Page 24 of Little Wing (Shades of Fairhaven #1)

A fter the toast, the crowd around us gradually grew as the evening carried on.

Friends, investors, and those interested in our business came to join in on our celebration before our actual grand opening at the end of the week.

More toasts would certainly be declared, but I was glad to have kept our first to just the four of us.

Having Lotus beside me was a surprise, but one that I welcomed.

As the crowd began to close in to listen to Mateo go on about our dream and mission, I felt Lotus slip from my grasp.

“Are you alright?” I asked, looking over my shoulder.

“Just need to step away for a second.”

Her smile was present even as she walked away, though I could sense a shift in her energy.

While I wanted her beside me every second of that evening, I allowed her the space she clearly needed.

I admit I didn’t consider her level of comfort being around so many vampires.

Given how she entered this life, I wondered how much resentment and sadness still shrouded her mind, even after all this time.

Rather than follow her like my body screamed to do, I sat on the couch beside Quinn, who was already mindlessly scrolling on her phone. “Don’t feel like hanging around Mattie?” I nudged her .

Without looking up from her screen, she motioned to the crowd where Mateo was clearly schmoozing. “He’ll be alright without my scent for a bit, wouldn’t you say?” She then glanced at me and arched her brow. “And you? Where is your saucy little thing?”

“She needed to step away. This isn’t exactly her usual crowd.”

“Parties?”

“Vampires,” I corrected. Before Quinn could add anything else, I leaned back and ran a hand through my hair. “What do you think of her? I honestly didn’t even think she would show up tonight. I wouldn’t have blamed her. Yesterday was a bit crazy.”

Quinn’s lips curled and she set her phone back in her purse. “Crazy? Now you have my attention.”

Lotus still hadn’t returned, so I confided in Quinn, leaving out some bits and pieces that I wanted to keep to myself, like the way I could feel Lotus press against my stiff cock or how I fought the urge to bury my face between her legs.

Just the thought triggered a physical reminder. Settle down, Silas…

“So, you’re fucking?” she asked, reaching to pour herself a drink.

“No… it’s… this is new, whatever this is.”

“But the makeup, are we going to talk about it?” She licked the drop of blood that slid down the outside of her glass. “She looks like she just went to the store, grabbed the first thing she could find and called it a day. Mind you, it’s blended nicely, but it looks like she’s wearing a mask.”

While Lotus arrived without her contacts in, she still did have her face painted in a color that did not match the rest of her body.

I noticed it was a lighter shade than before, but her freckles were still covered in a solid layer of makeup.

There was a level of trust there—I could feel it, but there were still some reservations.

“I think this is more than just her fashion choice,” I muttered softly. “I don’t know—there’s still so much to her. She’s beautiful, but so calculated. I can’t go a day without thinking about her.”

The slender woman beside me nodded. While she wore the persona of an uninterested woman, Quinn loved Mateo.

When it came to vampires and the subject of love—monogamy wasn’t as common anymore.

Immortal beings had all the time in the world to fuck and enjoy as many partners as they wanted.

Humans and vampires alike. But to love one person and not seek out another? That had become a rare thing.

“Go get your woman then. Tell her we look forward to seeing more of her.” Quinn tipped her chin toward Lotus who was back standing in the crowd, her expression looking more lost than when she first arrived.

I got back up to my feet swiftly and thanked Quinn for listening. Only after a few strides I was back beside Lotus, my hand reaching to touch her, anywhere. “Hey, want a drink?”

She shook her head, hugging herself after she glanced behind her. When I finally met her eyes, the deep ruby of her iris was replaced, dulled by those stupid blue contacts.

“I actually need to go home. I am truly sorry, but I can’t be out here for much longer.”

“Oh…” I looked back at Quinn and Mateo, giving them a quick wave, before returning my attention to Lotus. With my hand placed gently on her lower back, I ushered her through the crowd and toward the exit. “Work tomorrow?”

Lotus remained quiet until we made it outside.

The crisp air felt like a sting against my skin after being inside the stuffy club, allowing me to focus on the hum of Lotus’ heart without any distraction.

She looked even more beautiful out of the filter of the red and purple lights from inside, but something didn’t feel right.

I focused on the scent of her skin—bergamot and rose—as I longed to wrap my arms around her.

Her silence wasn’t uncommon, but it was the way she looked behind us that concerned me.

“What’s going on?” I finally asked, but she tugged at my sleeve. “Did something happen?”

“I just need to go back home, Silas.”

“Can I at least walk you home?” Panic rose in my throat. What the fuck happened in the time she was away from me? I swear if anyone laid a hand on her, I’d tear the club apart. My fists clenched tightly at my sides.

The woman before me shrunk into herself.

The face of confidence she wore just a few hours ago was hidden behind layers of makeup once again.

My beautiful flower no closer to blooming once again.

I uncurled my fists and gently tipped her head up with my hand under her chin.

Not even her contacts could hide the tears that threatened to stream down her delicate face. “Lotus?”

“It’s okay; I’m okay. I just need to get ready for work.”

Lies… such blatant lies.

“I’ll call you a ride then, okay? Please let me at least make sure you get home safe.”

“Okay.”

While we waited, I looked down to see her still holding onto the bottom of my shirt.

Perhaps a silent assurance that this was just all too much, too soon.

I didn’t fault her. If she needed space, I’d gladly give it, but only if it meant we would see each other again.

When the car arrived, I opened the door for her to get in.

Before she took her place in the backseat, she turned and touched my cheek.

“Lo? ”

“You are doing something incredible for our people. I am so grateful that you have included me in this.” There was no chance for me to respond as her lips pressed lightly against mine. Before I could even react and pull her closer, Lotus was in the car and on her way back home.

Whatever happened back there, I knew that I never wanted to let it happen again. Watching her leave with tears welled in her eyes and me unable to do anything about it was a punch in the gut.