I peered at Hanna. An impish smile wobbled on her mouth, her blonde eyebrows rising to wicked peaks.
“What?”
“You are so blind.” She shook her head, then tipped her chin toward the door. “Ca-den…”
“What about him?” I swallowed, heat clogging my throat and spreading over my skin. Why was he so angry? Yeah, Aron was an asshole, but Caden had no say in who I slept with. He had screwed half the girls here, and now he acted as though I’d hurt him? How dare he.
Anger diluted the mix of other emotions.
“Did you not see his face?” she stressed. “You might as well have stabbed him in the heart.”
“What? No. That wasn’t it at all.” It was disgust.
“Suuuree.” She shook her head. “You two. Someone needs to smack you guys in the head.” She leaned in closer, whispering, “Maybe flirting with Sergiu tonight will wake Caden up. I’ve heard he’s gotten really cute.”
“Sergiu?” I gagged. “Are you serious? Gross. Plus, haven’t you heard the rumors about him?”
“His kink is beating up prostitutes he’s screwing, and he won’t date anyone because he thinks he’s above everyone?” She shrugged. “Yeah, but think how riled up Caden would get if you flirted with him. Might finally get him to act. Because Sergiu would fall over his tongue to get to you. All men do.”
“Hanna, you’re up.” Bakos waved to her.
“Ugh. I hope I don’t get a black eye like I had at the last ball. Doesn’t match my dress.” She sighed, tightening her blonde ponytail. “And rumor is the minister of Serbia loves blondes and is very kinky.” Hanna wiggled her eyebrows at me before heading to the mat.
I barely registered the last part, my mind still whirling around what she said about Caden. Could there be a chance he felt the same way? I was scared to hope. I had lost so many people in my life. I didn’t want to lose him either. Yet once he graduated, he would be moving up in the ranks, leaving this place to get field experience, stepping up in the role his father carved out for him.
Tonight might be my last chance to make him see me and what we had together. Or could have.
I would tell Caden how I felt.
For good or bad, tonight, everything would change.
Chapter 4
“Stop fidgeting. You look stunning.” Rebeka patted my wrist, similar to the way someone would tap the nose of a misbehaving dog. “The dress is impeccable on you.”
Compulsion moved my fingers back to the top of the dress, tugging at the material, which barely covered the sides of my breasts. Not that I needed much to cover the minimal boobs I had. Genes and years of training had left my body very trim and flat. So many women would gush over my slim build, saying how lucky I was for my “model” figure and looks, while I looked at their soft curves with jealousy. I was all hard angles and coolness, nothing inviting or warm.
Many older men had told me how “sensual” they found me. Even at a very young age, my confidence and appearance drew unwanted notice and touches. I wasn’t oblivious to how I looked, the power it generated—I just didn’t care. Men treated me more as something they wanted to conquer or possess, not truly love.
“You will turn many heads tonight, my dear.” Rebeka smiled softly at me, a deep sadness filling her brown eyes. The same deep brown as her son’s.
Rebeka was in her early forties and beautiful with her silky auburn hair, deep brown eyes, and full lips. She was my height and trim, but she had the curves I always longed for, which were on display in her delicately ornate gown cinched around her small waist. The front was nearly transparent, with beads and jewels placed to catch the light and set perfectly to look glamorous and elegant instead of cheap. Navy tulle descended from her waist to the floor, and her hair was pulled up in an intricate bun, diamonds dripping off her ears.
As a young girl, I used to idolize her. Wanted to be identical to her.
The older I got, the more I realized her perfection was a prison. She was good at doing her duty as “queen” of Leopold. Smiling, charming leaders and their wives, throwing the best parties and being the beauty standing at her husband’s side. She wasn’t a silent partner, though; she could put at ease and relax even the most