Chapter 48

• The celebration dinner was very eventful. Elena couldn't remember smiling as much as she had that day. They all had fun, with Forest always looking for a reason to annoy Calhoun and Calhoun's need to constantly attend to Elena, whether she opted for it. Old Porv provided other hints of sword fighting to her, and Elion included her points. Calhoun's men, as usual, wore a stoic expression. Though at times, they could not hide their snicker at the jokes Forest told just to annoy Calhoun.
• Firoza, on the other hand, was another case. On several occasions, Elena had met her murderous gaze, and instead of gazing back at her to prove that she didn't mean anything, Elena chose not to lock eyes with her. She didn't want anything to ruin her evening. All the while, Calhoun placed his hands on her laps under the table throughout the party, gently caressing her. If his hands were not there, they were at another part of her body. Once she had moved minutely, just a few feet away from him, he had wasted no time dragging her back. Elena's face had reddened more times than she could count, but she couldn't say the same for Calhoun, who looked to be faring far better than her. Finally, they left for home after drinking, eating, and partying. It was almost midnight when they arrived back at their abode. Calhoun's guards helped to take the old man to where he slept, as he had passed out from drunkenness on their way back. Firoza barely looked at anyone and stomped to her room, slamming it loudly. Forest and his sister strode back to their part of the house, leaving Calhoun and Elena at the house entrance alone.
• "Is this where we say goodnight?" Elena asked, shyly looking up at him from under beautifully long lashes. Calhoun remained quiet, studying her face with so much longing, Elena felt she would suffocate.