“Wouldn’t miss it,” I replied with a smile, though my heart wasn’t entirely in it. Eamon had always been kind to me, one of the few who didn’t treat me like an outsider because of my omega status. He had never judged me for being Aldric’s mate—or for the fact that our bond had been slowly disintegrating.
“Come, let me get you a drink,” Eamon said, leading me to the bar. He ordered for both of us and handed me a glass of wine, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “You know, you might be the only person in this room who can keep up with me when it comes to celebrating.”
I laughed softly, grateful for his light-heartedness. “I’ll do my best.”
We chatted for a while, but my mind kept drifting back to the stranger outside the lounge. His scent still lingered faintly in my senses, a soothing balm to the chaos swirling inside me. Who was he? And why had his presence affected me so deeply?
Before I could dwell on it further, the door to the private room opened, and the conversation in the lounge quieted slightly as Aldric walked in, Seraphine at his side. She was dressed in her usual elegant style, her laughter light and easy as she clung to his arm.