Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 56 - From Across the Room

Jadea

After making out like high school kids, we moseyed through the rest of the marketplace, buying a few baked goods to tide us over. When it was time to go, Agamemnon teleported us to the expansive, domed dining hall in the main stronghold. There were at least three floors carved into the gigantic dome, all accessible by long, winding stairways. Chatter filled the space, as bodies were crowded everywhere.

At the very center of the hall were several long tables lined end to end with beautiful cream silken linens. Large platters and trays filled to the brim with sweet meats, cheeses, and other tasty morsels. Others were lined with baked goods. And at the center of each table were tiered platters topped with wine glasses filled with fresh blood.

Long tables and benches made a patterned circle around the center buffet. Every table was crowded with every kind of immortal, sharing in the festivities of the evening. Tucked into one spacious corner was a cleared section of floor where couples and children danced merrily to the sounds of demonic folk music.

"C'mon!" Dragging Adam to the buffet, we filled our plates and grabbed a glass of blood before settling down at a smaller table on the second floor near the edge, where we could peer down into the belly of the dining hall and people watch. It felt nice to let loose and have fun. It was just one more way to get to know Adam more.

Yes. I did love him.

However, I felt I was behind the curve since so many of my memories of us had been robbed.

He was still a practical stranger to me.

His hand on mine sent butterflies curling through my stomach. Those stormy blue eyes studying me intensely from under the brim of his hat.

"Do you want to dance?" I blurted, knowing I wouldn't be able to sit here under such loving scrutiny.

His lopsided grin had my stomach in knots. "I would love to, baby girl." With that, he pulled me out of my seat and in one fluid motion, twirled me away from our table and toward the staircase. On the dance floor, he spun me around, leading me in a waltz. We danced for several songs, so lost in each other, everyone and everything else fell away.

That is until a dark shiver ran down my spine, making the hair on my neck and arms stand on end.

Immediately, my gaze searched for the threat, my essence seeping out into the world around me. Searching for that malevolent energy...

And then my gaze connected with a pair of cold, calculating brown eyes. They belonged to a smartly dressed woman, pressed closely against ... Daxton Orhan. Daxton was another member of the North American Immortal Council. And was a descendant of Devan Orhan, a very powerful, pure-blooded primitive alpha.

She had to be Daxton's mate.

But why did she feel so ... Evil?

Before I could try to rationalize anything, Constance appeared in my direct line of sight. "There you are!" she exclaimed, pulling both Adam and I into a warm hug. Just behind her, stood her daunting demon-vampire halfbreed mate, Gabriel. He was tall, dark and handsome with short black hair, and unforgettable blue-brown eyes. His features were chiseled, like those of a Greek God's. He was in juxtaposition to Constance's appearance.

"Hi," I greeted, off balance, giving a half-hearted embrace in return. My gut still uneasy.

"I'm so glad you're here! Come!" She hooked her arm through mine and led me through the throng of bodies to a beautifully decorated table on the other side of the room. My gaze sought out the malevolent woman, but she'd disappeared somewhere in the crowd. "Nina, this is Ja—"

"Jadea!" A woman's excited shriek forced my attention to the bride we were celebrating. Nina was a petite woman around my age with dark brown hair, pretty caramel eyes and plain features. A flowing gown of white and cream swooshed about her as she bolted around the table, pulling me into a fierce hug. "It is so good to finally meet you!" she stated. My arms loosely banded around her in confusion. My gaze sought out Adam's, my mind brushing his hoping to find some answers as to who she could be. She seemed awfully excited to be just a stranger.

Adam was just as clueless.

"Jadea, this is Nina," Constance chuckled at Nina's outburst. "You saved her younger sister from one of the trafficking rings and in doing so brought her here where she found her soul mate."

Reaching for my hands, she gripped them tightly. Her gaze boring into mine. "I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am to you! What you have done for the werewolf community alone ..." Tears clogged her voice and she blinked several times, trying not to mess up her makeup. "And for saving my sister! You are making this world a better place. Thank you!"

I could feel the optimism and cheerfulness gushing from her and engulfing me.

It wasn't something I was used to feeling.

"You're welcome," I muttered, unsure of what else to say. Shifting on my feet, I glanced over to Adam. If I hadn't just experienced that gut-wrenching maliciousness, maybe I could have enjoyed this experience.

As it was, I just wanted space.

Constance's ever intuitive gaze caught onto the underlying unease. Turning to Nina, she redirected the werewolf back to her mate and encouraged her to continue enjoying the festivities of the evening. Threading her arm with mine again, she led us away from the crowds.

"Is everything okay?" she asked pointedly.

"Who is the woman with Daxton?"

"That is his mate, Charlotte. Why?"

Chewing on my response, Constance made an executive decision and steered us toward them. Daxton was conversing easily with some of the resident half-breeds when we sidled up. Charlotte was in deep conversation with one of the wives, her tinkling laughter filling the air. Those brown eyes of hers met mine, and for a moment I had to wonder if what I saw earlier had been a trick of the light. Those eyes were kind and filled with laughter. Her aura pure and true. Nothing to suggest she was evil or hiding some deep and dark secret.

That was, until she addressed me directly, and in the depths of her tone, I heard the subtle shift. "Jadea, it is so great to see you again."