LOVE ME MORE

CHAPTER NINETEEN: THE RECEPTION

The formal reception was everything Kai hated.

Elegant.

Crowded.

Loud in that restrained, upper-class sort of way where no one actually raised their voice, but every conversation still carried enough judgment to make the air feel heavy.

The Grand Hall of Ravenscroft Academy had been transformed for the occasion.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting warm golden light over polished marble floors. Silver drapes framed the towering windows, and strings of soft white lights wound around the balcony railings overlooking the hall.

Students moved through the room in formal academy attire, their laughter and conversation blending with the quiet melody of the string quartet stationed near the far wall.

It was beautiful.

And Kai hated every second of it.

He stood just outside the entrance, adjusting the collar of his black formal jacket with visible irritation.

“This is ridiculous.”

Beside him, Maya looked immaculate in a dark fitted dress, her hair pinned up elegantly.

“You’ve said that twelve times.”

“Because it’s true.”

She smirked.

“You’re only nervous because Adrian’s going to see you dressed like this.”

Kai nearly choked.

“I am not nervous.”

“You spent twenty minutes fixing your hair.”

“That was strategic.”

“That was panic.”

Kai glared.

Maya laughed and shoved him lightly toward the entrance.

“Relax. You look good.”

Kai muttered something unintelligible but allowed himself to be dragged inside.

The moment they entered, heads turned.

Kai immediately regretted existing.

He wasn’t used to formal events.

Or the kind of attention he was suddenly receiving.

His academy uniform had been replaced by Ravenscroft’s ceremonial evening attire: a sharply tailored black suit trimmed subtly with silver embroidery.

It fit too well.

Maya had insisted on fixing his tie.

And apparently, the result was enough to make half the room stare.

“This is horrible,” Kai muttered.

“Stop whining,” Maya whispered. “And stand up straighter.”

Before he could complain again—

“Kai!”

Aurora appeared like she’d materialized from thin air.

And she looked stunning.

Her midnight-blue gown shimmered faintly beneath the chandeliers, her dark hair cascading over one bare shoulder.

She smiled brightly.

“You came.”

Kai gave her a dry look.

“You threatened to physically drag me here.”

She beamed.

“Exactly.”

Then, before he could react, she slipped her arm through his.

“Come on. You’re escorting me.”

“What?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Kai opened his mouth to protest—

Then froze.

Because across the room, Adrian had just entered.

And every coherent thought in Kai’s brain promptly vanished.

Adrian looked devastating.

His black formal jacket fit perfectly across his broad shoulders, silver detailing accentuating his sharp frame. His dark hair had been pushed back neatly, exposing the severe elegance of his features.

But it was his eyes that stole Kai’s breath.

Silver.

Cold.

Focused entirely on him.

More specifically—

On Aurora’s arm looped through his.

Kai felt his pulse spike.

Adrian’s expression didn’t change.

Not visibly.

But Kai had learned him.

He saw the faint tightening of Adrian’s jaw.

The subtle narrowing of his eyes.

The dangerous stillness settling into his posture.

Jealous.

Again.

Aurora noticed too.

And judging by the wicked curve of her smile, she was delighted.

“Oh,” she murmured softly.

“This should be fun.”

Kai gave her a warning look.

“Don’t.”

Too late.

Aurora immediately leaned closer against his side.

Adrian began walking toward them.

Each measured step somehow making Kai more aware of his own heartbeat.

When Adrian finally stopped in front of them, his gaze shifted coolly to his sister.

“Aurora.”

“Brother.”

“You’re monopolizing him.”

Aurora blinked innocently.

“Am I?”

“Yes.”

She smiled.

“I don’t recall asking your permission.”

Kai looked between them nervously.

This was escalating.

Fast.

Adrian’s eyes shifted to Kai.

And for one long second, the world seemed to narrow.

“Dance with me.”

Kai blinked.

“What?”

Aurora looked genuinely startled.

Maya, standing nearby, made a strangled noise that suspiciously resembled suppressed screaming.

Adrian’s expression remained unreadable.

But his voice was steady.

“Dance with me.”

Kai stared.

He had expected many things tonight.

This was not one of them.

“I—”

Aurora released his arm.

“Oh, definitely go.”

Kai shot her a betrayed look.

She only grinned.

Adrian extended his hand.

Kai looked down at it.

Then slowly placed his own into Adrian’s.

The contact sent warmth shooting up his arm.

And before he could rethink it, Adrian guided him toward the center of the ballroom.

The string quartet shifted seamlessly into a slower melody.

Kai stopped abruptly.

“Wait.”

Adrian turned.

“I don’t know how to dance.”

A faint smile touched Adrian’s mouth.

“I know.”

“That isn’t reassuring.”

“You’ll manage.”

Before Kai could object, Adrian stepped closer.

One hand settled carefully at Kai’s waist.

The other held his hand firmly.

Kai’s breath caught.

They were close.

Far too close.

Every nerve in his body seemed suddenly hyperaware.

“Relax,” Adrian murmured.

Kai glared weakly.

“Easy for you to say.”

Adrian’s fingers tightened slightly against his waist.

And then they began to move.

At first, Kai stumbled.

Twice.

Nearly stepped on Adrian’s shoe.

Once accidentally elbowed him.

But Adrian remained infuriatingly patient.

“Focus.”

“I am focused.”

“You’re glaring at my collar.”

“It’s easier than looking at your face.”

Adrian’s silver eyes gleamed faintly.

“Why?”

Kai immediately regretted speaking.

Because now he had to answer.

And the truth was dangerous.

Because looking at Adrian like this—

Under golden light, impossibly close, calm and warm and real—

Made Kai’s chest feel unbearably tight.

“It’s distracting,” he muttered.

Adrian’s brows lifted.

“Am I?”

Kai refused to answer.

A silence settled between them.

Not awkward.

Charged.

The kind of silence that felt heavier than words.

Around them, couples moved gracefully across the floor.

But Kai barely noticed anyone else.

Because Adrian was right there.

Warm hand steady at his waist.

Silver eyes fixed entirely on him.

And then Adrian leaned slightly closer.

Close enough for Kai to feel his breath.

“You look good tonight.”

Kai’s heart nearly stopped.

“What?”

Adrian’s expression remained composed.

But his voice softened.

“I said, you look good.”

Heat rushed instantly to Kai’s face.

He stared.

Adrian Vale had just complimented him.

Openly.

In public.

The realization hit like lightning.

Kai’s pulse thundered.

“You… you too.”

The words came out embarrassingly awkward.

Adrian’s lips curved faintly.

And somehow, that tiny smile felt more intimate than anything else.

Across the room, Aurora was watching with unconcealed delight.

Beside her, Maya looked moments away from spontaneous combustion.

“This is better than I imagined,” Aurora whispered.

“Should we intervene?” Ethan asked.

“Absolutely not,” Maya said.

“Let this unfold.”

Back on the dance floor, Kai’s breathing had gone uneven.

The music slowed further.

Adrian’s hand at his waist shifted fractionally.

A tiny movement.

But enough to send heat spiraling through Kai’s entire body.

Then Adrian spoke quietly.

“She’s doing this on purpose.”

Kai blinked.

“Aurora?”

“Yes.”

“To annoy you?”

“To force my hand.”

Kai frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Adrian was silent for several steps.

Then—

“She knows.”

Kai’s pulse skipped.

“Knows what?”

Adrian’s gaze locked onto his.

And for a moment, it felt like he might actually say it.

Actually cross the line neither of them had dared approach.

Kai’s breath caught.

But before Adrian could speak—

A voice cut through the moment.

“Adrian.”

They both turned.

Professor Hale stood at the edge of the dance floor.

His expression was apologetic.

“The headmaster requires your presence. Immediately.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

The moment shattered.

Kai stepped back automatically.

The sudden absence of Adrian’s hand felt startlingly cold.

Adrian looked frustrated.

A rare c***k in his perfect control.

Then he inclined his head.

“I’ll return shortly.”

Kai nodded.

But disappointment curled unexpectedly in his chest.

As Adrian walked away, Aurora immediately appeared at Kai’s side.

“Well?”

Kai frowned.

“Well what?”

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

She stared.

Then laughed.

“You’re blushing.”

“I’m not.”

“You absolutely are.”

Kai groaned.

Aurora linked her arm through his again.

“He almost told you.”

Kai’s breath caught.

“What?”

She smiled knowingly.

“My brother doesn’t hesitate unless something matters.”

Kai stared after Adrian’s retreating figure.

His thoughts spiraled.

Had Adrian really been about to say something?

Something important?

Something dangerous?

The possibility lodged itself firmly in Kai’s chest.

And refused to leave.

---

The reception stretched late into the evening.

Kai tried to focus on conversation.

On Maya’s ridiculous commentary.

On Ethan’s dramatic complaints about formal shoes.

But his attention kept drifting toward Adrian.

Who had yet to return.

Nearly forty minutes passed.

Then finally—

The hall doors opened.

Adrian stepped back inside.

But something was wrong.

Kai noticed it immediately.

His expression was colder than usual.

Tense.

Controlled in that brittle way Kai had come to recognize.

And beside him walked a woman Kai had never seen before.

Tall.

Elegant.

Beautiful in a severe, aristocratic way.

Her silver-gray eyes matched Adrian and Aurora’s exactly.

Aurora stiffened.

The brightness drained from her face.

“Oh no.”

Kai looked at her.

“What?”

Her voice dropped.

“That’s our mother.”

Kai blinked.

Adrian’s mother?

Aurora’s expression darkened.

“She wasn’t supposed to come.”

Across the hall, the woman’s gaze swept the room.

Then stopped.

On Kai.

The scrutiny in her expression was immediate.

Sharp.

Assessing.

Disapproving.

Kai felt unease crawl up his spine.

And then—

To his shock—

She began walking toward him.

Adrian followed, his face unreadable.

Aurora muttered a curse.

“This is bad.”

Kai barely had time to process that before the woman stopped directly in front of him.

Her silver eyes examined him coolly.

Then she spoke.

“So.”

Her voice was smooth.

Controlled.

Terrifyingly calm.

“You’re the boy my children won’t stop talking about.”

The room seemed to fall silent around them.

And suddenly—

Kai had the sinking feeling the night was about to become infinitely more complicated.