Page 66 of Tethered Souls

He asked me to dance.

My grin widens. My cheeks now hurt, but I can’t stop the joy from leaking out of me.

Don’t be stupid, Micha. You know he stepped away when he left the toy on vibrate.

But still…

He “chased” after me when I stormed off, and I doubt Varius fucking Shadow chases after anyone.

He left your ass in the woods all night,the smart part of me counters.

He let me sleep.I sigh dreamily.I didn’t even have to make anyone dinner.

So what you’re saying is he let you go hungry.

Rolling my eyes at the pessimistic voice in my head, I turn on the tap. I hesitate before sticking my hand under it, thinking he might punish me for denying him the taste.

He might have to take me upstairs to get his fill then...

Picturing his head between my thighs, I shove my hand under the flow of water with a sly grin. Grabbing the soap, I apply it thickly. He did, after all, still act like a dick to me in public. My eyes narrow. And what the fuck was up with him touching her like they were lovers?

He had his hand on her arm, his lips near her ear.And I know what those lips can do.

I growl. The water around my hands starts to steam and boil, my magic bleeding through my skin.

He learned with you, Micha.

The jealousy in my chest eases a bit, knowing that she wasn’t a lover before me. I try to think who she is, having been forced to memorize most of the faces here before we arrived tonight. His thirteen capos. The other Bosses he invited, their Families dealing closely with his. The wives and girlfriends of those powerful men.

But her face comes up blank. Perhaps she is someone’s secretary. Or a new mistress. Maybe she is a party crasher and he was telling her she betterget outta herebefore he killed her.

I smile at that. Then my lips fall as I realize the security in this place is top-notch. I recognized half the waitresses as high members of our Family, esteemed killers who get paid even better than I. Andrea Turner. Jaclyn Hoscheid. Sharee Smith. Fuck, there’s no way an assassin of my skill level got in with just one of them on watch, let alone all three of them. If I actually got round to planning who to hire to kill Varius...those badass fatherfuckers would’ve been in my top five.

So who the hel is she?

Feeling the need to break something, I head for the door. Just as I grab the handle though, I pause and take a breath. As pissed off as I’m getting, I’m still Varius’ fiancee. I have a certain image to maintain. If I make an actual scene, he’ll be forced to discipline me – and not with a toy. All of his capos are here. Six Bosses and their underbosses. If I make a fool of him, I’ll break his trust, and I do not need to know everything about him to know Varius will not give it back easily.

If I’m wrong in this… If there’s an innocent explanation for him having touched her…I’ll destroy any chance I have at making this marriage real.

So I take a breath.

Calm myself down.

Then leave, looking every inch the calm, cool, collected woman Sau turned me into.

Having not chosen the bathroom closest to the party, I step out into utter silence. This part of the house is empty, but my eyes still flick across the place in surprise. Varius might not make a habit of following his women, but Daynealwaysfollows me when I’m upset. Just as I do him.

An uneasy knot starts to form in my stomach as my pace quickens. Did he make a scene for me? Was Varius forced to punish him? My throat tightens, and I push out with my magic, searching for the tattoo I drew on him years ago and have strengthened every year since.

My feet slow as I feel him. His heart rate is normal. He’s alive and not being tortured. He’s either searching every room of the house (which will take time as this place is massive and he knows I wouldn’t have hesitated to step outside), or he’s being held up by Sau so he doesn’t make a scene.

Breathing out slowly, I recollect myself. On regal strides, I make my way back to the party.

A few heads turn to me as I enter, but the only person I’m looking for is Varius. When I don’t see him, my pulse misses a beat as a sickness fills my stomach. My gaze darts around the room again, and I realize I don’t seehereither.

Sau starts to head towards me, and I know where my fiance is just by the face she’s wearing. Wary yet full of pity.

My throat burns, and I turn to engage the closest man beside me in conversation. I don’t want to hear what she has to say. That it is Varius’ right to fuck whoever he wants to. That this is the real life of a Shadow woman. That I was afoolto trick myself into believing he cared just because he pressed a few buttons. Was he with her the entire time the butt plug vibrated continuously inside of me? During that moment he left?