Velor’s eyes scanned the room. He stepped into the alcove with the composure of a man arriving at a private opera...amused and thoroughly entertained.
His boots clicked softly against the marble streaked with Varric’s blood. He paused,then smeared it further, like it was nothing more than pain...then he let the silence linger a beat too long, before he finally spoke again.
"Kieran Blackmoon, defending a stranger’s honor?" He sighed aloud, dramatically. "How...uncharacteristic."
His grin widened, all gleaming teeth. He gave Varric’s crumpled form a nudge with the toe of his boot, eliciting a fresh moan.
"And here I thought you only brawled for your own ego," he added, eyes flicking from the blood to the woman standing like a statue.
Varric spat blood onto the tiles and shoved himself upright. "That bitch..."
"Ah...ah." Velor’s hand clamped down on Varric’s shoulder, fingers digging in just shy of pain. "You are embarrassing yourself, Stormfang." His voice was like syrup over steel. "Go downstairs. Pick any woman you like...a willing one, this time...and drown your temper in something sweeter...and juicy! " Velor winked before turning around to face Autumn.
"The bitch attacked me. I was just trying to talk to her and she..."
Velor turned back to him slowly, and the chill in his smile made Varric fall silent.
"Did you touch her without consent, Varric?" Velor asked, voice still smooth, but the air turned sharp.
Varric blinked. "I mean...I grabbed her wrist. But I did not..."
"Hhhmmm." Velor crouched beside him. "And then what? You expected her to swoon?" His voice dropped. "We are not savages, are we?"
Varric’s face twitched. "She made a scene..."
Velor stood up,his expression cooling further."And you made a mistake."
Varric’s jaw dropped at the bluntness. But before the anger could return...
"Still," Velor purred, brushing invisible lint from his sleeve, "we can’t let one bruised ego ruin the evening." He leaned in closer. "Go. Pick one. Or two.Or more from my collection eagerly waiting for you downstairs.Leave this... matter to rest!"
Varric seethed but recognized the warning behind Velor’s charm.
He stood up with effort, wiped blood from his upper lip, and shot a glare at the woman.
"This isn’t over," he muttered.
Velor gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
"It never is, darling. Now off you go."
Varric disappeared with a few staggered steps.
Velor finally turned to face them fully...Kieran and the woman in red...Autumn. His gaze danced between them.
"Now," he said lightly, "I would hate to have the opening couple’s dance without two of my most... striking guests." He glanced at his sapphire watch. " And it starts in ten minutes. I think we should hurry! "
Neither Kieran, nor Autumn moved.
" I must say that I insist! "
"Please," Velor urged, opening his arms in mock invitation, "don’t make me beg. It ruins the whole aesthetic...look how dedicatedly I dressed up for my guests! "
Autumn’s emerald eyes remained locked on Kieran, who too stood there like a statue carved of stone.
Finally Kieran exhaled."No."
"I don’t dance," Kieran muttered, stepping back."Never did. Never cared to. I will be in the library. Or at the wrestling grounds.That’s more my kind of rhythm."
Velor arched a brow. "Ah... I forgot you have a reputation to live up to. Of course."
Then he chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Well, far be it from me to force anyone into pleasure. That would be terribly uncivilized of me.I will have my girls send more wine and refreshments at the library if that’s what..."
" No, I am good! I plan on staying sober tonight!! Too many drunken fools around...somebody has to keep their senses..."
"Alright! Suit yourself Alpha!" Velor shrugged and then he turned his attention to Autumn, his grin all warmth now."May I?" he asked, offering his arm with infectious charm.
Kieran’s eyes narrowed, flicking down to Velor’s outstretched hand.
But Autumn did not move...not immediately.
Kieran was still staring at her, trying to read her, maybe willing her to stay.
Autumn held his gaze.
There was something...wounded in the way he looked at her.
And something furious in the way she looked back.
But after a long beat, she turned...and slid her hand into Velor’s arm.
Kieran’s jaw twitched.
Velor grinned wider. "Excellent choice. Let’s give the crowd something to talk about." They turned and started to walk.
They hadn’t even taken more than a few steps toward the archway that led back to the balcony and then towards the stairs that led to the grand hall when...
Kieran stormed past them from behind like a thunderbolt, his shoulder brushing Velor just hard enough to be noticed.
He did not look at Autumn. Not once.Velor let out a long, delighted chuckle. "Oh, he is fuming. I love it. A man always runs from the thing that scorches him the deepest."
Autumn’s eyes did not leave the doors Kieran vanished through. Her expression was unreadable.
Until she turned and then her gaze fell on Lyla, sitting in the corner with a glass of wine sitting in front of her... intact... not even a sip was taken from it. She was sitting in the exact same posture and at the exact same spot where Autumn had last seen her.
Her heart ached. This was her sister after all. The sister she loved and mourned so dearly. The sister whom she couldn’t rejoice when she finally cheated death.
Autumn heaved a deep sigh!
Now that Kieran was out of sight, she slowly untangled her arms from Velor’s. " Ummm, actually, I don’t feel like dancing as well. Umm, I will just take the couch. Sit and rest for a while." She watched Velor’s expression change and cautiously added. " May I? "
" Of course you may! " Velor patted her lightly on the shoulder. " You are my honourable guest, remember? Not a prisoner. Nor a captive! You are as free as my wives, my Betas and Gammas. Go ahead. Enjoy the evening. Do as you please! "