Blood-red dress with a slit so high I was nervous for her. A cleavage so deep it made every man in the room stare. Her hair was perfectly styled and her lips were the same color as her dress.
Violette looked every bit as beautiful as she was. And the initial shock and awe of her perfect figure draped in that dress dissipated as soon as they noticed her scent.. or the lack of it for that matter.
Violette smiled as they glared at her, unbothered as she walked the now clear path to us. Harlan smiled with satisfaction as he said, "That is the most Violette entrance I've ever witnessed," he said, trying not to laugh. And I smiled because it was.
I realized then, Violette was very important to Harlan, as a friend of course. I tried to remind myself of this as I stared at her with awe and wondered how Harlan never liked her romantically, hell, I think I'm starting to. How could anyone be this beautiful? It was even slightly annoying, and I was jealous even though I shouldn't be.
Violette was an important asset and she has never been anything but nice to me. She meant a lot to Harlan and Callum, so it made sense she was here.
"Happy wedding?" she said, unsure of what this celebration was, and I laughed at that because I wasn't sure either.
"Not a wedding," Harlan said, rolling his eyes but with a smile. "So, you fearing for your life yet?"
I wondered then if I would ever get a wedding.
She looked around and scoffed, making a few of the guests stiffen. "No," she looked at Harlan. "I wasn't going to come but since you asked," she smiled. "Besides, I do love causing a commotion."
Selene smiled at her. "I'm glad you're here," she raised her voice slightly as she said, "You are like family to us." She didn't need to scream at them to make sure they got the message.
A few of them relaxed slightly but most of them still remained stiff.
"So," Violette started, "I wasn't sure exactly what this was or if I had to bring a gift," she snapped her fingers. "But I guessed it was far better if I brought a gift to a giftless ceremony than if I did not and a gift was required."
A big box appeared out of nowhere into her hand.
"Thank you so much," I said, surprised as she handed me it. I was about to open it when she whispered, "I would advise you do that later." She said and I smiled at the implication. I wondered what exactly it could be, especially if she asked us to not open it in front of everyone.
Selene blushed, Damien smirked and Harlan rolled his eyes.
"Goddess knows what you just bought us," he said.
"Thank you anyway," I said, and Selene grabbed the gift and gave it to Melody to bring up to our room.
"No problem," she said and walked away to get herself some wine.
"Fraternizing with vampires now? Really?" a gruff voice said as a very tall and muscular man approached us. He looked around Everest's age.
"Uncle," Damien said with a welcoming smile, and I stiffened as I looked at Harlan.
"On my mother's side," he whispered. He didn't talk much about his mother. I had no idea Harlan had anyone else besides Gemma and Damien.
The man looked at me. He had long hair that reached his shoulders.. if I had to guess, it was tied up, further accenting his facial features. He had green eyes like Gemma and Damien, and his features were less rough but equally as attractive as Everest's.
"You must be Harlan's new mate," he offered me his hand, but Harlan growled.
"Geez, still new huh?" he retreated his hand.
There was something about this man I did not like. The smiles he gave and how he behaved seemed very hypocritical.
"Maya Carter," I said, without taking his hand. "And you are?" he looked at me like I was a bug he needed to squash.
"Silas Basque," he said simply as I surveyed how his tan skin was exactly the same as Harlan's while Gemma and Damien were on the paler side.
"He's the alpha from the Nova Scotian pack," Damien explained. "We don't see him much."