She stopped a few feet from us, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Jacques,” she said smoothly. “It’s been a while.”
The way she said his name, the way her eyes lingered on him—it was clear they shared a history. My chest tightened, and I instinctively took a step closer to Jacques.
“This is a private banquet,” Jacques said, his tone cold.
“And yet I’m here,” Fayre replied, unbothered by his hostility. Her gaze shifted to me, and her smile grew. “So, this is the new Luna. I’ve heard… interesting things.”
I felt her eyes sweep over me, assessing, judging. She was flawless, exuding a confidence I couldn’t hope to match.
“Yes, Fayre,” Jacques said, his voice a low growl.
“I came to talk,” she said, her tone softening. “Surely you can spare a moment for an old… friend.”
“I’ll handle this,” he said to me, his voice firm. “Stay here.”
I wanted to argue, to demand answers, but the tension in the air was suffocating. Instead, I nodded, watching as he led Fayre away from the crowd.
Is she really his ex-lover?
Cestia’s POV
“WHERE IS JACQUES?”
The meal proceeded downstairs, its joyful hum of discussion and music providing a strong contrast to the turmoil that was developing within me. Jacques had vanished not long after Fayre's spectacular arrival, leaving me alone among the murmurs and curious looks of the crowd.
I faked a grin at others who approached me, like nothing was wrong. But as the minutes passed into an hour, his absence grew more difficult to ignore. My heart tightened with uneasiness.
“Excuse me,” I muttered to the Beta, Hale Roberts, who had been standing nearby.
“Is everything alright, Luna?” he asked, his tone laced with concern.
I nodded quickly, unwilling to show weakness. “I just need some air.”
Without waiting for an answer, I slipped out of the hall and headed towards the grand staircase.
My footsteps resonated in the silence as I ascended, leaving the joyous commotion behind. The more I proceeded, the darker and quieter it became, with the luxurious corridors now cloaked in shade.
“Jack? Where are you?” I called, my voice trembling slightly.
The silence that followed just added to the discomfort in my chest. My fingers brushed against the wall as I moved, the low light from the sconces forming flickering shadows.
I turned a corner and saw it: a little ajar door with gentle light flowing into the corridor. My pulse accelerated.