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Convince Me Competition (Round Three, AbraxasDruella)
She giggles as she moves closer to the boy. "Black parties are terribly dull, don't you think?"
"Dreadfully so," he agrees, his lips twisting into a smirk.
Druella looks around. The room is crowded with chattering adults. No one looks her way. No one would even notice.
She curls her slender fingers around his wrist. "Come on," she says, pulling him along.
"Dru?" he gasps, but doesn't put up a fight as he's lead through the crowd. "Need I remind you that this is most inappropriate? A gentleman and a lady should never-"
"To hell with being appropriate," Druella laughs, guiding him out the back door, completely unnoticed. "Besides, I never claimed to be a proper lady."
"You're a Rosier," he reminds her. "You're meant to be a proper lady. How scandalous it would be if you did not meet those expectations."
Druella scowls, hiking up her dress so that it does not drag as she walks through the garden. "A Rosier," she echoes. "That name means a lot. It means I'll have no say in who I take as a husband."
Abraxas follows behind her, brows raised, a smirk on his face. "Husband?" he chuckles. "You've only just turned sixteen, Dru. Bit soon to be thinking of marriage, isn't it?"
Druella turns to face him. He looks so handsome in the moonlight, all slender frame and fair hair. "A girl can dream," she says. "Besides, Father is already planning to marry me off. I shan't be a Rosier much longer."
"Shall I try to woo your father and win your hand?" he asks.
She frowns, slumping slightly. "Cygnus' father has already been talking to him. What an honor it would be to the Rosier name if I were to marry a Black. My father is blinded by the gold."
Abraxas crosses the distance between them quickly, placing a hand on her hip. "Cygnus will have you, then?"
"I'm afraid so."
"You don't love him," Abraxas guesses.
She laughs, and there is no humor in the sound, only dry bitterness. "No. Nor do I think that I could ever learn to. Cygnus Black is a horrible brute. But what does love mean when I have a duty to my family?"
Abraxas leans down, placing a gentle kiss to her lips. Druella closes her eyes, heat rushing to her cheeks.
"I think I could love you," she whispers. "I only wish I had the choice."
"Then love me for tonight," he says softly. "Just for tonight. One night of bliss before Cygnus steals you away."
"For tonight," she agrees, pulling him closer, trailing little kisses down his neck.
…
Druella Black leans against the wall. No one even notices her there. Everyone is too busy swarming around Cygnus, laughing at his jokes, praising him for his extravagant party. They cling to him as though his wealth and influence will somehow rub off onto them.
"Black parties are terribly dull," a voice whispers in her ear.
Druella turns. The smile that crosses her face is the first in months. "I'm a Black now," she chuckles. "I ought to take offense to that."
"Well, I am grateful you never met the expectations of a family's name."
His hand slips into hers, and he pulls her along. No one even glances in their direction. They are all too distracted by the evening's host.
Abraxas takes her through the back door and into the garden.
"I'm married now," she reminds him.
"And you're still not a proper lady," he counters, grinning.
Druella laughs softly. "No. I suppose not."
"And you still don't love him?"
"No," she confirms, and she sees a flicker of hope in his eyes.
"Love me, then. Love me for tonight."
She draws closer, standing on her tiptoes and pressing a kiss to his lips. "For tonight," she whispers. "And for always."