Everyone gushed over Lillian’s costume. How pretty it was, or how different she looked with the blue eyes and blond hair. How hot her ass looked in the skintight pants. They even noted how neat the teeth and ears were. Brayden got plenty attention too from the other women at the party.

“Oh, just some, what’s it called? ‘Booktok boyfriend?’ I just looked one up and used it as a reference.” Brayden played it off.

No one else noticed the gold ring he wore on his finger, marking his marriage to the only other Fae in the room.

Everyone also noticed, or were forced to notice, James’ adamant referral to Lillian, “looking like his dream girl now”.

Many looks of sympathy passed her way, and from Lillian’s friends - sharp edged looks at James. Even they knew it was the worst thing he could possibly say.

“I do think she looks really awesome like that, but not like herself, with the hair and eyes you know. Which is the point obviously. She’s killing that costume.” Brayden would add whenever someone brought it up.

Her friends nodded sagely and agreed. Knowing looks passing between themselves at him. Jasmine especially. She hummed at his response and nodded approvingly at him. Naz winked over her shoulder with an unsubtle thumbs up.

Jasmine also approved of the way he fought off the other girls flirting with him all night. With flat bored answers or gushing about Lillian’s costume."You know, I know who you are.” Jasmine whispered to him half-way through the night."Do you?” He remarked.

“You fooled everyone else here, cuz half these chicks don’t read, me included.” She raised her hands innocently. “But Lily loves these books, and I’ve listened to her talk about them enough, to know exactly who you are. It’s bold of you to be so obvious. You don’t think James will notice?”

“Do you think James even knows who she is?” Brayden said coldly, a dark look in James’ direction.

“Hmm, maybe you’re right.” Jasmine said, studying James just as coldly.

James was once again already loaded and very dejected. Most people didn’t care or think his costume was that funny or ironic at all. They were all talking about Lillian. Which James didn’t look like he minded too much, it just gave him another opportunity to embarrass himself, and Lillian by default.

“I really want to punch him in the face.” Brayden said out loud, startling himself.

“Me too.” A handful of voices agreed and hummed around him.

Brayden looked around surprised. Jasmine and Naz stood nearby, dropping dirty looks James’ way, and a handful of Lillians other friends in ear shot looked at Brayden and nodded. Joe and Luke looked pissed, and Nathan was just looking disappointed in James’ direction.

“Well, it can’t be me.” Brayden surrendered. “Lily would gut me alive.” He whispered.

They all looked perceptively at him and shrugged.

“I’ll do it!” Jasmine offered.

They all vehemently rejected it, begging her not to. Brayden chuckled, clearly these friends of Lillian’s knew Jasmine better than him.

“I’m not going to hit him,” she sighed “more like a verbal punching. Someone should distract Lily.”

“And miss the show?”

“She’ll just be more embarrassed if she’s here.” Jasmine stated flatly.

“Dude. Stop warring with yourself and just do it. We’ll run you the play by play don’t worry about it.” Joe rolled his eyes and shooed Brayden off.

Brayden had been warring. The opportunity to be alone and distract Lillian was extremely pleasing, but the thought of missing James’ verbal beat down made him sad. Joe and Jasmine gave him two no nonsense looks that had him scrambling to find her.

He muttered about missing the best part of his year before catching Lillian’s eye wickedly. He gestured with a nod of his head for her to follow him. To his delight, he found her skipping up behind him as he rounded the corner. Despite James being the biggest idiot of the century, everyone else’s showered praise had her glowing.

“What’s up?” Looking him up and down quickly.

Lillian lacked all subtly when she was drinking. It made Brayden’s heart flutter lightly, her open attraction to him.

“I just wanted to see if you wanted to take a picture with me. We are a mated pair after all.” He wiggled the gold ring on his finger at her.

“Okay!” Jumping at the opportunity, she dragged him into her room.

Brayden let her pull him along willingly and forgot all about the confrontation happening in the other room. They were right, he wanted to be here more.

“Okay you stand there.” Lillian positioned him just so. “And I’ll stand here.” She grinned at him.

Brayden silently did as he was told, more focused on watching her. He just couldn’t take his eyes off her. Standing this close to her he could smell her perfume again, and he could see the sharp tips of her fake teeth. Images and feelings of them drag across his neck flashed in the front of his brain.

“You ready? Hello?” She waved in front of his face.

“What? Yes, what did you say? Sorry that last shot has me floating.” He replied sheepishly.

“I said smile.” She giggled and turned back to the mirror. “And look at the camera.” She corrected him.

“Don’t you think he would be too busy looking at her to look at the camera?” He whispered.

Lillian contemplated quickly.

“Okay we can do one your way, of them, but I want one of us. Ben and Ann next.” She chirped.

Brayden nodded and pretended to think about it.

“Excellent compromise.”

Lillian just grinned up at him and then faced the mirror.

“Serious face for you, okay?” She bubbled.

Brayden just stared down at her and let himself love her. He let every fiber of his being breath her in. A single hand drifted to her stomach, his fingers spreading wide and pressing her into himself. He heard her phone take a handful of quick pictures.

“Wow, you’re really good.” Lillian nodded approvingly at the photos.

Touching her made all the sense he normally kept on hand disappear. Brayden dropped his hand and cleared his throat.

“Of course, I am.” He added arrogantly, faking all his bravado.

“Now for our pictures.”

“Right.”

“You better smile at the camera this time.” Lillian scolded.

“Anything for you.”

They took several. Most of them silly, but Brayden’s heart ached at the one Lillian snapped while they were looking at each other laughing.

“Easily the best one.” Lillian grinned, locking the phone and stealing the photo from Brayden’s eyes.

“Easily.” He shrugged.

Raised voices stole Lillian’s focus away. Brayden gripped her wrist quickly.

“Ben what are you...?” She trailed off, “oh, you’re tricking me right now!” She gasped.

“I am distracting you, at the request of your dearest friends. However, I would not call it a trick since it was basically just a good excuse for me to get my hands on you again. Purely shellfish motivation on my part. I really did want pictures with you I just couldn’t find the time to ask, so the people made me the time.” Brayden rambled.

“Distracting me from what?” Narrowing her eyes at him.

Jasmine’s irate voice lilted over the music.

“Oh, you know, nothing.” He answered lamely.

“Where is she?” James’ slurred words overcoming the music.

Lillian paled and turned to Brayden.

“I’m sure you all meant well, I’m extremely understanding so I'm going to choose not to kill every last one of you, but Brayden, you need to hide, now.” Lillian snapped at him quietly.

Brayden just nodded and disappeared into the space under the stairs across from her room. He knew if he could somehow fight through the Christmas decorations and the families’ old kids’ toys, he’d be back with the rest of the party, a small secret tunnel through the basement. He, as quietly as he could, tried to duck and step over different boxes. He swayed a little drunkenly and caught a box with his shoulder, whatever was inside rattling. Fearful eyes peered in through the exit he was aiming for as the music turned up slightly. Mercifully The Eyes shone a light to all the places he needed to step to wade through the storage.

Brayden appeared on the other side and sucked in a lung full of air, he didn’t realize he was holding his breath. He shook his head and looked up. Silent cheers and claps on the back rewarded him. Alex, The Eyes, nodded his head knowingly and roughly clapped his back.

“I suppose it would be for the better.” He whispered to Brayden, an approving look between him and Liam.

Brayden ducked his head in thanks and stood up straight.