ARIA.
Yvette led me to the dance floor and honestly, I wasn't a good dancer. Dancing wasn't something I had the privilege to do. I believed only happy and rich people had that privilege. Since the death of my mother, all it had been were yells, molestations and maltreatment. What was there to dance for? The fact that I'd been sold off by my stepfather in the guise of sending me on an errand?
"Hey," Yvette whispered over the fast music in the background. "You're nervous and filled with shame and sorrow. I don't know why but I think you should rid yourself of those feelings if you really want to enjoy tonight."

"But I can not dance, Yvette," I whispered hotly. "I don't think I've ever danced my whole life."
She smiled softly. There was not an atom of judgment in her eyes as she walked us around the dance floor to a more comfortable space. "Then follow my lead. I know how to dance really well and might I add, a dance instructor. So I'll give you the step-by-step movements."
I nodded and my eyes darted to her feet. She was moving from side to side really slowly and I followed her, smiling to myself in pride when I got the steps. Then she lifted my hand and changed movements. This one raised my brows.
"Don't worry. Just follow my move." She replied softly and I nodded, moving along with her.
It was fun. Really fun and honestly, I didn't mind if anyone was staring at us. I was slightly tipsy and that made me unconcerned. We kept dancing and in no time, we were both laughing and jumping as we moved from one tile to the other. I moved out of Yvette into another man's arm and he smiled at me.
I knew we were going to dance for the next two minutes or so. I decided to remain comfortable with him, smiling as his hand circled my waist. "I don't think I've ever seen you around."

"Yes, you haven't," I replied breathlessly as I got onto his arm and shoulder.
"What's your name? Mines Kain."
"Aria."
He nodded and twirled me around. I caught Lyall watching me with hawk eyes. He wasn't dancing but I could tell he was slightly pissed and I tried not to focus on him. I wasn't perfect at dancing and there was a possibility of me missing a foot and probably falling to the ground.

So I turned in his arms and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Mr Kain."
"It's my pleasure to also dance with a woman as beautiful as you."
Smiling, I nodded. "Same with you, too."
"Step away from her."
At first, Kain frowned. Then he sighed. "Lyall, you're not a part of us anymore. You're married and you shouldn't be doing this."
"I said, step the fuck away from her." He replied again but this time, his voice was low and menacing. Kain had no option but to step away from me.
People watched as Kain spared Lyall a glance and walked out of the hall. I stood there in shame, wondering why he had gotten all possessive when I was having a fun time. I caught sight of Yvette in another man's arm and she shrugged with a smile on her face.
Sighing, I turned to face Lyall. He was standing a few centimetres away from me and I felt the heat of his gaze on my skin. Then he drew close and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against the broadness of his body.
"Why did you do that?" I asked softly as I fell into step with him. Everyone had gone back to dancing and it was just us both now.
"Because I wanted to. You shouldn't dance with anyone who isn't me."
"Are you joking?" I asked, staring at him like he'd grown three heads. "Why? You weren't even on the dance floor and he was the next person after Yvette. It's as harmless as running down a path on a sunny day and you're making a big deal out of nothing."
"You're getting me angrier than I already was," He hissed under his breath and turned me around before pulling me into him. "You think it's not a big deal, right?"
I nodded.
"Alright," He nodded and looked around. "I was planning on holding onto you even when it's time for you to move to someone else but I won't be doing that. There's a really beautiful woman by my side and I'm going to dance next to her, smile at her like I like her. I'll ask her her name and I'll flirt."
"Lyall, what are—" My words were cut short when he moved to me and I fell back into Yvette's arm. He had gone to a woman with flaxen hair and honestly, she was pretty. I tried not to let something as petty as this move me so I turned to Yvette with a smile.
"He's mad at you," She spoke, nudging her head at him.
"Well, yes. I don't know why he's being petty about it. It's annoying."
"He cares about you. He can be very possessive."
"How do you know that?"
Yvette sighed. "I hope this doesn't get you mad. And also, there's nothing going on between us. Uhm, seven years ago, before he met Sheila, we were kind of a thing. I thought he loved me but he was just really possessive. He's that way around every woman he has been with but yours is different."
I raised my brow. "Different? How?"
She shrugged and pulled me low so I threw my feet up. I quickly covered my gown when I straightened. "He cares about you. It's more than possessiveness. It's jealousy. He doesn't want anyone touching you."
She smiled. "You're really lucky, you know?"
I nearly burst into laughter l. "Lucky? For crying out loud, I am nothing but his mistress. His fucking breeder. I am with him because his wife is unable to birth a child. You call that lucky?"
She smiled sadly. "I understand how you feel but I think he sees you as more than that."
"That's not true. I choose not to believe you."
"Alright, it's fine for us to return back to the Palace," Lyall said from behind me. "Yvette, you have done nothing but read her the whole night. She doesn't know you can amplify her emotions so you can better pick each one and understand her?"
I blinked at Yvette and she smiled in slight anxiety. "I just want to understand you better so we can be friends. A lot of ladies don't like me because they are intimidated by my beauty."
"But I don't care if you are. I like you naturally."
She took my hand. "Then I am really sorry for trying to read you. When will I see you next?"
"I'll take care of that," Lyall said hurriedly. "We have to go now. Have a nice night."
As soon as we walked out of the manor, I snatched my hand from Lyall's hold and turned to him. "What the hell are you doing?”