The Lofties (The Echelon Book 2) by Ramona Finn

Author:Ramona Finn [Finn, Ramona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

My first impression of the ball was that it was dazzling, filled with glittering Lofties gliding under a canopy of stars. Champagne sparkled like diamonds and diamonds sparkled like suns. Our feet cast off sparks where they touched the dance floor, little eddies of sunfire projected under glass.

My second impression, once I’d adjusted to the glare, was how little we mattered to the proceedings. Oh, we had our grand entrance, our share of oohs and aahs. Some movie star kissed Ona’s hand, igniting a flurry of camera flashes. But the Lofties soon flocked to Lazrad, or they chattered amongst themselves. Lily of the Badlands was playing, all strings and crooning, and they’d attracted their own crowd, clustered adoringly around the stage. We drew a vague sort of curiosity, Lofties pushing between us for selfies, snapping and going without a word. I lost a button, and one of them snatched it up—“Oh, look. A souvenir.”

“This is creepy,” Lock whispered. A woman of about fifty trailed her fingers across his chest, long nails catching on his lapels. “Did you see? She just touched me.”

A man blundered into me and spilled champagne down my leg. He kept right on going, bopping and swaying to the beat.

“Hey, watch where you’re going. Watch your—” I deflated, losing him in the crowd. “What’s the use? We’re just props to them. Just—”

“An excuse to have a party?”

“At least Ona’s made a friend.” I nodded across the room. Ona had found a girl about her age and seemed to be showing her how to waltz. “Looks like those lessons paid off, after all.”

“We should show them how it’s done.” Lock offered me his arm.

“Seriously?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” He pulled me so close my cheek grazed his chest. I felt the burr of his voice as he bent to murmur in my ear. “It’ll give us the lay of the land.”

His hand settled on my hip. My body responded to his touch, shockwaves running down my back. I thought of Ben without meaning to, how he’d touched me the same way. How his hand had slid lower, across the base of my spine. I’d felt safe, then, and comforted. I’d melted into him, and where was he now? Did he think of me, still? What would he think if he saw me here?

Lights whirled around us as Lock spun me out. I’d kissed Ben in a room full of stars, gypsum flowers blossoming all around.

“I’ve got you.” Lock dipped me, and the blood rushed to my head. He lifted me and spun me, and I felt my breath go still. My feet skimmed the floor, trailing comets behind them, and sparks pulsed through my veins. Lock was smiling, eyes sparkling, so close I could’ve kissed him. So close I felt him breathing, our hearts racing in tandem. He pressed closer still, till his lips brushed my ear, and his whisper raised goosebumps down my neck.

“If tonight’s our last night, if we can’t pull this off—” He spun me again and caught me in his arms.

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