Ember's POV

I got the invite from Luna Lara and knew from the get-go it was nothing good, but alas when I read the letter, it was more than clear to me that he was clearly trying to spite me.


"Please, grace this occasion of my daughter's homecoming with your presence, as it would mean a lot to me, and her." I read out loud from the letter and scoffed,

"Homecoming? Yeah right. " Christina had been imprisoned by her brother because of the lies she told about me, but if Luna Lara was going to be cunning and make it look like her daughter had simply chosen to return home after a long time, then how was I to say otherwise?

I considered simply ripping up the piece of parchment, but instead placed it on my vanity table and looked out, and decided it might actually be a bit fun to attend a party, even one that had no meaning.


I mean, I could imagine the shock on Luna Lara's face when she actually saw me at her little façade of a banquet. I had just the dress for the occasion. A little black number that would hopefully turn heads.

I got up to go fetch the dress but paused when my phone rang and William's name appeared and I actually cursed out loud. Not William, no of course not, but myself because it had been too damn long since I spoke to him.


"Hello?" I said in a quiet voice, but he was upbeat,

"Em, are you okay? You sound a little down." I smiled. All love and appreciation to those friends who still treated you like you were the shit even after so much time had gone by,

"I'm fine William, just a bit displeased with myself by how long it's been since I reached out with you."

"Nah, don't be too hard on yourself, I've also been encumbered with life. What have you been up to?"

"Well, not altogether so much, but heavy on that encumbered with life." I said, and my eyes wandered to that parchment and I smiled, "But it just so happens that today, I actually plan on fighting back." I said

"Excuse me? I don't think I got you well, did you say you want to fight?" William asked and I laughed,

"in a manner of speaking, yes."

"Do you need an extra hand?" he asked, and my heart warmed that he would offer. He really thought would be a physical fight and didn't bother to ask where or with whom, just an offer to be there,

" As a matter of fact, I actually do, but I should tell you though, it's not an actual fight, it's a banquet."

A pause ensued,

"Alright, Em. Now, you've lost me," he said and I chuckled,

"let me explain. I think Paris finally released his deranged sister from wherever he held her captive, and his mother, in a bid to spite me, I believe, sent me an invite. I was going to rip up the parchment after reading it, but I've decided to actually accept her invite." I said simply, and then, more silence,

"Isn't that a little bit toxic?" he asked and chuckled once again,

"more than a little bit…but hey, it's about damn time I proved to that woman that she couldn't make a fool out of me anymore."

"well…my extra arm is still open to you, in case you still need it," he said and I smiled,

"I actually still need it. Brave as I'm trying to be, it would be nice to have you there."

"Plus, it's really been a hell of a while. So let's catch up."

"Let's do it."

So in two hours, I was ready and William was parked outside the gate, waiting for me,

"Be home late, don't wait up!" I yelled out to no one in particular and went through the front door.

William got out of the car as I approached and pulled me into a hug,

"hi shawty, you clean up nice," he said and I smiled, I had gone for the black number,

"not too shabby yourself," I said and got into the car when he opened the door.

We got to the banquet hall thirty minutes later, and there was music blasting from the inside,

"ready for this?" he asked when we stood at the entrance and I let out a soft breath before slowly nodding,

"yeah," I said and reached for his hand, "yeah, I am."

I tucked my hand into his and together we walked through the doors and I had to hand it to Luna Lara, it was a really beautiful space.

Beautiful as it all was, I had no real plan to stay for long. I really just wanted Luna Lara to see me, rile her up a bit, and head home.

Since William was here, a dance or two wasn't so much of a bad idea.

But after drinking two and some time had passed, I still hadn't seen Luna Lara and my bladder was full,

"I need to use the bathroom," I told William and he tilted his head,

"want me to come with you"? He asked and I smiled and shook my head,

"I think I can handle that. "I said as I rose, and headed for the bathroom.

I was on my way out of the bathroom when the door opened up and I came face to face with the last person I wanted to see, or even expected to see in the women's bathroom.

I was struck silent for some seconds but quickly recovered and scowled,

"don't you read? It's the girl's bathroom." I said and he shrugged those elegant shoulders,

"I don't care, and as you know, it's my house."

I sneered, "I didn't know being the owner of a place gave you the right to invade a woman's privacy.t here's a word for people like you, it's called invasive."

"I really had to come see you."

"So you've been stalking me. Perfect." I said and, made to walk past him, but he caught me by my hand and yanked me so that we were facing each other,

"What's your plan tonight? To break my arm?"

"Tell me what you're doing here?"

"Why, the same thing everyone else is doing here, of course, to attend your sister's party."

"Did she invite you?" he asked and I realized that he really had no part in my invitation. But I shrugged,

"Ember?" he said and shook me a little. I tugged my hand free of his hold in irritation but gave him the information he sought,

"your mother did. Happy now? Can I go?"

"No. if you know what my mother is like? Why did you come?"

"I don't have to answer you. " I snapped,

"you don’t, but you will answer this one. Why did you come here, Em?"

"because I wanted to. Because I knew she was trying to spite me and I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction."

"If it's my mother you're trying to rile up, why the hell are you here with the lawyer?"

"the lawyer? Oh you mean, William.why, if you must know, and since you’ve decided to make my personal matters your personal business, then, William is my friend. Two friends are allowed to have a good time together, are they not?" I said and laughed when he merely glowered at me, "oh Paris, don’t look at me like that. You really did think I was here for you, didn't you? Come on, Paris.be for real. Not everything revolves around you."

"maybe not, but surely you must know that the sight of you with that man makes my skin crawl," he said aggressively,

"Does it?" I asked and merely patted his shoulder, "Then I guess you're just going to have to look away or deal with it because he and I are here to have the time of our lives." I said and tried to walk away. He didn't pull me back, but his question gave me pause,

"What about Jean?" he asked, and I stopped walking,

"What about him?" I asked, not turning around," he's your mate, he obviously loves you, how do you think he'll take your night with William?" he asked, and something in his tone felt like a threat. I spun around and found him smirking at me and immediately felt angry,

"You can do whatever you want with what you've seen tonight, but know this, and know pace. That my relationship with William, or Jen is absolutely none of your business. All that is actually your business is my relationship with you, and at this point, it is none existent." I spat and turned away from him, putting as much space between us as possible.