Her Nectar, His Peak

Regan.

Saturday.

It's a masquerade ball! Of course it is! The Heartstones always go all in, even in parties.

My patience is running thin, as I stand on the receiving line with my father, my siblings and their spouses, welcoming guests. My mother is still upstairs, getting ready.

My other family; cousins, uncles, aunts, are present, all dressed in venetian masks. Lucinda is among the guests with her parents. Am nervous just thinking of her around, because I know the implication. Dad wants me to announce a date for our wedding tonight. 

The weight is more on me, now Lucinda's father's constantly pressuring dad.

I palm my face frustrated. I don't know how I will announce the date for a wedding that am not even prepared for.

I don't want to marry Lucinda, especially now that I've found Rita. Even though Rita's married, I still desire her. I still want her. 

The air suddenly changes. A familiar scent that I smelled the day I saw Rita again, tingles my nostrils. Ripples inside me.

"Rita…" I mutter, turning my head to the scent. 

There, standing at the entrance, waiting to be announced, is a beautiful woman, dressed in a shimmering blue, thin strapped dress. A silver female carnival mask, with glittering white feathers, cover her face. Sapphires grace her neck and ears. She looks enchanting. 

"Mr and Mrs Malachi Tenshaw!" 

I frown as I turn a sharp gaze to Malachi standing to her left. Dressed in a black venetian mask. I can't believe the audacity of the man, stepping into our territory. 

"Who invited them?" Lucas' voice echoes into my ears.

I wonder the same. Haughtily, the three of us ignore our dad and confront Malachi on the stairs. 

"Who dragged you in? Vermin like you aren't allowed, Malachi Tenshaw." Lucas growls, levelling a hard gaze on an unfazed Malachi.

We're all dressed formally, our masks hiding our faces. My attention isn't on the scene unfolding before me. My attention is on Rita, whose eyes are sparkling like the night. 

"Hi Rita…" I smile, beneath my mask.

 My voice audible enough for both of us. She stiffens in Malachi's arms. Even in the arms of her husband, I affect her. I smile darkly; reassured by this.

My eyes fall on Malachi's hands as they hold Rita, protectively. He pushes her gently behind him and comes to stand in front of me. 

He doesn't say a word, only glares at me, aggressively. I level an equal glare on him. He's trying to mark his territory and I hate him more for doing this. 

Guests are looming around us now, and we ignore them. My eyes catch my sister and my brothers' wives, heading upstairs. 

"Get out, Malachi." Lucas growls, fiercely.

Malachi turns his attention to him. His presence irritating. 

"What are you waiting for, get out!" Frankie roars. 

We're causing a scene and I can see that a crowd has gathered. But I don't mind. Anything to humiliate Rita and her husband at the moment. It pains me to see her humiliated, however I need her to suffer. To know her husband is nothing but dirt beneath the feet of the Heartstones. 

I hear my father's voice. "You heard my sons, Tenshaw. Take your pretty wife and get out of my home!" 

Pride soars in me, as I hear dad's thunderous voice. A smirk climbing my face at the mortification on Rita's face. Am not even sparing Malachi any look. I only watch how this scene is affecting the beautiful woman in front of me. 

"No one is going anywhere!" 

A familiar voice that I've come to know since before I was born, quiets everyone. Stilling all the chaos. My brothers and I turn to our mother, accompanied by our sister and my sisters in law. 

Mum isn't wearing a mask as she strides over. 

"Mum, you can't say that. Malachi dares set foot in our party," Lucas fiercely says.

His eyes don't leave Malachi. Mum steps forward and does something that stuns the rest of us. 

Wordlessly, she takes Malachi's hand in hers, her eyes lifted to his. 

"Mr Malachi Tenshaw, will you do me the honors of accompanying me to the party." Mum quietly requests.

A gasp goes round the room, snapping the existing tension. A ghost of a smile climbs Malachi's face, as he links mum's hand in the crook of his elbow. 

"I extended an invitation to the Tenshaws." Mum admits.

A bucket of ice drops on my head. Shocking me. "It's only right that as the first son of Justin and Maria Tenshaw, he graces this occasion, on behalf of his family." 

"Mother…"

"Don't Lucas." Mum firmly cuts in. "We have a party to attend." 

And with that, we all watch mum escorted by Malachi and his wife into the party. Leaving the rest of us affronted. 

*** 

My eyes haven't left Rita, since the party began. Lucinda and I are dancing, like every other couple in this party.

Because Rita is masked, my family has no idea that she's the daughter to the family that they murdered, years ago. 

Bitterness swirls in my gut at the sight of Rita and Malachi, dancing. There's this devotion in their eyes as they hold each other. It's like she's spitting on what we shared six years ago. 

"You haven't looked at me, since this party started." Lucinda's voice shifts my attention.

I look at her, her beauty in this mask, magnificent. But I don't see Lucinda. I only want to see Rita. 

"Your eyes have been on only Malachi and his wife, all night. Don't tell me your Heartstone pride is still sulking, because your mother allowed them into the party?" Lucinda teases. 

The words sting me, because I know that's not the truth. I want to sting her the same way she's stung me with her words. My tone darkens, I lean in enough for her to hear me. 

"You aren't my wife yet, Lucinda. Stay in your limits."