Chapter 165: EYES EVERWHERE
KEISHA’S POV
Goosebumps erupted across my skin and I tried to ignore Diane’s constant mumbling in my head about how I should give in to what Callum said.
But I couldn’t.
This was literally a party. Nadia’s birthday party. We couldn’t just disappear as we pleased.
"I’m afraid not." I said firmly.
He tilted his head. "Just a few minutes. Let’s talk." He muttered in a tone that suggested he wanted to do anything but talking.
Was he insane? Anyone could hear. People were already beginning to turn to us, probably wondering why the Alpha was still talking to me instead of going to check on his equals.
I sighed quietly. "You should probably go."
Callum looked at me. "Why?"
"People are talking." I hissed.
I lowered my voice. "They’re watching you sit here with me instead of entertaining your guests."
His expression barely changed. "They’re my guests."
"Exactly. Your reputation isn’t something you should gamble with."
A faint smile appeared on his face, though it never quite reached his eyes. "My reputation can recover from gossip." He paused before adding more seriously, "I’m far more concerned about making sure you’re alright."
Right. Best to change the topic then.
I looked away instead, lifting the glass of sparkling juice resting before me. The cool drink did little to settle the tension rising in me.
I wished I could tell him about the raven and about the letter. Maybe he could help me find out who was going to harm me. But if I told him, it would lead to questions that I wasn’t sure I could answer.
Who was sending the messages? Why me? And why remain hidden if they truly wanted to help?
Until I knew more, I wasn’t prepared to involve anyone else.
A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. "So this is where the two of you disappeared." Dane approached our table with his smirk before pulling out the empty chair beside me. "You’ve been difficult to find."
"You make it sound as though we were hiding," Callum replied.
"I checked half the ballroom." Dane settled comfortably into his seat before looking toward me. "Great to see you again after you practically sprinted to the bathroom."
I almost huffed a laugh but I stifled it, shaking my head slightly at him.
Callum and Dane launched into a conversation, talking about the possibility of the future in hushed voices.
I listened to them talk while absentmindedly tracing the rim of my glass.
I wanted that future just as much as they did.
"Well?" Vera’s cheerful voice cut through my thoughts.
She stopped beside the table with her hands resting on her hips, looking every bit like someone awaiting the verdict on a masterpiece. "I’ve spent days organizing this celebration." Her eyes settled squarely on Callum. "Don’t tell me you’re going to sit there all evening without complimenting my work."
Callum rubbed a hand against the back of his neck, looking as though he’d just been cornered by an experienced negotiator. "I was about to."
"You were thinking about it? How rude." She gasped.
Callum sighed. "I intended to say it."
Watching the exchange almost made me laugh.
"I’ll say it first then," I interrupted before Vera could continue. "Everything looks beautiful. The decorations, the music, the flowers... you’ve thought of everything. Nadia couldn’t have asked for a better celebration."
Vera’s face lit up immediately. "See?" She pointed triumphantly toward Callum. "Keisha appreciates hard work."
Callum looked offended at her words. "I appreciated it before she said anything."
"You simply forgot to mention it." She crossed her hands. "How convenient."
Callum surrendered with an amused shake of his head. "You’ve done an excellent job, Vera."
She smirked. "I know." Her satisfied smile was almost smug. "I simply wanted to hear you admit it."
With her mission accomplished, she drifted away to greet another group of arriving guests.
Callum watched her disappear before letting out a quiet breath. "I suspect that conversation was unavoidable."
"It usually is with Vera," I agreed.
Before anyone could reply, one of the visiting Alphas approached our table, politely requesting a few moments of Callum’s time.
Well, duty had found him again.
"I’ll be back," he said, rising from his chair and I nodded.
As he disappeared into another cluster of important guests, the empty seat beside me suddenly became more prominent.
Dane remained where he was and for several moments he said nothing.
Finally, he spoke. "Are you expecting someone? You’ve looked over your shoulder at least six times in the last minute."
I blinked. Had I really? "I have?"
"You’ve barely paid attention to anything happening around us." His voice stayed calm but there was worry underneath. "Something’s bothering you."
I hesitated, then offered half truth. "I’ve had a strange feeling all evening."
A frown settled on his lips. "What kind of feeling?"
I paused, unsure what to say. "That... something might happen."
His expression sharpened immediately and his voice lowered. "Because of Orin?"
"I don’t know." I shook my head
"It could be the thought of him." Dane leaned back slightly, thinking. "We still haven’t found him, and men like him rarely stop making reckless decisions." He glanced around the ballroom, quietly assessing the guards stationed throughout the venue. "But if you’re worried he’s planning something tonight, don’t be."
I looked at him.
"The place is surrounded. There are guards at every entrance, every corridor and every exit. If Orin is foolish enough to come anywhere near this hall, he’ll regret it."
His confidence was reassuring, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the letter.
I forced myself to nod. "I hope you’re right."
Before either of us could continue, movement across the ballroom caught my attention.
Nadia.
She was making her way through the crowd toward our table, smiling as another group of guests congratulated her in passing.
"It’s the birthday girl," I said, rising from my seat.
Dane followed my gaze before smiling. "I suppose she gets priority tonight."
"She definitely does." Leaving the table behind, I walked toward Nadia, determined to continue the rest of the night without distractions.