534 The Tea Party - Part 4

Oliver steeled himself, preparing mentally for the coming onslaught. Asabel noticed them, and positively beamed. She stood up eagerly, flashing them the most genuine smile Oliver had ever seen from the nobility – though, in fact, she was royalty of course – revealing a row of white teeth, a single canine that sat out of symmetry from the rest, just a little bit twisted, and just a little bit longer. Somehow, that which should have been a blemish on her beauty only served to accentuate it. It made her seem more real, more earthly, and thus more beautiful.

That defence that Oliver had attempted to build up was immediately flattened. He didn't think he'd ever been stunned by a woman before. At least, not by a woman's smile. But Asabel effortlessly disarmed him, as though she had claws extending right through the centre of his heart. It was terrifying. How was he meant to stand up to that?