4 hours ago
He laughed softly, as though her comment required no explanation at all. “So Scion Marveet is your father?” he asked, then adjusted at once, catching the adoption nuance she had offered. “My apologies. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Carter Volthström.”
He took her hand, his grip courteous and brief. She was pretty, as expected. The family rarely disappointed in that regard. Younger than Cyrena, certainly, though the exact difference was difficult to place. She carried herself with a confidence that blurred such measurements.
“I wouldn’t call it a crash,” Carter continued with an easy smile, then turned slightly to include Olivier. “More of a misunderstanding. Guillaume and I were at the masquerade when the new Privileges were announced.” He let the implication settle before adding, “And it appears we’re in the presence of one now.”
His gaze shifted toward the nearby tables. The woman in question sat with a man Carter did not recognize, but their exchange stalled in that peculiar pause where conversation waited for direction. Carter’s expression brightened with polite resolve.
“I should say hello,” he said. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
He stopped at their table, offering a practiced smile. “Privilege Thrice,” he said smoothly. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
He took her hand, his grip courteous and brief. She was pretty, as expected. The family rarely disappointed in that regard. Younger than Cyrena, certainly, though the exact difference was difficult to place. She carried herself with a confidence that blurred such measurements.
“I wouldn’t call it a crash,” Carter continued with an easy smile, then turned slightly to include Olivier. “More of a misunderstanding. Guillaume and I were at the masquerade when the new Privileges were announced.” He let the implication settle before adding, “And it appears we’re in the presence of one now.”
His gaze shifted toward the nearby tables. The woman in question sat with a man Carter did not recognize, but their exchange stalled in that peculiar pause where conversation waited for direction. Carter’s expression brightened with polite resolve.
“I should say hello,” he said. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
He stopped at their table, offering a practiced smile. “Privilege Thrice,” he said smoothly. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”