Chapter 203 — The Best Night Ever

Chapter 203: Chapter 203 — The Best Night Ever

~ Raven ~

With her roommates occupied, Raven finally had a moment to herself.

She adjusted the fabric of her gown and glanced around the ballroom, becoming aware of how different everything felt compared with earlier.

The music seemed clearer, and she could distinguish conversations from farther away without deliberately concentrating on them. Even her movements felt easier, her essence circulating through her body with a steadiness she was still getting used to.

Tempered.

Goddess.

She’d entered the Renewal Ball as an Awakened wolf and somehow advanced to Tempered before the night was over.

And all because she’d decided to kiss Cassian Blade.

The thought made her cheeks warm again.

Honestly, her life was becoming ridiculous.

Then she remembered Dante.

Brielle had said he’d gone looking for her, and Raven felt another uncomfortable prick of guilt as she searched the crowd.

She spotted Nikolai dancing with a woman near the center of the floor, while Rowan appeared occupied with a partner of his own. Neither seemed to notice her as she looked around.

Dante, however, was nowhere in sight.

Raven frowned and searched the Cardinal stations before checking the nearby tables, but she couldn’t find him anywhere.

Perhaps he’d returned to Prymont Wing.

She’d have to speak with him later. Whatever had happened tonight, he deserved more than having his dance abandoned without a proper explanation.

Raven was still looking around when something stirred beneath her chest.

She paused, recognizing the faint but unmistakably familiar sensation reaching her through the newly strengthened bond.

Her wolf responded almost immediately, becoming so eager that Raven found herself smiling before she understood why.

Cassian.

She turned toward the ballroom entrance, where conversations nearby were beginning to quiet. Several students had stopped what they were doing to look toward the doors, and as Raven followed their gazes, she finally saw him.

Cassian Blade stood just inside the entrance, dressed in an immaculate dark formal suit that fit him almost unfairly well.

His white hair had been neatly arranged, although Raven doubted it would remain that way for long, and his pale silver-blue eyes held the faintest silver-white glow.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

Did the man have to look that handsome?

Students were already whispering about his return, and Raven watched with growing amusement as several women straightened their gowns when they noticed him.

Cassian barely glanced at them.

Then his eyes found hers.

Something warm reached Raven through their newly strengthened bond, accompanied by a sudden eagerness from her wolf that made her smile before she could stop herself.

Cassian started walking toward her.

People gradually moved aside, and the whispers grew louder when it became clear whom he was approaching.

Raven became painfully aware of how many people were watching them.

Naturally.

It seemed like she wasn’t allowed to have one romantic moment without half of Valerius witnessing it.

Her gaze drifted toward a familiar gathering of Court women, and she almost smiled at what she saw.

Adelaide Fenn and Rosalind Crowe were standing together with several members of the First Circle, looking considerably less pleased than they had earlier.

As far as Raven had noticed throughout the evening, none of them had managed to secure a dance partner. They were doing their best to appear above the festivities, although the effort wasn’t particularly convincing.

Now Adelaide had stopped speaking altogether, while Rosalind watched Cassian approach with an expression that tightened as she followed the direction of his gaze.

Raven almost laughed.

These were the same women who’d spent weeks making her life miserable, questioning her position and acting as though she didn’t belong among them.

And now Cassian Blade was crossing the ballroom directly toward her.

For once, Raven didn’t particularly care what they thought.

Cassian finally stopped in front of her, and the small smile on his face made her stomach flutter.

Goddess, this man.

Only a short while ago, she’d been furious enough to slap him, and somehow they’d ended up kissing each other with enough enthusiasm to make remembering it thoroughly embarrassing.

Raven was suddenly very grateful that nobody here knew about that particular development.

Cassian extended his hand toward her.

She looked down at it, becoming conscious of the attention surrounding them.

Not so long ago, she’d been a servant at House Blackthorn, attending celebrations only because somebody needed to carry refreshments, clear tables and clean up after the guests.

She’d learned how to remain unnoticed, how to move through crowded rooms without inconveniencing anyone important, and how to watch celebrations she was never supposed to enjoy herself.

Now she was Second Seat of the Luna Court, a newly advanced Tempered wolf, and one of the four most handsome Cardinals was standing before her, waiting for her to accept his hand.

The contrast was almost absurd.

Raven looked up at Cassian.

Then she smiled and placed her hand in his.

He led her toward the dance floor, totally unconcerned by the whispers following them.

Raven couldn’t quite manage the same indifference, but as they reached the other dancers, she found that she didn’t particularly mind the attention anymore.

Cassian settled one hand around her waist while she rested hers against him, and they began moving together as the music carried them into their first steps.

When she looked up, that familiar, infuriating amusement was still present in his expression.

Ordinarily, she would have found something suitably insulting to say about it, particularly because the bastard looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Tonight, however, she only smiled.

Cassian drew her a little closer, his hand warm against her waist, and Raven felt the quiet presence of his wolf through their strengthened bond.

There was something reassuring about it, knowing that even without speaking, she could still sense that connection between them.

She relaxed as they continued dancing, gradually becoming less conscious of the people around them.

The curious looks no longer bothered her, and she stopped paying attention to the conversations spreading around the dance floor.

Adelaide and Rosalind no longer mattered.

Neither did the whispers, the questions about Thalia or whatever trouble awaited her tomorrow.

She still had things to discuss with Cassian, and she hadn’t forgotten everything that had happened between them. There were questions she wanted answered and more than a few things she intended to complain about once they were alone again.

But those conversations could wait.

For now, Raven simply wanted to enjoy being with him.

She moved a little closer and gently rested her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear.

Cassian’s arm settled more securely around her as they continued moving with the music, and Raven closed her eyes.

Her friendships were beginning to heal, she’d advanced further than she’d ever imagined possible, and she was dancing with a man who had somehow become one of the most important people in her life.

Despite everything that had happened earlier, she was happy.

Raven had the best night ever.