Funnily enough, I didn't see Liam for a few days. I frequented the Kings room enough times, prepared to confront him, but surprisingly he never showed up. Like anyone's first guess would be that he up and left again which is so on brand for him but he hasn't. Not like he can anymore because Edward got all of our phones on 'find my friends'. He literally took all of our phones and linked it together, "no more fucking separation" he declared, handing them back. So he's here, just isn't around.

Does he know I met Hollis and we hung out? He probably does since word travels within the group like the speed of light. I told the girls obviously, "you always befriend these girls" Erika laughed, as the two eagerly listened. "Yeah I love to add girlfriends into my life like Thanos and his infinity gauntlet" I shrugged.

Rhiannon definitely told her boyfriend or actually, he eavesdrops as always whenever he hears Rhiannon scream on the phone because this man just loves to gossip. And he probably told Liam. One of these days I need to sit them all down and talk about boundaries, because the last thing I need is the men in this group, knowing about our cycles.

"It's been so long since we were at a ball" Erika sighed, cradling her Valentino dress as, dramatically crying like a damsel in distress.

Here we are back in Erika's closest, Rhiannon with a heatless hair curler on her head, skimming through a magazine. While Erika was digging through the depths of her closet, looking for her supposed matching shoes for her, as she screams, "where the FUCK is it" in five minute intervals.

Having given up, she laid down on the carpeted floor, sighing defeatedly. "Where's Liam? Anyone seen him?" I inquired, wondering if I got any of their attention.

An extended silence loomed within the massive closet, Erikas shimmering dresses hanging on one side of the closet glimmering under the ceiling light as if it were disco balls. "I think he's gone to see his mom or something" Rhiannon responded, her eyes widened as she continued to read the magazine sprawled across her lap.

"Also Antheia have you packed? For the weekend?"

"Packed?" I tilted my head, brows knitted as my gaze darted between the two unfazed girls in their own little bubble, doing their own thing.

Erika finally shifted her gaze back at me, biting in the inside of her check as she violently shook her head so as to move strands of her hair off her face,"yeah for the manor up in Winden" pursing her lips, she continued to dig deep into the bottom of her shoe aisle.

Erika and James bought a manor together a month ago as another 'holiday home'. As if she was already lacking anything of the sort, but the plan to head to the manor after the ball was something I did not hear about. "I already told Adam" her voice was echoed with how deep her head was stuck under the aisle.

Great, no this is great, because what I really need right now is to stay in one place with all of them around, every minute of the weekend. Especially Liam. Lord help me get through this.

                                         .•° ✿ °•.

Adam whined, refusing to remove his tight grip from my waist, completely awestruck over my dress.

I decided to go for a dress that best fit my internal aesthetic at the moment. Villainous black. I treasured the day I found this dress, sure it cost me almost my entire bank account but putting it on now was completely worth it.

It was a long sleeved, figure hugging dress with a cut for an open midriff to waist, and small slits over the chest as it cupped my titties. I struggled for a good 30 minutes on what to do with my hair, but ultimately decided to let it loose, it was long enough to reach the middle of my back anyway, and a red lip. Always a red lip for anything black.

Was I worried I'd trip over the dress? Absolutely, but that's what your boyfriend is there for, to use his arm as a railing.

I felt like a villain with an insane bloodlust, and for the first time, I think I've intimidated Adam instead of it being the other way around, "if you ordered me to kill someone, I just will tonight" he chuckled, playing into the joke about being my henchman for my dark villain attire.

With our bags tucked in the back of his car, the two of us headed to Godfrey's ball, planning to meet the rest of the Kings there. I've been quite a few balls with the gang to be used to what's to come, which isn't much to begin with. But it still makes me nervous as it did the first time, walking into the event to face perhaps hundreds of people like the gang

"Didn't know we had Dracula in the Kings" Edward playfully added as he joined Adam and I in the hall with his girlfriend over his arm. Rhiannon was in a red corset dress, and a slit up to her thigh. It seemed simple at first but that's because she's making up for it with over the top million dollar necklace and earrings passed down to her by her grandma. That's my bestie.

I let out a fake laugh before rolling my eyes, Adam letting a silent chuckle as he gripped me tightly around my waist, fully taking advantage of my bare skin open from the cut. 

With a loud gasp, Erika waddled over with James tagging behind her. "You look like a sexy witch oh my god" she clasped her arms over me and Rhiannon, jumping with excitement that she's finally in her element with her friends. Which is either a grand ball, or a picnic. "And you're too beautiful for me today" Erika pouted, making kissy faces and Rhiannon.

She was wearing a glimmering yellow dress, nude makeup and shimmery eyes to match the dress, her hair in a lose bun and strands of her chocolate brown hair falling over her face. Not even actual royals in the world can come close to Erika, shes a literal princess.

The boys awkwardly did their manly greeting, Adam and James still in the process of mending their friendship, I can tell they've made some progress, from fighting on sight to shaking hands with a smile on their face that isn't forced by me punching his shoulder and Erika pinching James'.

"You didn't have to call me this much I told you I'd show up" a familiar voice echoed from behind me, making my heart sink.

Liam walked over to Rhiannon, shaking his head, gesturing his phone at her. "We didn't want you pulling what you pulled last time" she snickered in response.

His ocean blue eyes landed on mine, our eyes locking momentarily, turning his position to stone, as he looked me up from head to toe, not long before shifting his gaze to the floor. Is that a smirk? Did he just smirk?

"What's wrong?" Adam whispered against my ear, from what I assume to be in response to my nails digging into his bicep. Shaking my head, "I love you" I responded.

His eyes smiled with him, mouthing the words right back to me.

                                      .•° ✿ °•.

"Old men just can't seem to keep their hands off from the boys" Erika pointed out as the three of us stood together by our table, champagne glasses on our hands.

Seems like our men have been whisked away by other older men for prospective  'business' ventures or whatever old ass men seem to talk about.

The girls however, are really good at avoiding other people at all costs, which Rhiannon pretending to receive a phone call and Erika excusing herself to go to the bathroom but take a detour and meet us back at our table. They deserve an Oscar for that. 

We even started a small drinking game over the course of the event, we take a small shot every-time the girls were approached by someone. So far, we've had to take 6 shots. I'm not tipsy yet, so this is dangerous, it's gonna hit me like a truck.

"Rhiannon Aster? My god! And Erika? Benton's daughter? My god look at the two of you" a gleeful middle aged woman holding an almost emptied wine glass made her way over to the table.

Pursing my lips as means to hold in my very obvious smile, I found myself taking another shot before the girls. And that's the 7th.

But one thing the girls didn't account for, is that this woman? She's fucking fast. She gripped onto Erika's wrist like a bird, "come over I want you to meet my son" already dragging Erika towards her own table, and she seeks to be strong as the Colbert heiress shot a helpless look at me and Rhiannon, 'what the fuck?' To 'help me'

"For fuck sake" rhi sighed, rolling her eyes and taking her 7th shot. "Lemme go save her" putting her hands up in annoyance as she followed the persuasive woman refusing to unhand Erika, practically dragging towards her table.

Well aren't i glad to be a normie today.

"How has the night been so far?"

There it is, the voice I've been dreading to hear. I sighed, my eyes widen as I realize the alcohol was slowly hitting me like an express train. Uh oh, this is the time I lose all control of my mouth.

"Great" I could feel myself tense, a cold demeanor engulfing me.

Silence loomed between us, the chattering sounds of other people in the hall and clinking of glasses echoing within. Jazz music filling the air, it seemed festive, and grandiose, but the situation I'm in feels anything but.

"Antheia?" brows knitted, his ocean blue eyes peered into me, inching closer to stand beside me at the high top table.

I exhaled deeply, god I hate confronting people, I feel like I'd lose a part of my soul.

"Is someth-"

"Yeah- yeah it is" I mustered up all of the courage inside of me, turning to face him. He seemed intimidating, I can't remember the last time I've seen him in a tux, his hair was slick back and was now towering over me.

"What you did was beyond shitty, especially for you, Liam. You're the last person I thought who'd do something like that" words were rushing out of my mouth, I'm no longer thinking, Im just in the moment.

"What are you saying?"

"Hollis" he widened his brows, his tongue pushing the inside of his cheek, as if he was told something irritating.

"The least you could've done was see her off, she came all this way to-"

"I didn't ask her to"

"So? Don't be such a dick" I sighed, needing to refuel my confidence to continue my confrontation, I took a massive gulp from my champagne, whilst his ocean blue eyes burned into me. When did he become intimidating?

"You don't know what you're talking about, you didn't need to get involved" his voice was dark, tilting his head as his gaze followed me.

"Are you sure about that? That's not what she told me"

"You believe a person you just met?" As a way of a breather, I broke my gaze from his burning one to look around the room, collecting myself. Where's Adam?

"Yes I do, she didn't deserve that"

"Theia" he rolled his eyes, his jaws clenching.

"I thought it was clear from the start, since the day we hung out at Goodman's to now, I didn't think I had to explain it to you" my voice was vibrating inside my throat.

He continued to tower over me, making me feel small regardless of the fact that I was literally wearing stilettos.

"I'm with Adam, I love him, and I won't let anything happen" I felt my jaws clench, my eyes shooting daggers at him, my heart violently beating inside my chest, I could feel as if I was slowly descending underground. Let me hide under here please.

He was perhaps just a few inches away from my face, especially having bent his towering figure for our eyes to lock, silence rang between us, I could hear my heart ringing in my ears.

His ocean blue eyes have darkened to replicate a storm, softly licking his lips, he let out a smirk.

What?

My brows knitted, seeing a reaction I did not expect in the least.

"Don't worry love. You'll know in time"

It felt as if I was knocked out by a hammer, a confused expression rushing over my face.

His eyes read mine as he slowly leaned back, inching away from my face, bringing distance between us. "What?-"

"Hey" Adam's arms snaked over from behind, grabbing me from my waist, pulling me closer to his body, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

What the fuck did he just say?

With a faltering smirk on his lips, he eyed me from head to toe once more. Studying me, before walking away.

"Where's everybody?" The head of the Kings questioned, looking around the room to place the members. "I- uh- yeah I don't know" I was clearly distracted. I need to get my thoughts together because what the fresh fuck was that?

Of course I'll talk to the girls about this but do I tell Adam? Because the last thing I need is to be the reason to cause a rift between the kings, between two friends. Sure they don't interact much but they've been connected since they're kids almost, and I don't think I can forgive myself if I break that. Him leaving was stressful enough for everybody, but for it to happen again?

And the shittiest part? I don't want to loose a best friend because of this, whatever the reason, he was  well, is my best friend ever since we met, he's always been there for me just like the girls. What a fucking yucky situation.

Fuck

Whatever he meant, I was crystal clear tonight. It'll always be Adam.