The ladies headed back to the ballroom, making small talk as they slowly strolled toward the table filled with food. With her mouth salivating, Annette wasted no time stacking her plate with different pastries and fruits, while Beth took only a cupcake, a biscuit, and an apple.
Shocked by this, Annette turned to her. "I thought you said you were famished?"
Beth blushed lightly. "I am. This is all I can eat. I'm watching my weight."
Beth was already as thin as she was—what more could she possibly want? Annette thought to herself. "Are your parents forcing you to do so?"
Beth chuckled. "Of course not. It is entirely my decision."
Annette eyed her suspiciously. "Very well. Enjoy your meal." She returned her attention to her own plate and began eating. She was so hungry that any manner of poise escaped her mind. She couldn't care less who looked down on her.
The ladies ate for a few minutes before a scrawny gentleman hurried toward them.
"Lady Raine, the Viscount requests your presence," the man said to Beth, though his eyes flickered to Annette, who was licking her fingers.
"Oh…" Beth placed her plate on the table, wiping her hands with a napkin before handing a clean one to Annette. "Do you know what for?"
"No, my lady."
She turned to Annette, panic-stricken. She clearly didn't want to meet the Viscount.
Annette wiped her fingers and leaned a little closer to Beth. "Don't give me that look. You will be fine. You have to be brave." She gave the lady a gentle pat on the back.
Beth swallowed before nodding. "Lead the way," she said to the man, who looked over at Annette one more time before walking away.
Annette watched them until they disappeared from sight before letting out a deep sigh. She was incredibly bored and wanted to leave. Leaning against an empty table, she crossed her arms over her chest.
Unfortunately for her, as her gaze swept across the room, it landed on four gentlemen dressed in elegant black coats. They were whispering and chuckling among themselves while gesturing in her direction.
It didn't take a wise person to know their conversation was about her. She could only wonder what about her was so fascinating.
Slowly, she dragged her eyes away from them toward the Viscount and Beth, who were swaying on the dance floor. Annette almost laughed at how stiff and red Beth was. It was truly a sight to behold.
"Good evening, miss."
Annette shrieked in shock at the closeness of the sudden voice. She whipped her head around to see a grinning man standing beside her, far too close for her comfort.
She took a step away from him.
"I said good evening, miss. Forgive me if I startled you," the man repeated with a smile.
Annette frowned. She recognized him then as one of the four men from across the room.
Dear gods, what did she do to deserve this? she whined to herself.
Forcing a smile, she returned his greeting. "Good evening, sir. You should announce your presence before coming so close to a lady. I might have knocked you out from shock."
The man laughed at her words. If only he knew she was serious.
"Heavens, you are a funny woman. My name is Lain—Sir Lain Hannes, son of Duke Archer Hannes," he explained, his shoulders raised high with pride.
Annette felt anger seethe through her. She could already tell she was going to hate this man. Gods help her that she wouldn't knock him out before the end of their conversation.
"Pleasure meeting you, Sir Lain Hannes, son of Duke Archer Hannes," she said sarcastically.
Lain laughed again. "Please, call me Lain. Just Lain."
"Are you sure? I would hate to get in trouble for calling a nobleman by his name."
"You won't get into trouble, I promise." He adjusted his coat. "You have not told me your name, miss."
"You have not asked, sir."
"Forgive my manners. I would love it if you told me your name."
Annette contemplated giving him a false name but decided against it. "My name is Annette."
"Lady Annette…?"
"Just Annette."
"Hmmm. You are an interesting woman. I think I'm in love with you already." He grinned widely.
She couldn't tell if he was serious or not, but either way, she couldn't care less.
"Please, Annette, do me the honor of dancing with me?" Lain stretched out his hand.
Annette almost rolled her eyes. "Very well, sir," she replied, placing her hand in his.
He led her to the dance floor, which was now somewhat empty. Annette could feel the burning stares of the crowd on them. She looked around for the Viscount or Beth, but they were nowhere in sight.
Perhaps they were having some alone time somewhere in the dark, she thought.
Lain's hand went to the small of her back while the other held hers as they swayed to the soft music.
The man was good-looking but incredibly boring and plain. He exuded no authority or power around him, which was quite unusual for an older vampire male—and a royal at that. He could pass for a stable boy. A good-looking stable boy, but a stable boy nonetheless.
"So, tell me about yourself, Annette. Did you come here alone?" Lain asked.
"There's nothing much to tell. My life is pretty pathetic and sad. And no, I did not come here alone."
"Now I'm even more curious to know about you. Tell me anything," Lain urged.
Annette thought for a second. "I am an orphan. My parents were killed a long time ago by a madman. I lived with my uncle and aunt after that, until I arrived here."
His face fell with sadness. "That is terrible. I'm so sorry, Annette. I can't imagine all the pain and suffering you went through."
She smiled softly. "It happened a long time ago. I am stronger and better now."
"And… the man who killed them, what happened to him? Did he pay for his crimes?" Lain questioned.
"Unfortunately, he hasn't. The man wines and dines in his mansion while having innocent blood on his hands," Annette replied.
Lain frowned. "That is so wrong. We can report him to the council. They will definitely give you the justice you and your family deserve. I can help…"
Annette's laughter caught him off guard. "I assure you that neither you nor the council can help me, Lain. Only I can help myself, and I intend on doing so."
Lain looked even more confused. "What do you mean?"
"I am from the realm of hell, and I've come to take the soul of that murderer to the depths of hell," she explained, her voice thickening with a calm tone that sent shivers down the man's spine.
They were no longer dancing but standing still.
Sensing the intensified tension between them, Annette burst into another fit of laughter. "Oh my goodness, you should see the look on your face. Calm down, I was only joking," she said between laughs.
Lain chuckled lightly. "Oh, thank the gods. You scared me."
She could hear the subtle shake in his voice. He obviously wasn't fully convinced by her words.
"I…" He was about to say something when he was suddenly pulled away from Annette, creating a good distance between them.
Shock etched across their faces at the sight of the Viscount.
"Let's go. The carriage is waiting outside," Vincent said.
Lain's eyes bulged as he looked between Vincent and Annette. Connecting the dots, he cursed under his breath and scrambled away.
Poor soul.
She turned to the Viscount, only to see that he was already walking away. Annette trailed behind him.
Beth was already in the carriage, her head resting against the cushion as she snored lightly. They both climbed in and began their journey home. Beth was the first to be dropped off before they continued toward the Salvador mansion.
"As I have mentioned to you before, I will not be disrespected by you or anyone else. As long as you are under my roof, you will do as I say." The viscount broke the silence.
Annette arched her brow. "What do you mean by that? Is this about the dance? Are—"
"As my mistress, you are not allowed to flirt so shamelessly with a man in the open."
"What? Flirt? Is that what you call flirting? Are you that insecure to be triggered over a mere conversation with—"
She couldn't finish her words when his fingers wrapped around her neck, strong enough to create pressure but not strangle her. His eyes blazed.
"This will be the last warning I give you. Watch how you speak to me. I'm not your friend, and you should remember that I have your life in my hands."
Annette swallowed, her heart racing too fast as her eyes remained locked with his. She wasn't going to cower to him.
"I'm not scared of you. I will drive a blade through your fucking heart and watch you bleed to death. I see you, Vincent. You are a soulless monster who deserves to die," Annette spat, her voice dripping with hatred.
A slow smile stretched across his lips. "I love your determination. You've grown strong wings. I'm going to enjoy burning your fucking wings until you lose your sanity. You want to play the hard way. Then I'll show you why I'm the master of the game."
The calm venom in his voice sent chills over her body. She was beginning to panic.
Still smiling, he let go of her neck and brushed a fallen strand away from her face.
Just then, the carriage came to a halt.
"We are home," he announced before stepping out of the carriage, his arm stretched out for her to take.