#5: Leashing a Wolf

[Cyra]

"I thought you were taking me to the festival?" I ask, unamused. Camryn scrambles to appease me as I silk.

"Yes, yes, I mean- strictly speaking, no," I turn sharply to glare at him, hiking up the tail of my skirt and preparing to storm off in a fit.

"Some promise keeper you are-" I begin to complain. Then his hands are around my arms and he pulls me back.

"W- wait, just let me finish, Cy?" He begs. I scrutinize him for a good long minute before allowing him to speak with a nod of my head. My auburn waves fall into my face a bit, so he sighs in relief and pushes them out of the way.

"Thanks." I mutter, retucking the strands behind my ears. If I'm only mean to him he'll grow bored of me. He needs to crave my kindness.

"You're most welcome." He beams hesitantly, "Cyra, please accompany me to the Week of Devons mascarade ball in the upper city tonight. I would be most honored to have you as my partner." He formally invites me.

I can feel the blood pumping through my ears in a face hum of excitement. This is even better than I imagined. It's all I can do not to break out in a wicked smile right then and there. Instead I pull myself together and put on my happiest, enamored grin and throw my arms around my current boyfriend.

"Oh, Cam, I'm so sorry for doubting you! I thought you didn't want to spend the festival with me anymore so I-" I ramble, glad to have it broken off with his words of reassurance.

I let his voice fade to background noise as images of a party grand enough to be labeled a ball form around me. It's surely an event for Nobles and upperclass citizens. Maybe I'll meet my next stepping stone there, like an influencial Noble, or royalty...

"Then I realized you might have misunderstood and-"

"Where is it?" I interrupt his assurances.

"What?"

"The ball, where will it be held?" I ask again.

He smiles happily, straightening his tailored jacket, "Why, the palace of course!" He answers cheerfully.

My head might as well have detached from my shoulders and rolled away. I laugh loudly embrace my rich boy again, letting my feet leave the ground so he can spin me around with merriment. When he places me back down I ignore the wide, dazed smile of his pretty face and brush off my dress.

Righting my hair again I step away from him as he reaches for me again, pretending not to have noticed, "Well, I'll have to go get ready! I'll need to buy and dress of course, and my hair simply won't do... So much to fix and so little time and money." He scurries after me as I make for the exit.

Clearly not wanting me to leave yet he stumbles over himself to get his words out, "Ah, so, so soon? I thought maybe we would spend the day? I'll take you to the park in the square, it's lovely this time of-"

"Sorry, Cam, dear. I don't want to embarrass you at the party tonight, do it's imperative that I start now to get the best for my budget." I explain to him, cringing internally at the thought of spending hours walking in circles around a small city park with him.

"Oh, then, I suppose- could I accompany you?" He gives in. I reach back through the doorway and pull him through after me, linking our arms together.

"I'd love that." I tell him sweetly, leaning my head on his shoulder as we walk towards the courtyard. He signals for a carriage to be prepared and I pull out the scarf from my purse.

"You brought it with you?" He notices happily.

"It was a gift, how could I not show it off?" Even in this chilly autumn weather I can seperate the two shades of red on his face. A sharp rose is the sharp winds, and the soft pink is the blush he can't help when I sweet talk him. Red looks good on me, even wrapped around my finger the way he is.

I let him wrap the scarf around my neck and then he helps me into the carriage. Whether he currently intends to or not, he'll be financing this shopping trip.

~*~

"I'll be waiting with the carriage when you're done with that." I pull my gloves back on and step out of the shop, leaving Cam to balance and pay for my stack of boxes.

"Sure-" The door closes shut behind me, cutting him off. It's not like he'll know anyway, he was facing the other way.

I lift my skirt a bit to step over a puddle on the sidewalk and then go to stand next to the empty carriage. Now I should have everything I want and more for the ball tonight, and I haven't spent a penny. I can't wait for the day when I can throw pennies around like candy though. I want to buy my own thing, I just can't afford it right now.

"Hard work, isn't it? Keeping an energetic dog on it's leash." A gruff voice chuckles. I can hear the smirk before I can see it.

"You again." I huff, turning my back on him to escape inside the carriage. I attempt to open the door, only to find it won't budge.

"Is that your carriage, Miss? Or are you breaking in?" He teases.

"It's not locked, it's stuck!" I correct him, pulling harder at the handle. To my shock my gloved hand slips and my heel hits the curve of the sidewalk, causing me to start tilting backwards. Unable to regain my balance I close my eyes and wait for the impact, prepared to sue the hell out of someone for damages.

"Woah, careful there, Princess." Leathered hands catch me easily, swinging me back up in one fluid motion.

"Thanks a lot." I glare, wiping off my dress, "You just lost me a medical settlement from the city itself."

"Most people would say thank you, and end it at that." He informs me, letting go and stepping back with his hands up in surrender.

"Well most people mistakenly believe they need your help." I focus on smudging some dirt off a fold in my skirt, until I hear his amused chuckle again, "What? Don't laugh at me!" I look up at him and he shakes his head, a smile in his eyes that matches the smirk on his lips.

"I wouldn't dream of it, darlin'." He assures me.

"Then what is it?" I ask, almost curious.

He points behind me. I cautiously spin my head to see Cam surrounded by a crowd of young ladies through the window of the boutique. Graham's voice teases from behind me, "Isn't that your puppy in that pack of wolves?"

"Shuddup." I mutter, hiking up my skirt again and marching back into the shop, not sparing another glance back at the laughing commoner leaning against the carriage behind me.