Cassia raised an eyebrow, looking down. "You have been holding that same empty glass for an hour."
Aldric looked down at the cup, then back at her with absolute solemnity. "I am working very hard."
Moments later, away from the loud music of the ballroom, the heavy oak doors of a dark alcove clicked shut.
Cassia's back hit the stone wall softly as Aldric pressed close, his initial stoicism entirely gone as he kissed her with desperate heat.
His wire-rimmed glasses slipped down the bridge of his nose, and as he reached up to take them off, Cassia grabbed his wrist, panting heavily.
"No," she whispered against his lips. "The glasses stay on."
Aldric let out a low, surprised breath, a dark smirk catching his lips before he pulled her back into the shadow.
...
High above the noise, on a secluded stone balcony overlooking the valley, the night air was crisp and clean.
"My feet," Eris sighed, resting her back against the carved railing.
