Page 49 of Spears and Shadows (Defenders of the Light)
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Nora stoodon the fringes of the party, clutching a glass of champagne in one hand while using the other to negotiate with the bobby pins stabbing her in the head. After acquiring a dress fit for a literal goddess, she had decided to use a forgotten gift certificate to get her hair done for tonight’s gala. While she had to admit the stylist admirably wrestled her hair into a twist at the crown of her head, it came at the cost of feeling as if a pack of vultures were attacking her scalp.
Catching a glimpse of her reflection in the glass of a display case, Nora decided it was worth it. Even Adam would be impressed—if he ever showed up.
Nora berated herself for being impatient. Adam was not the type to go back on his promise to come, and he had seemed excited for the event, even offering to pick her up beforehand. Nora had declined, wanting to get to the museum before the event started, to make sure everything was perfect for the unveiling of the new display. Now, she felt as if she had been waiting for an age, even though the party wasn’t in full swing yet.
As if her thoughts had summoned him, a tall figure stepped up beside her and sighed.
“Here I thought I was a gentleman bringing you a drink, and you already have one.”
Nora turned to look at Adam and had to suppress the urge to let out an appreciative whistle. The navy tux he wore brought out the deep golden hues in his skin, and the cut perfectly accentuated his statuesque figure.
“Oh, you must be assuming that I am a lady then and wouldn’t accept another glass of champagne,” Nora responded before throwing back the last of the contents in her flute. She reached for the full replacement in Adam’s hand before continuing. “I need more than one drink if I’m going to socialize with the paleontology department. They think they are all that just because their T-Rex is the biggest display in the museum, but I think they’re compensating for something.”
Adam coughed into the champagne he had just been sipping. Once he had recovered from his spluttering, he asked, “Oh, and you don’t think that spear might be compensating for something just a bit?” His eyes held a devious twinkle as he baited her.
“Not at all,” Nora defended. “Because you’d actually have to be strong to use it, making you a legitimate badass who’s not faking it at all.” She refused to let anybody malign the weapons on their special day, and she had to admit that her newfound affinity for her own practice spear had only made her more attached to the bronze masterpiece.
Just then, Nora spotted a familiar figure drifting in through the main entrance. It was hard to miss Odelle on any given day, but tonight, she had made it impossible by donning a scarlet silk jumpsuit with a dramatic overskirt attached in the back that dragged in a short train.
At the sight, Nora passed off her empty champagne glass to a waiter with a quick thanks.
“Before I drink too much champagne, though, I have a few professional obligations to fulfill,” she explained, taking Adam by the elbow and leading him across the room to her sister. They weaved through the glittering crowd to where Odelle stood, conversing with a cameraman she had brought in with her.
“Well aren’t you dressed to kill?” Nora greeted.
“There are so few opportunities to wear couture. Might as well take advantage. It makes me feel like I’m in a James Bond movie,” Odelle said, fluffing her skirt in response.
Nora made Odelle do a little twirl to show off the whole look as she complimented, “You look like a Bond girl.”
“Life goal accomplished. Do you want to see if there are any eligible high rollers in the crowd this evening who might want to take us on a ride in their Aston Martin?”
Nora gestured to Adam, who had been standing dutifully beside her. “I have already acquired my James Bond for the evening.”
Adam opened his mouth to greet her, but Odelle barely even glanced at him before cutting him off with a dry, “Shame.”
Trying to diffuse the bomb this conversation was about to become, Nora changed the subject. “Are you ready to make me look like a boss on the evening news?”
“I was born ready.” Odelle stepped up to position Nora appropriately as the cameraman produced a microphone for her to use. Adam still stood at Nora’s side, but when Odelle shot him a poisonous glance, he raised his hands and took a few deferential steps away, giving Odelle space to continue arranging Nora to her liking.
“Turn slightly to the side, like this. Pop your hip, and shoulders back,” Odelle instructed as she demonstrated. “Perfect.”
Odelle then positioned herself opposite Nora and said with a grin, “All right, zolotse, time to show off that big brain of yours.”
She motioned to her cameraman to roll and began asking Nora a few educated questions about the weapons, which Nora did her best to respond to with terms that wouldn’t alienate the casual viewer. It all passed so fast that Nora wasn’t even sure if she had spoken in English, but Odelle reassured her with encouraging smiles. They wrapped up quickly, and Odelle gave her sister a wicked grin.
“Wait until that guy Leo gets a load of this. He got passed over for the promotion in favor of you, and now you’re on TV.”
Nora tried to hug her in thanks, but Odelle brushed her off. “Don’t wrinkle my outfit yet, I’ve still got to get a few more statements. Maybe I’ll find Mandy and interview her. She always did seem nice. Then we can break some hearts.”
With that, Odelle turned and pranced off through the thickening crowd, cameraman in tow, and Adam returned from where he had been hovering to the side.
“You really do the artifacts credit with your knowledge,” he complimented.
“Speaking of, we should go see the pieces of honor.” She grabbed Adam’s hand and turned to tow him through the milling crowd. When he hesitated, she glanced over her shoulder to find him wearing an expression that clearly indicated he was enjoying the view as much as she thought he might. She raised a brow at him over her shoulder, and he had the decency to blush high on his cheekbones before allowing himself to be led across the room. Still, Nora could feel his eyes on her as she walked and did her best to suppress the heat that built in her body in response.
The cluster of guests around the centerpiece of the exhibit was dense with Nora’s coworkers and impeccably dressed people, whom Nora assumed were significant donors to the museum there to appreciate the fruits of their generosity. It was difficult to edge through, but Nora was taller than most of the guests in the heels she had managed to wedge her feet into, and Adam’s statuesque frame aided her in clearing a path. Coworkers who recognized Nora stepped back deferentially, recognizing her as a subject of tonight’s celebration, and she felt a bolt of pride under the thin layer of self-consciousness caused by the gesture.
