CHAPTER 114: THE CRYSTAL MASQUERADE 2

{Talia}

Talia watched Aegis pull Serilla onto the balcony like she was defusing a bomb.

[Unbelievable. She actually did it.]

Liora sat on the couch, looking equal parts relieved and confused. Her cream dress had ridden up slightly from where Serilla had been manhandling her thigh. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Talia crossed the ballroom in three strides.

"Come with me."

"Talia, I—"

"Now."

She grabbed Liora’s hand and pulled her up, leading her through the crowd toward one of the side alcoves. Nobles gave them looks—some curious, some scandalized—but Talia didn’t care. Let them talk.

The alcove was small. Private. Red velvet curtains blocked most of the view from the ballroom. A single glowing crystal provided soft light.

Liora pulled her hand free.

"You can’t just drag me around like—"

"Why are you still letting her do that to you?"

"What?"

"Serilla." Talia crossed her arms. "She was all over you. Like she owned you."

"She was just—"

"Marking her territory. I saw it." Talia’s jaw clenched. "You looked miserable."

Liora sighed and sat on the small bench against the wall.

"She’s not... It’s complicated."

"It’s not complicated. She’s possessive and controlling and you deserve better."

"You don’t know her like I do."

"Then enlighten me."

Liora was quiet for a moment, hands folded in her lap.

"The Serilla I knew back then was kind-hearted. Sweet, even. She just... got hurt. By me." She looked up. "But, it’s fine. People can change. She can change. I just need to get through to her."

"And if she doesn’t?"

"She will."

Talia wanted to scream.

[How can the woman I love be this fucking naive, gods? Serilla Frost isn’t going to change. She’s going to keep pushing and pushing until Liora breaks.]

But looking at Liora’s face, the hope there, the determination... Talia knew that feeling. The desperate belief that if you just tried hard enough, things would work out.

She’d felt the same way about her mother’s expectations. About her duties as the princess. About almost everything, really.

"I understand," Talia said quietly.

"Do you?"

"More than you know." She sat down beside Liora on the bench. Their shoulders touched. "But some things never change, Liora. Hell, I’m probably going to end up having to marry Darius Goldspire despite how much I don’t want to. That’s one situation that won’t change."

Liora’s head snapped toward her.

"What?"

"My mother’s been pushing for it. His family’s been pushing for it. The politics make sense." Talia stared at the curtain. "It’s inevitable."

"But you don’t love him."

"Oh, come on. Love isn’t required for noble marriages. You know that."

"That’s not fair."

"No. It’s not." Talia laughed, bitter. "But it’s reality."

Liora’s hand found hers, fingers intertwining.

"Isn’t that good for you, though?" Talia asked. "You could ride off into the sunset with Serilla. Isn’t she the one you want?"

The words tasted like poison.

Liora turned, grabbed Talia’s face with both hands, and kissed her.

Hard.

Desperate.

Talia froze for half a second before her brain caught up. Then she was kissing back, hands sliding around Liora’s waist, pulling her closer. Liora’s tongue swept into her mouth. Talia made a sound she’d be embarrassed about later.

[Weak. I’m so weak for her.]

They broke apart, breathing hard. Liora’s forehead pressed against hers.

"Does that answer your question?"

"I—yes. Yes, it does."

"Good."

They kissed again, slower this time. Softer. Talia’s hands moved up Liora’s back, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin dress. Liora’s fingers tangled in her black hair.

The ballroom music drifted in, muffled and distant. Someone laughed. Glass clinked.

Talia didn’t care about any of it.

Just this. Just Liora. Just the two of them in this small, private space where duty and expectations couldn’t reach.

Even if it was only temporary.

---

{Aegis}

Aegis sat at a small table on the balcony, wine glass in hand.

[Holy shit, this is the best wine I’ve ever tasted.]

Probably cost more than her entire village’s yearly income. Rich people things.

Serilla sat across from her, swirling her own glass. The fairy lights cast soft shadows across her face. She’d been quiet for the last few minutes, just drinking and watching the other couples dance.

Then she stood.

And plopped down sideways on Aegis’s lap.

Thighs over Aegis’s thighs. Ass on her leg. One arm draped over Aegis’s shoulders.

[Whoa.]

"Uh," Aegis said.

"I do hope one of us is enjoying herself." Serilla took a sip of wine. "Seeing as how you ruined my night."

"Pretty sure you followed me out here voluntarily."

"Details." She waved her free hand. "I could have Liora’s ass in the air and her face mushed into a pillow right now. Instead, I’m here. With you."

Aegis’s hand moved to Serilla’s lower back automatically, steadying her.

[Okay but... why? I mean, yeah, I’m great company. But I can’t imagine bantering with me is better than sex. Is it?]

Serilla kept giving her these looks. Sideways glances. Like she was waiting for something.

"Ugh." Serilla drained her wine glass. "What a waste you are."

"What do you mean?"

"Look at you. Those tits. That face. Your whole..." She gestured vaguely at Aegis’s body. "Thing. With your looks, your charisma, you could be taking absolutely everything you want tonight."

Aegis smirked.

"Who says I’m not?"

Serilla’s eyes sharpened.

"What, me?"

"Sure."

Serilla laughed. Actually laughed, bright and genuine.

"You’re barking up the wrong tree with me, Starcaller." Serilla leaned in closer. Their faces were inches apart now. "I don’t belong to anyone. I conquer. I don’t get conquered."

Aegis reached down and squeezed her ass.

Serilla’s breath hitched.

"One night with me," Aegis said, "you’d never think of anyone else again."

"Bold claim."

"I deliver."

"So do I." Serilla’s hand moved from Aegis’s shoulder to the back of her neck. "One night with me, and all those other girls would lose their flavor. Talia. Scarlett. Liora. They’d all taste like disappointment compared to what I could do to you."

[This is such a bad idea,] one side of Aegis’s brain said.

[Do it anyway,] the other side added.

Aegis grabbed Serilla’s hips and pulled her into her lap properly. Straddling now. Serilla’s dress rode up her thighs as her legs spread over Aegis’s hips.

Aegis kissed her.

Serilla’s lips were soft and tasted like expensive wine. She kissed back hard, tongue pushing into Aegis’s mouth immediately like she was trying to win some kind of competition. Her fingers dug into Aegis’s hair.

[Holy shit, she’s aggressive.]

Aegis gripped Serilla’s ass with both hands and squeezed. Serilla made a noise into her mouth—half moan, half growl—and bit Aegis’s bottom lip.

[Okay, two can play that game.]

Aegis bit back, harder, and grabbed the back of Serilla’s neck. Serilla gasped. Her hips jerked forward, pussy grinding down against Aegis’s lap.

Aegis’s cock was straining against her dress. Hard as fuck. Definitely poking into Serilla’s thigh. Serilla’s own dick poked Aegis’s abs.

Serilla pulled back just enough to look down between them.

"Is that your dick or are you just happy to see me?"

"You stole my line."

"Cocky bitch."

"Oh, you have no idea."

Serilla laughed and kissed her again. This time, her hand slid down between their bodies. Palm pressing right against the bulge in Aegis’s dress.

Aegis groaned into her mouth.

[Fuck, that feels good.]

Serilla squeezed through the silk, thumb rubbing along the shaft. Aegis’s hips bucked up involuntarily.

"Big," Serilla murmured, lips still brushing Aegis’s. "Might actually live up to that confidence."

"Might?"

"Prove it."

"Here? On the balcony?"

"Scared someone will see?"

"Never."

Aegis stood up, hands locked under Serilla’s ass. Serilla wrapped her legs around Aegis’s waist tight, arms around her neck. They stumbled toward the railing, mouths still locked together. Serilla’s tongue kept pushing against hers. Aegis sucked on it and Serilla moaned.

[She tastes so fucking good. Why does she taste this good?]

Aegis pressed Serilla’s back against the stone railing. Music drifted out from the ballroom behind them. People were definitely still dancing inside. Anyone could walk out and see them dry humping like teenagers.

Aegis really didn’t give a shit.

She kissed down Serilla’s neck, teeth scraping skin. Serilla’s head fell back.

"Fuck," Serilla breathed.

"That’s the plan."

"You’re such an asshole."

"You regularly call kettles black?"

But her nails were digging into Aegis’s shoulders. Her pussy was grinding against Aegis’s stomach through their dresses. Her breathing was coming fast and ragged.

Aegis pulled back enough to look at her. Serilla’s pink hair was messy. Her lipstick was smudged. Her dress had slipped down enough that one tit was almost falling out.

She looked fucking gorgeous.

"Last chance to back out."

"Not a chance in hell."

"Good."

Aegis kissed her again, tongue pushing deep into her mouth. Her hands slid up Serilla’s thighs, bunching the red dress higher. Serilla’s skin was warm and smooth. Aegis kept going until her fingers reached the edge of Serilla’s panties.

Soaked.

[Oh, she’s into this.]

The night was young.

And Aegis was nothing if not thorough.