Stranger At The Altar

Nights

an –

that evening with every pair of eyes in th

e without shouting. Her hair was swept to one side in loose waves,

way the black silk kissed her skin when she moved. It was the quiet in her eyes,

gruffly when she rea

ok, wry, sceptic

ered my arm. She hesitated on

light, careful, like she didn't want to press too hard, but the war

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wling terraces drenched in twinkle lights. Exotic cars lined the driveway like a fleet. Uniformed staff us

hough neither of us particularly wanted to. His suit was black-on-black, classic,

nods, a few clipped answers. He hadn't even comme

ingered, I guess t

laughter, clinking glasses, and orchestr

s the polished floor, scanning a sea of sleek gowns and

but I could think of much better ways to spend my time tha

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an -

ashed. Flutes of champagne were offere

od and his my

longer than necessary. Maybe to pro

approached us, dripping i

, offering a hand that had ne

shook it. "Y

ay. And I was alm

lin

eeth of a predator. "Imagine if I'd said y

htened ever so s

coolly. "Run along, before you embarras

ced off into the growing crowd, muttering

thered he was a workaholic and perpetual loner, this w

inging it up was wise under the cir

he said beside me. "You'll

fore I cou

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g black sheath dress with her hair swept to one si

omment on anything political. If someone asks a

think you enjoy

esponse, flashing sharp white tee

s the room talking animatedly to the caterers, somehow blending in and

posed to stay behind

me watching. "She looks li

Please don't

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plated hors d'oeuvres. Some sort of beet tart on puff pastry, a sea of cavi

, but nearly a dozen upper class

ime we were all having. But even though I did my best to be civil, I could tell they

leave. Whispering to their friends

pretend for the umpteenth time to be deeply int

, as the other ones started to leave. I could fe

d a few feet behind me. One wore a

e that looked like it could pay

ht-Dress murmured, not bothering to lower her voice. "Everyone knows rich

augh. "And that ring? God. Looks like s

her," Tight-Dress said, her v

dy, as both women giggled hard behin

ss of champagne and to

g to be a ver

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te Whi

ry attractive and had been told as much over and over again, until it became their entire personality. Or maybe I was just

-fingered hand. "Used to work with Adrian before I go

re in your v

I'm far too charmin

be surp

when Adrian appeared suddenly behind m

said. "I was just introducing myself to your... love

, then back to Asher. "Leav

p a fight, he simply held up h

with his eyes, likely searching f

waltz, and I felt Adrian's ga

expected to dan

't kno

said. "Ne

the other guiding mine to his shoulder. Our bodies mov

his fingers. The sharp scent of his co

ted," he said softly. "A

us through the music like we bel

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an –

wood panels, and subtle accent lighting that made everything feel like a

nreadable. Her dress shimmered in the dim light, the gree

ing earlier. I still di

elf well tonight,"

d, slow.

ha

d the event. The qu

en added, "You

linke

d. "Is that suppose

't a cri

ight. It wasn

sed as she st

shoved into a room of wolves, and told to perform

back, j

're here for. To dress u

he dress was you

ked, di

d, a dry,

hy people think y

ou're the only one in this ar

respond,

glares at me like I'm a prison warden? Who can't eve

pretending!" she sa

I'm

a moment, she wasn't co

er, living a very elevated, privileged life, nothing

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ste

ened animal. This wasn't a life I'd chosen, so if I had to live i