Such a beautiful, unique banner! Thank you so much xcourt_neyx for sending this in! (:

If you would like to send your banners for Faye in, my email is open! [email protected]

Word Count: 2075

~Faye

"This is foolish, and you know it."

Glaring at Cal, I brush a piece of lint off his shoulder. "The suit looks lovely on you, I'm sure it will fit him."

Cal is having this suit fitted in place of T, who I agreed to having as my date to the ball tonight. Luckily, Cal is almost identical in stature to the assassin, so instead of risking anything with T, I'm having my personal guard step in. The sour expression on his face hasn't diminished since we began this.

"What are you wearing tonight?" I ask absentmindedly, watching the tailor circle the Huntsman.

"My usual," he mutters, nodding toward the fighting leathers dumped on the chair to my side. "I will be working, after all. More as well, since you're letting that Silent out of his cell, for a reason you still haven't told me."

It's been a week and I still haven't told Cal about what I heard. Not once has it been brought up that he has a secret I don't know about. Now I have one on him, and it's to do with a sister I once had. And to add to this all, I haven't spoken to T, so his opinions on tonight will be kept hidden until I next lay eyes on him.

I've convinced Cal to watch him while he showers and gets ready. Of course, to make sure the Silent doesn't lash out.

For whatever reason, I know he won't. I just know.

T has a reason for going to the ball. He mentioned he has people to speak to, which I plan to monitor the entire time. If he is organising a bailing out situation, I will have to be careful. I've simply come to the conclusion that I have no idea what is going to happen tonight.

"Trust me with this," I say, placing my hands on Cal's shoulders. He looks skeptical, which is his job, I suppose. Under this suit, I feel his tense muscles, which must have developed from working for me.

"The second he threatens you, or anyone else at the ball, he's gone, straight back to his cell," Cal says darkly, and I nod dismissively. I expected nothing else.

Taking a step back, I admire the Huntsman. "You do look rather handsome in this suit."

A suggestive smile curves at his lips. I've never complimented him like this before, but when I see him in this suit, that T will be wearing later tonight, I can't help myself. Plus, I want to see if he will keep to his promise. He promised the Silent that he wouldn't make any advancements on me. Naturally, I have to test if this is true.

"I'll have this taken down to the prisoner," he says softly, and I smile.

"Thank you."

***

"Are you nervous?"

It's moments like these where I love my mother more than anything. It's also the same moments where I wish I had a normal female friend who wasn't hired to keep me company. If only the Goddess could directly communicate me to help me to help me select which dress I would wear. It was such a difficult decision I barely had time to get T's tie back to him in time.

"Should I be?" I ask, fidgeting with my earring. Mother doesn't know I'm taken T as my date. She doesn't need to.

"Of course not. You know almost all the guests coming," he reassures me, her hand rubbing my thigh affectionately. Her hand shudders with sickness, making me swallow uncomfortably. I hate seeing her so weak and frail.

I decide to keep my thoughts on these guests to myself. Most of them are simply accomplices. I have no real friends.

"And this dress," she says fondly, her fingers toying with the soft material. "This emerald green matches your eyes so brilliantly. Everyone will be mesmerized when they lay their eyes on you."

My smile is genuine. She always seems to know what to say when I'm doubting things.

Swiftly, I stand, straightening the skirt of the dress. It's a two piece dress, with a slit between the top half and the bottom, showing a slight bit of skin. The dress is simple and elegant. Hopefully it won't draw any unnecessary attention to me.

"I have to go," I say, glancing at her clock on the wall. "I promise I'll be that perfect Alpha you always want me to be."

My words aren't meant to seem spiteful, but all the same, she doesn't reply. I'm running out of time, anyways, as I close her bedroom door after myself, rushing down to where I promise to meet Cal and T. In his cell.

T is handcuffed to his own cell doors, on the outside. Cal stands in front of him, arms crossed over his chest, grinning in the Silent. T only looks amused, even at his own position. It's an odd sight, considering he's wearing a three piece suit with an emerald green tie. His hair is still the same, with those perfectly messy curls that almost reach his eyes.

"Cal," I mutter flatly, seeing the Huntsman twisting the key to the handcuffs around his finger. "Let him out."

Cal quirks an eyebrow up, but obliges, pushing T away once the handcuffs had come off. He's back in his leathers, his weapons hidden, but I know they are there, and T probably does too. It's a silent reminder not to step out of line.

Adjusting the cuffs of his jackets, T's dark gaze sweeps over me. "Well don't you look utterly beautiful, Alpha Faye."

Another push comes from behind him, from a seething Cal. T only chuckles, while my Guard slaps a pair of gloves into his hands. "Put these on."

"Scared I'll find my mate here, Callan?" T teases.

"Wouldn't want to spread any of your diseases," Cal replies testily.

Sighing, I clasp the arm of T's suit, tugging him along with me. We are late - at this point the ball will be in full swing, and everyone will be enjoying each other's company without me. Right now, that doesn't even seem like a bad thing.

Cal follows behind, and with more audacity than I could possible consider, T slips his gloves on, leaning in to whisper in my ear, "I'm being serious. You really know how to excite a male."

"You sound so deprived," I reply snarkily. "Prison life not treating you so well?"

"I wouldn't turn down a visit from the Alpha is she was willing," he continues, his hot breath caressing my ear. I fight the urge to react.

We don't speak again until we reach the ballroom. I'm to nervous to get anything out of my mouth right now, and I'm not sure why. Part of it has to do with the fact that I'm hanging off the arm of a Silent, who clearly has a plan running in motion right now. At least I have Cal, who goes to stand at the far end of the room to watch.

This room isn't used often. It's large, with windows touching the ceiling, showing the garden outside that I'm so proud of. Nothing else about the room is special, aside from the size of it. And of course, the amount of people that fill it right now.

"Aren't you popular," T murmurs, gaze sweeping across the room.

"Hardly," I reply under my breath.

As if he could feel our presence, the Alpha closest to T and I turned around, amber liquid in his crystal glass nearly spilling out. Alpha of Wisdom. One of the most intimidating Alpha's of them all, who everyone claims has an unspoken secret. He can join the club with that one.

Those navy blue eyes match perfectly to his suit. Everything about him is always immaculate, not even a strand of hair out of place. His suit almosts looks fake, it's so proper and well tailored. He always shows up to these kinds of events, although he doesn't fake his opinions on them. That's what I like so much about him.

He comes over to greet me, holding my arms while he leans in to kiss my cheek. "Faye, you look brilliant this evening."

I smile tightly, T's presence beside me so prevalent, I feel myself begin to sweat. I want to bring up his Pack, to veer the conversation away from the possible mention of my date, but it's too late. Alden's eyes meet T's, and I nearly cringe visibly.

"It doesn't seem we have met," Alden says smoothly. "Alpha of Wisdom, although I'm sure Faye's date can simply call me Alden."

"T," the Silent replies, his tone almost bored. He probably already knows this, if he pays attention to pack business.

Alden doesn't look convinced by T. That makes sense. Alden can figure anything out in less than a second, which has me assuming he knows T is a Silent. Or maybe he knows what T really is.

"How did you too meet?" Alden asks.

"I own a few estates around this Pack," is T's only response. I can only stay quiet, unsure of where the Silent wants to go with this.

"Investor?" Alden questions.

T nods. "Precisely."

"Interesting. It's lovely to see Faye with a companion," Alden praises, although his tone is colder than ice. "It's new."

The blush that stains my cheeks is almost painful. T doesn't need to hear this. Instead of ridiculing me, he only brings his arm around my waist, holding me tightly. My focus zeroes in on that movement. It's a claim of stake, to make a point.

"Things are changing," T replied, looking down at me. Refusing to look at him, I keep my eyes trained on Alden, who's looking down at T's arm as well.

"I'm quite thirsty," I say unnervingly. "I'm sure I'll see you later tonight, Alden."

He nods in response, turning away. Brushing T's arm off me, I make my way toward the refreshments table, while he follows behind. At least he's behaving, if you could call it that. If he knew how to keep his mouth shut too, this would be going perfectly.

"Listen," I mutter, once we made it to the table. T has a lazy grin on his face, looking around the area. He's looking for someone. The person he claims he wants to talk to. Time to put my own plan into action.

"Everything okay?" T asks, still not looking at me.

"How about, you go chat up whoever you came here for, and allow me to go talk to all the Alphas," I say, sounding as irritated as I feel.

That's a key part of the plan. To convince him.

"I was having so much fun with you, though," T says coyly.

I shoot him a bothered look. "If I even hear that you have left my estate, I will have each and every one of these Alpha's out there looking for you, and I can tell you, they could crush you beneath their thumbs.

He smiles knowingly. "Doubtful."

"I mean it," I snap.

He holds his hands up. "Alright. Shall we meet back here in twenty minutes? Or would you rather handcuff me to your boyfriend."

I frown, following his gaze to Cal, who watches us from across the room. He's trying to get to me, so I ignore that statement. "Fine, twenty minutes."

"Don't miss me too much," he murmurs in my ear, before he walks away from the table, taking a glass of champagne with him. I wait patiently until he melts into the crowd.

Then I follow him.

💛••💛

Want more and don't want to wait!? More of Faye is available now on Radish!

Send in some ideas for designs for merchandise, that would be really cool!

Alpha Kaden, Alpha Grayson, Alpha Jasper and Alpha Landon are available for purchase on Amazon now! Send me a picture of you with the book to be featured!

🌼••🌼

This is kinda the coolest thing ever ^^

So, I'm actually updating at a normal time today, what a shock.

I got this done this morning so I've been sitting around waiting to update. Like, what kind of sorcery is this?

Facebook: authormidikacrane

~Midika 💜🐼