Page 219 of Conquered

Like the Halloween party, there are doormen waiting to let us into the ballroom. Unlike the Halloween party, they are dressed in tuxedos with no scary makeup. They open the double wooden doors with a flourish, and I can’t help the gasp of breath and my widening eyes.

The room has once again been transformed. Huge bouquets of red roses sit atop white covered tables, red petals strewn across the surface of them, and golden chairs tied with red organza bows seated around them. One wall looks to be entirely covered in red roses, real not fake, and all above the huge buffet table are hanging branches dripping with pink and red flowers and glass globes with flickering candles inside.

“They really do not scrimp on this shit, huh?” I say aloud as we walk down the small set of steps and head towards a table in the front.

“You’re only just realising this, Princess?” Ash scoffs, and I scowl at him, earning another chuckle.Dickbucket!

He pulls out my chair, pushing it in as I sit down, then calls over one of the waiters waiting staff who’s holding a tray of rose champagne. Jax sits down next to me, a huge plate of food in front of him.

“I see your appetite has returned,” I tease, a small tilt of his lips causing butterflies to erupt in my stomach.

“Here,” Kai says softly, placing a plate in front of me, with a selection of some yummy looking foods.

“Thanks,” I say, looking up and catching his gaze. He looks uncomfortable, which isn’t unusual for him in these kinds of social situations. I can still see the darkness lurking in the depth of his amber orbs, the tight lines around his eyes giving awaythe strain that he’s currently under. I just wish he was able to share his burden, knowing that it’s what he needs. To exorcise his demons. Otherwise, they just fester, eating away at your soul until nothing is left but desperation and the pitch black of loneliness.

A hyena’s laugh jerks me from my thoughts, and I clench my jaw when I see Amber the Cuntmuffin leading Loki to the dance floor. I’m staring so intently at them that I don’t even know what song is playing, and if looks could kill, she’d be a pile of ashes and fake lashes on the floor.

Loki’s whole body is tight when she starts grinding up on him, her skinny arse almost falling out of her dress, it’s that short. I’m all for people wearing what they want, freedom of expression and all that, but what she wears is barely more than underwear and just reeks of desperation.

“Princess,” Ash warns under his breath, and I take a steadying inhale, trying to relax my tense shoulders.

“Lilly!” I hear Willow call, and turning my head, I see her striding towards me, pulling a guy by his hand.

She looks stunning in a dress the same colour as her eyes, the shape a simple, elegant fitted bodice with a flared skirt that ends just past her knee.

“Hey, Willow. You look beautiful,” I tell her, getting up to give her a hug. We’ve become close over the past few weeks, and it made me realise how much I was missing having a girlfriend.

“So do you!” she exclaims, giving me an appreciative once over as we pull apart. “Oh, this is Ben.” She indicates the guy standing behind her.

He’s cute, in a kinda All-American way, all thick brown hair and sparkling white teeth.

“Hey,” he says, flashing a smile, which dims a little as Ash stands next to me, no doubt scowling. “Ah, h-hi man.”

Ash remains silent—fucking rude twatwaffle that he is—until I elbow him in the ribs.

“Hello, Ben,” he drawls in that low voice of his, and whilst it makes me shiver, poor Ben visibly swallows. I roll my eyes.

“Don’t mind him, Ben. He was hit with the arsehole stick on the way up from Hell,” I tell him, watching as his eyes widen, flicker to Ash, then look back at Willow, who’s positively shaking with repressed laughter.

“You’ll pay for that later, Princess,” Ash whispers in my ear, his tone dark.

Oh, I fucking hope so.

“Uh, I-I’ll go get some drinks,” Ben squeaks out, practically tripping in his haste to get away. Willow sighs.

“Did you have to scare him off?” she asks Ash, hands on her hips as she scowls at him.

“If he was any good, he wouldn’t have been scared off,” Jax says behind us, and Willow gapes at him.

“Hang on a fuck, you speak?” she exclaims, her hand on her chest and her big eyes even wider with her fake sarcasm.

I hear a bark of Jax’s laughter, which really does shock Willow if her ‘what the fuck’ look is anything to go by. I turn, planning on taking my seat again when I catch sight of Amber pawing at Loki like he’s a fucking dog toy.

Oh, I’m gonna cut a bitch.

“Excuse me,” I mumble, and without pausing to think through what I am doing, I march over to the DJ and demand the next song. There must be something crazed in my gaze because he nods, his eyes wide and palms held up in a placating gesture.

I set my sights on Amber, still fawning over a stockstill Loki. He catches my gaze as the opening beats ofThe Boy is Mineby Liv Lovelle come over the speakers, and his eyes go wide as I walk right up to them, invading their personal space.