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Cali shone above the crowd like the brightest star, every other guest dimming in comparison as she moved from one conversation to the next with effortless grace and charm. I watched her in silent awe, her every courtesy perfect, her every smile disarming.
As one of the favored Vitalis sisters, she drew attention wherever she went, and rightly so.
The Vitalis family’s power surged through the syndicate ranks, their name once again commanding the respect of every other house. I took quiet satisfaction in how their security detail hovered, vigilant and unblinking.
Wherever Cali and her sisters ventured, their guards werenever out of sight. They had slipped up earlier, allowing Dominic to get dangerously close, but I knew better than to chalk it up to oversight. I suspected Cali had deliberately shaken them off.
The moment we stepped into view in the Book Castle, Calista’s security detail converged on her, and she simply ignored their scolding stares and continued to the elevators and up to the Lighthouse.
I gazed upon my new fiancée with utter disbelief.
It had all happened so quickly.
Everything had moved so fast, and soon, after tonight, it would quicken even more.
The fact that she’d boldly asked me to take her back to my room was surprising. My first instinct had been to stop her, to urge her to take more time to think about it, and to slow down and get to know each other first.
But the gleam in her eyes warned me that such words would be disastrous.
It was clear to me that Cali was attempting to regain a sense of control in her life. She’d struggled with her actions in the incident with Dominic, as she’d explained. The fact that she wanted to claim her power wasn’t something I was ever going to get in the way of.
If she needed me to help with that, I would never refuse. Even if it meant doing something I wasn’t entirely convinced she was ready to do.
It wasn’t up to me to decide that.
It was her decision.
Of course, I wanted to protect her—I always would—but that didn’t mean stripping her of agency. To do so would smother her, the opposite of what she needed. The path ahead would be narrow and delicate, but I would navigate it as best I could.
Calista was worth every careful step.
She was worth the whole wide world.
I chuckled to myself, watching her glide gracefully around the grand ballroom. Her smile was infectious, lighting up her face and those around her. Despite being a grown man, something about her transported me back to my teenage years, a thrilling feeling of sneaking around to do something forbidden.
Every so often, she glanced in my direction, a knowing spark flaring between us. It was as if we shared a secret language, silently planning our night together.
The sensation was a delightful rush, and I found it amusing how deeply it affected me.
“That’s some smile on your face, brother,” Iason commented, appearing beside me.
He had accompanied me to the event and had been waiting for me at our table when I returned with Calista.
“I’m sure it is,” I replied, still grinning.
“Want to tell me what it’s all about?” he asked, nodding toward the elegant blonde who had captivated my attention all evening. “I’m assuming it has something to do with that lovely lady you can’t take your eyes off.”
“She’s my fiancée now,” I revealed, feeling a surge of pride.
Surprise flashed across his features. “Excuseme?”
“It happened while I was outside.” I explained the unexpected encounter in the park. “We’re not telling anyone yet.”
“That was fast.” He clapped me on the back. “Congratulations are in order!”
He reached for a glass of champagne from the table, raising it in a cheerful toast.
“Thanks.” I clinked glasses with him, the bubbly liquid fizzing.