"You seem a little lost," a voice chimed in behind him. Arden glanced over his shoulder to find a girl around his age standing there, and he would be a fool to not acknowledge that she was beautiful. She had long dark red hair that rested on her shoulders in neat curls and gorgeous green eyes with flakes of gold in them.

"I suppose I'm just not used to this type of party," Arden tilted his head and gave the girl a smirk. She straightened and smirked back in return.

"I'm Veronica," she held out her hand and Arden took it gently. Her shake was firm but soft like she had done this a million times before. Arden never took his eyes away from hers.

"Arden," he replied before thinking. He hadn't meant to give his true name but something about her was... enchanting. Arden glanced to the side towards his wrist, he had thirty minutes till the mayor's speech. So he had some time to kill.

Victoria's smirk faltered for a second, it was so quick that Arden barely caught it. But it was replaced with a more... flirtatious smile. "So Arden, who are you and how did you get invited to such a party?" Victoria linked her slender elbow through his and started leading him through the crowd, Arden wasn't even sure where they were going. But he did have an idea of what they were going to do.

Veronica led him through the twisting halls, passing ageless pieces of art and historic artifacts. They stopped in a darker hallway where no one was loitering, Veronica tracing her hands over his shirt, feeling up and down his abs.

Arden leaned in slowly, testing the waters. Their lips touched, then they became a hurricane. Pressing each other into the wall, leaning into each other like they were drowning and the only air they could find were on each other's lips. Veronica wrapped her hands slowly around Arden. All he could smell was her raspberry scent, it filled the air and dared him to come even closer.

Veronica pulled apart her lips millimeters away from Ardens, "I didn't think I would be having this much fun today." She whispered before leaning back in slowly. Drawing out the final kiss, relishing each other's presence before pulling back at last.

"I would much rather continue but I suppose we must go listen to the mayor's boring speech." She trailed her fingers up his cheek, and Arden tightened his grip around her waist. Veronica gave him a lazy seductive smile, "I hope next time we see each other we can pick up where we left off."

Veronica smoothed her dress before sauntering away, as she turned the corner she looked back at Arden. "Good luck," was all she said. Her eyes gleaming with a predatorial glint.

Arden simply raised a single eyebrow at her, and then she disappeared. He slumped against the wall and brushed a hand through his hair, his nerves completely forgotten. He only had two things on his mind; Veronica and killing the Mayor.

He straightened his tux and headed back out into the main party, squeezing by guests who were trying to find the best spot to watch the speech. Arden slipped through them, sliding into the shadows of the side walls. He had planned this out for weeks, he knew the exact spot that the cameras couldn't catch him. He memorized hallways, exits, and windows. He knew how to kill.

The mayor stepped onto the raised stage, his white hair glinting in the chandelier lights. His skin wrinkled and blotchy, he looked so weak for someone with almost infinite power. The guest immediately broke out into applause, and the old fool stood there beaming. His eyes dark but gleaming at his loyal followers, all but unaware that a spark of fire had caught his tux somehow.

The flame was so small when it appeared, you could easily pat it out with little to no problem. But this wasn't a natural flame. The mayor hadn't even noticed it before the flame grew and devoured him, his screams echoed around the room as people cried out in shock.

Guests flocked the doors, but the guards were quicker. The door was locked and barred, the guards refused to let anyone out. Because amongst the madness there was a killer they needed to catch, Arden knew this would happen. He had planned for it to happen, the chaos would provide him cover.

The shadows can only do so much, they could only hide his glowing red eyes as he summoned the fire. He had positioned himself so that he was behind everyone, no one would be looking at him. At least that was the plan, but every plan has its flaws.

Arden watched amused as guests shoved at each other, and cried out in shock. No one was bothered to try to stop the burning mayor, he was all but ash now.

Arden slowly started making his way through the crowd, hands calmly in his pockets as he made his way towards a beautiful painting hung from a marble wall. He traced his hands over the marble, pushing and feeling the crevasses. He paused as he felt something give, stepping back slightly. The wall slowly started to open, revealing a hidden passage unknown to most. The passage would lead him down to the winding tunnels where he could find the sewer, then make a very unfashionable escape and earn his other two million dollars.

Arden glanced over his back expecting that he would only see people running for their lives, but that was far from it. Arden's eyes widened as seven men in tuxedos stalked towards him. Guns in hand, pointing right at Arden's head.

It was a trap.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published: June 5, 2020, 7:32 PM

Words: 1021

Thank you so much for reading our book 'Starless Sky' it means the world to us! Anyways how are you guys enjoying the book, Arden specifically? We had to really go out of our comfort zone for a few of these scenes. But it was so worth it!- RiSaWa