CHAPTER 113: THE CRYSTAL MASQUERADE 1

{Serilla}

Serilla Frost had perfected the art of working a room by age fourteen.

Smile at the right people. Laugh at mediocre jokes. Compliment without seeming desperate. Touch an arm here, lean in close there. Make them feel special while keeping enough distance that they wanted more.

Tonight was no different.

She’d already charmed Lord Ashlan into promising her family a favorable trade agreement. Lady Vex had invited her to some summer estate thing. Even that stuffy Duke Blackwater had cracked a smile when she’d made a joke about his son’s terrible dancing.

Liora sat on a velvet couch near the refreshment table, looking beautiful in a cream-colored dress that made her skin glow. Serilla had secured her there early, one hand possessively on Liora’s thigh as she networked with half the ballroom.

Everything was going according to plan.

The music swelled. Couples twirled across the starlit floor. Ice sculptures cast prismatic light across laughing faces and stolen glances.

Then the doors opened.

Aegis Starcaller stepped into the ballroom.

Serilla’s wine glass paused halfway to her lips.

The dress was deep purple silk that clung to Aegis like it had been painted onto her. The neckline plunged low enough that Serilla could see the curve of her tits and the swell of her cleavage. A high slit ran up one thigh, exposing long legs with every step. The silver mask framed blue eyes that scanned the room with casual confidence.

Serilla’s throat went dry.

[What the fuck is happening to me? It’s just Starcaller.]

"Lady Frost?"

She blinked. Lord Pemberton was staring at her, waiting for an answer to something she hadn’t heard.

"I’m sorry, could you repeat that?"

"I asked if your family would be interested in attending the spring symposium."

"Oh. Yes. Absolutely." She forced her attention back to him. "We’d be delighted."

But her eyes kept drifting back to Aegis, who was now talking to that quiet painter girl. The way she moved, relaxed and unhurried. The way her dress shifted with each gesture, revealing and concealing in equal measure.

[Get it together. You’re here for Liora.]

She excused herself from Pemberton and returned to Liora’s side, sliding an arm around her waist.

"Having fun?"

"It’s beautiful." Liora smiled up at her. "The decorations are amazing."

"Not as amazing as you."

Liora blushed, and Serilla felt the familiar satisfaction of a successful flirtation. This was what mattered. Liora. Winning her back. Showing everyone in this room that Liora Vale belonged to her and her alone.

Not to Talia Stone with her royal bloodline and cold demeanor.

And certainly not to some scholarship commoner who thought she could just waltz in and—

Serilla’s thoughts derailed as Aegis walked past their couch.

The scent of jasmine and something darker followed in her wake. Serilla caught herself watching the sway of her hips, the confident roll of her shoulders.

[Stop it.]

She pulled Liora closer, pressing a kiss to her temple.

[Just... stop.]

---

{Aegis}

Aegis scanned the ballroom with the focus of someone planning a heist.

[Holy shit, Serilla looks hot tonight.]

She couldn’t help thinking that. Serilla wore a red dress that hugged her body tight, cut low enough to show off her tits and high enough to make her legs look endless. Her short pink hair was styled chaotically, and her blue eyes sparkled behind her mask.

[Okay, but she’s still trying to steal Liora. Hot doesn’t change that.]

"There you are!"

Scarlett appeared at her side, throwing an arm around her shoulders. She had a wine glass in her free hand, already half empty.

"Drinking already?"

"Gotta be if I’m going to put up with people asking what my net worth is all night." Scarlett took another sip. "Three separate nobles have tried to figure out my family’s trade connections. I’m a soldier, not a merchant. I hit things with swords."

"Very good at it too."

"Damn right."

Notification:

Scandal Points +15

Current Total: 55

Reason: Dress

Aegis grinned. Her dress was already doing work.

She looked around the room again. Talia stood near one of the ice sculptures, posture perfect and expression neutral, but her yellow eyes kept flicking toward Liora. Liora, meanwhile, looked uncomfortable on that couch with Serilla draped over her like a territorial cat.

[You know... This would be a good opportunity to get Liora and Talia to make up. If I can get them alone. Only...]

Serilla wasn’t going to let Liora out of her sight. That much was obvious. She’d probably follow Liora to the bathroom if she tried to leave.

[Which means I need to distract Serilla.]

Aegis watched Serilla whisper in Liora’s ear, possessive hand on her thigh. But Serilla’s eyes kept drifting over to where Aegis stood.

[Why does she keep looking at me?]

An idea formed.

A stupid, reckless idea that would either work perfectly or explode in her face.

[Fuck it. Wing it.]

"Be right back," she told Scarlett.

"Where you going?"

"To ruin someone’s night."

She crossed the ballroom, weaving between dancing couples and drunk nobles, until she reached Serilla’s couch. Liora looked up first, relief flashing across her face.

"Aegis! You look amazing."

"Thanks. You too." Aegis leaned down, lips close to Serilla’s ear. "If you’re just gonna hog Liora all night, you should’ve stayed home."

Serilla went still.

Then she turned her head. Their faces were inches apart.

"What better night to show everyone who she belongs to?"

"People aren’t pets," Aegis said. Ironic, given the whole Nazraya situation. "You don’t own them."

"No, but they make choices." Serilla’s grip tightened on Liora’s thigh. "And Liora’s choosing to sit here with me."

"Is she? Or are you just not giving her a choice?"

"Bold accusation."

"Accurate observation."

They stared at each other. The ballroom noise faded. Serilla’s jaw clenched. Her pupils dilated.

Then she stood.

"Fine."

"Fine what?"

"You want my attention? You’ve got it." She walked toward the balcony doors. "Coming, or are you all talk?"

Aegis blinked.

[What the hell just happened?]

She glanced at Talia, who was already moving toward Liora. Their eyes met. Talia gave a tiny nod.

[Mission accomplished. Now what?]

"Well?" Serilla called from the doorway. "I’m waiting."

Aegis followed.

The balcony was quieter. Cooler. The music drifted out but softer now.

Serilla leaned against the railing, arms crossed, tits jiggling. Aegis tried not to stare... Too much, anyway.

"So. You got what you wanted."

"No idea what you mean."

"Bullshit. You wanted Liora away from me so Talia could swoop in." She turned around. "You’re not subtle."

"I’m subtle enough."

Silence stretched between them. Aegis moved to the railing beside her.

"So, what?" Serilla’s voice had an edge. "Haven’t found someone to fuck tonight so you had to cockblock me? That it?"

Aegis raised a brow.

"Damn, you’re pissed."

"What gave it away, genius?"

"I mean, you asked me to come with you. You wanna fuck off, door’s right there."

Serilla stayed exactly where she was.

"Fuck you."

"Hehe."

Serilla’s face flushed red.

The music changed inside. Something slower, more intimate.

[She actually left Liora behind. For me. Why the hell would she do that?]

Aegis studied Serilla’s face. The flush in her cheeks. The way she wouldn’t quite meet Aegis’s eyes. The tension in her shoulders.

An idea came to Aegis’s mind.

"Dance with me," Aegis said.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Why the fuck would I do that?"

"Because you want to."

"I don’t—"

"Just start dancing, princess," Aegis teased.

Serilla’s mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

"You’re so fucking annoying."

"Yeah, I get that a lot."

Aegis held out her hand.

Serilla stared at it like it might explode.

Then she took it.

Aegis pulled her close. One hand on Serilla’s waist, the other holding her hand. Serilla’s free hand landed on Aegis’s shoulder, fingers curling into the fabric.

They started swaying.

"This is stupid," Serilla muttered. "You’re with Liora, I’m trying to win her back—"

"I’m not with Liora. Talia is Liora’s girlfriend. Or will be again if tonight works out." Aegis spun them gently. "I just fuck her on occasion."

"That doesn’t make any sense."

"Doesn’t it? When have I ever acted jealous over Liora? When have I stopped you from getting close to her?"

Serilla frowned, clearly thinking.

"You’re always there though."

"Yeah, because she’s my friend. But I’m not trying to convince her to fall in love with me, like you are. That position’s taken." Aegis met her eyes. "By neither of us, by the way. Besides, even if I was competing for her heart, I don’t have much to fear with you."

"What?"

"You talk about Liora like she’s a trophy instead of a person with feelings." Aegis squeezed her hand. "If your dick game wasn’t good, which, well, apparently it is, she’d never give you the time of day. If I was trying to fight over Liora with you, I’d have nothing to really be afraid of."

Serilla looked away, processing those words.

They kept dancing. The music rose and fell. Other couples spilled onto the balcony, claiming corners for whispered conversations.

"You’re different than I expected," Serilla said.

"How so?"

"Thought you’d be more... possessive? Competitive?" She shook her head. "Instead, you’re a waste."

"Why would I? People do what they want." Aegis pulled Serilla closer. Their bodies pressed together now. "I’m happy when they’re happy. Even if that doesn’t include me."

"That sounds rather lonely, Starcaller."

"It’s freeing."

Serilla was quiet.

"Ugh, I really, really don’t like you."

"I can tell."

"But you’re..." Serilla’s voice dropped. Her hand moved from Aegis’s shoulder to the back of her neck. "Different."

The music slowed. Aegis became very aware of their proximity. How warm Serilla was. How their tits were pressed together. How Serilla’s thumb was stroking the back of her neck.

[This is terrible... But, man, her tits. Good God almighty!]

They kept swaying as the song played on. The night stretched around them, full of chaos and bad decisions waiting to happen.

The music faded into the next song.

They didn’t stop moving.