I managed to shrug a shoulder like it was of no concern. “He seems like he can handle her,” I lied. Because no man could handle a Kamlock female. Not one with a soul at least.

“Mmmm, I’m gonna have to disagree. Your sister is nasty,” Margo was still whispering.

“Both her sisters are nasty,” Duely whispered, as he stuck his head between ours.

“OH!” Margo cried and spun around with her eyes wide.

I hadn’t heard Duely and Heath approaching us from behind. My thoughts had been too engrossed in my sister and Rathe’s private conversation. I turned my back to the view of Leanne and Rathe to focus on Heath and Duely.

“She knows that well enough,” I assured Duely.

He tapped his half full flute against Margo’s empty one and said “Cheers to that.” Then he shifted his gaze to me. “Why aren’t you drinking yet? We have two more hours of this charade to suffer through.”

He was right. I should be drinking. “I was coming to save Heath from you first then I was headed to get a drink. What do they have other than that terrible Pomegranate Prosecco?”

Duely held his glass up. “Some expensive Brut. When they have the larger tent transformed, there will be a full bar available, which you would know if you’d suffered through today with me.”

Duely held up a hand to signal a server carrying a tray of drinks. “Please begin to numb yourself,” Duely encouraged when the server arrived.

I took a glass, and Margo did too. I started to remind her to go slowly, but I decided to let it go for now. She was enjoying herself, and I wasn’t in the mood to take on my role as mother hen.

“How many is that?” Heath asked Margo.

“Two,” she replied, frowning at him. “So Duely how have you been?” Margo asked, turning the attention away from her.

I took a moment to peek back and see if my sister still held Rathe under her spell. I wish I hadn’t. They were still talking. Rathe was saying something that made her laugh. Her red hair elegantly curled and piled on top of her head like a goddess and the moonlight making her pale skin seem angelic made my stomach turn.

Refusing to watch anymore and determined not to care, I swung my gaze back to Duely who was unfortunately watching me. “Isn’t that right, Cat?” he asked with a mischievous grin that said he knew what I had been looking at and he was going to drill me about it later.

Instead of admitting I had no idea what he had been saying I replied “I’m sorry I need to go check on something. I’ll be right back,” and I walked away before any questions could be asked.

NINE: THE STRANGER

Nine

The Stranger