal. I sucked in a breath. Rowan pulled back, smug. His lips were slightly red and wet. I swallowed hard, trying to stop myself from pulling him in for a kiss. His eyes were brighter than they had any right to be in this dim light.

"You liked that," he said, voice thick with amusement.

"You're infuriating," I hissed, glaring up at him.

He wasn't fazed. "And you're still trembling." I hated that he was right again. He looked down at the mark he'd just left, blooming red on my skin, raw and real.

"To match the first one," he said lightly. "Thought I'd give you a set."

"You have no shame."

"None," he agreed. "But you knew that already."

I stared at him, furious and flustered and burning from the inside out. I wanted to push him away but heavens knew I couldn't. This man had me weak in my knees

He leaned in again, voice brushing my skin. "Stop fighting it, Liora." He sounded like a demon sent to seduce me. His breath was hot on my neck. "You liked it. You still do."

I didn't answer. I couldn't. Because he was right. Because my hands were still curled in the fabric of his jacket and I hadn't pulled away. Because every cell in my body was buzzing, sparking, alive in ways I didn't want to admit. Because Rowan wasn't just getting under my skin, he was already there. I glared at him instead. It was the only resistance I had left.