Lucius (Acquisition Series #4) - Celia Aaron Page 0,42

full of sweetly-scented jasmine overhead, along with a man ushering guests. Three people enter ahead of us, and then we’re greeted by the man in the lime green half-face mask.

“Welcome. Unfortunately, after some recent events, the Sovereign isn’t allowing weapons into this particular evening’s revelries. Are either of you armed?”

“I beg your pardon.” The tone in Evie’s voice crackles like a cattle prod. “Do you think I could conceal a weapon in this dress? Or are you threatening to search me like I’m some sort of common criminal? Is that it?”

The lime green dodo stammers a few times, then closes his mouth before trying again. “Of course not. My apologies, Miss …” He pulls out an iPad and opens a document.

“Evie Witherington.” She says it with cold confidence, as if she owns this place and everyone in it.

If my cock wasn’t already hard for her, it certainly would be now.

“The guest of honor, top of the list. Welcome, mademoiselle. And your escort?” He peers at me as he makes a note in his document.

Without missing a beat, she scoffs. “Don’t you know Charles? Honestly. The Sovereign should hire better help.”

The man snaps his gaze back to her, and I don’t even try to hide my grin.

“Yes, yes of course. My apologies. Please, right this way.” He turns and leads us past the open courtyard with yet another fountain and into the main house.

“Quite impressive,” I whisper in her ear. “You’re practically a dominatrix, aren’t you? I think you made him cream his pants.”

“Focus,” she hisses.

Classical music plays softly somewhere farther in, and people chat with each other in various spots throughout the ornate foyer. The crowd is large yet sparser than I remember. The new Sovereign doesn’t have anywhere near the adherents as in years past. I like to think my family has everything to do with the thinning numbers.

“—haven’t seen him in weeks. His wife is worried.” A conversation floats across the marble-tiled room. “Leonard doesn’t do things like this. And he certainly wouldn’t have missed this event.”

I smile. They’ll only find Leonard if they don scuba gear and have hands-on experience in gutting swamp gators.

“Beau said not to worry about it. So I think we should be more careful, but Leonard will probably turn up and …” The conversation fades as we enter the main ballroom. More people mingle in here, some of them along the shadowy corners or bunched up in alcoves along the wall.

Pressing my lips to Evie’s ear, I whisper. “This is where we part ways. For now.”

She lets go of my arm, then grabs it again. “Be careful.”

“Worried about me?” I run my fingers along her wrist.

“Worried someone will kill you before I get the chance.” She pulls her hand away, but not before I catch her glancing at my lips again.

I slip back and move into a group of people having a conversation about the latest short sell fiasco in the markets. But I keep my eye on Evie, on the woman who catches everyone’s eye the moment she passes.

The crowd here seems to be a curious combination of the rather old and the quite young. Makes sense, I suppose, given that the ones in the prime of their lives five years ago are all dust now.

“Is that Evie Witherington?” Someone to my right asks.

An older woman in a jewel-crusted mask says, “I don’t know, but she looks about the right age.”

“She looks ripe.” An old man in a beaded mask leers.

I could break his neck and disappear, but that’s not what I’m here for. He’ll just have to wait his turn.

A man breaks away from the largest group at the back of the ballroom near the small string quartet. He wears a midnight blue mask with white feathers at the temples. Something in his bearing tells me exactly who he is. Beau Corrigan.

I edge closer to where Evie stands alone, her mouthwatering figure set off perfectly in her dress and heels. She’s a feast for the eyes, and plenty of the sick motherfuckers in this room are ready and waiting at the buffet line.

The room gets quieter, everyone watching the Sovereign approach her.

“Evie Witherington.” He smiles big. “I’m so pleased you could make it.” He takes her hand in his.

“Thank you for the invitation.” She dips her chin only a little. Good girl.

“My pleasure. When I heard you were back in town, I knew we had to do something big to welcome you back to your family.” He smiles at her. “This