She'd never enjoyed balls. And she didn't think Logan did either.
Eva, Princess of Albion, was bored out of her mind. She tried her best not to show it, a look of polite happiness on her young face, but inside, she groaned as the hours dragged by. It confused her why Logan would even hold these balls. He clearly despised them, and spent them sat on his throne, either brooding or tensely speaking with guests, ones who weren't just empty-minded socialites.
Where was Elliot when she needed him? She had missed him enough already, regretting how fine she'd acted about his wishes to visit some distant relation. Eva had assumed it would be for a day or two, but no, he had been lucky enough to miss the solstice dance. He was the only thing that made these events tolerable, especially since Walter didn't come, and her loyal canine companion was locked in her room for the occasion.
She clutched her gauzy lilac skirts, keeping a docile smile on her face as a Lord chattered for what felt like forever about his plans for his home in Millfields. Did he really think she was interested? A sixteen-year-old who had never asked in the first place? Copper strands of hair fell out of her braid, but brushing them back was becoming too much effort for her. She hadn't even danced yet, and she already felt tired. Perhaps it was the endless conversation.
And suddenly, she was sharply yanked out of her daze of boredom by gloved hands. Too startled to struggle, Eva found herself looking into the chocolate eyes of "Reaver!" Finally finding her words, she gave him a fierce glare. Of course, being the insufferably charming man he was, he simply smiled, and purred "You looked bored, dear princess."
"I was perfectly fine." Eva spoke indignantly, refusing to acknowledge just how right he was. After all, if she did, he'd never shut up about it. First, she had found her speech, now, she realised her position. And she had one hand clasped by Reaver's, whilst his other hand was around her waist. She hissed "Let go of me."
"Or what? Will you tell your big brother? I know he'll be most upset, you'll probably never leave your room again after revealing how much of a delicate flower you are." Those chocolate eyes sparked as Eva struggled to find a suitable reply.
Damn him for knowing exactly what she did not want! Eva supposed that was Reaver's specialty. Apart from his famed skill with the gun, he clearly had other, more discreet yet vital skills that had assisted in his climb to power. "I'm not delicate." She almost snarled, surprised at her own assertiveness.
"I should hope not. If you're anything like your mother, you're quite the opposite." He spoke cryptically. It could be simply considered as the words of one of her mother's many past flames, it could be the cunning words of somebody who knew what people thought and how to wield it to his advantage...or it could be the words of the pirate King, who had been the prophecised hero of skill, who had fought alongside Eva's mother to take down the villainous Lord Lucien.
Typical of Reaver to be so cryptic.
Eva decided to take it as the words of a man famed for partaking in the largest orgie in Albion, and glared. "You have no shame."
"I'm aware." And without any warning, he took her to the dance, strong enough to pull her from the side.
Eva certainly was not strong enough to resist, but she gritted her teeth in annoyance, attempting to make her anger clear. She danced along, often shocked when he would make her twirl, or lift her, once or twice attempting to stomp on his foot, but he was too graceful and fast, and she ended up in a different kind of daze. She was halfway through when she realised that she was smiling, and Reaver was smirking. Of course he was.
She didn't want to stop smiling though, especially since Logan had spottted them and looked absolutely mad at Reaver. Good. Let Logan see she was dancing with Albion's resident sex addict, the troublemaker, let Logan understand she could be rebellious. She let Reaver dance with her, less shocked now and more triumphant.
But one thing confused her. Why? Why had Reaver started to dance? He'd never paid much attention to her before, not that Logan let her be in the same room as Reaver an awful lot. Was it just remniscing for him? Dancing with the daughter of somebody who'd shared his bed more then once. It must have felt strange for him, if he truly felt anything, to watch his previous lover be crowned Queen, marry, have children. Die. Her mother had aged gracefully, always looking decades younger, but for Reaver, it probably felt so odd.
Was that the cost of his immortality? To watch the world around him change, whilst he stayed young. To watch friends, lovers, places grow old, to watch monarchies rise and fall. She'd never thought of it, but perhaps he was such an insufferable jerk because anything else would involve showing how he felt.
"Any particular reason why you're attempting to stare into my soul, or am I just particularly handsome tonight?" His voice, always feeling like melted chocolate sliding over velvet, awoke Eva from her thoughts.
"I...I..."
"Am utterly entranced by my sensuous facial features?"
"Insufferable jerk."
"Praise Avo, the princess has awoken!" He grinned as Eva blushed, clearly more curious then he let on.
"How Logan has resisted hanging you, I shall never know." She replied, now feeling keen to change the subject.
"Do you really want to know how I charm your brother?" He pressed her closer to him, smiling seductively. "I'll give you a clue, it starts with s..."
"Reaver!"
"Call out my name all you want, it only arouses me." With another flourish, he then kissed her, let go, and swaggered off.
Leaving Eva wordless. She returned to her position next to the wall, and murmured "Handsome insufferable jerk."