What Not to Do (Kallisti)

[Oriena]

Jaxen wasn’t the only one. Amusement lightened the shadows of Oriena’s expression. Aiden was in equal measure derisive and charming, but it was the conspiratorial lean of gossip that held her attention. He seemed to think she was already tangentially involved in his circle of friends. Fucking Jaxen Marveet a few times hardly counted.

She laughed. “What makes you think I know your boyfriend at all?” Her smirk sharpened, given the quite obvious answer, though since Aiden didn’t seem in the slightest perturbed by the overfamiliarity it had lost its shine. Not that she removed her feet. Her gaze momentarily roamed the man in question. It was a more curious than hungry attention. Ori had a good memory for faces, and did not recognise his in the slightest. The knowledge he tossed was insignificant, but not something she would have expected him to know by chance. “You just had the best seats,” she added slyly. Which was true. Just not the whole truth.

“I take it Jaxen implied he burned the Baccarat to the ground then. Else maybe you two don’t do much talking,” she said to Aiden. She was not circumspect in the measure of her voice, though the general din of the club and presently raucous stage entertainment hardly made it necessary, even if she was concerned. Talk of the Atharim was not likely to sooth the inclement nature of her mood. Infamy was not among her interests, but she rarely acted without the expectation of retaliation. “I assume they’re too scared. Which is just as well.”