*Ch 248: The Heart's Battle between Husband and Lover

However, for once I had to battle with my heart from getting all squishy inside.

"Orlando-"

Not giving me a chance to talk, he dragged me to the dance floor. First, we took our stance, and then we danced in tune together to a classical orchestra. Violins chime a beautiful enchantment. Harps sang like angels in the cloudy sky. Violas sent us on a twirl with our feet. Flutes whistle like birds, chirping a lullaby. Cellos and bass are played broadly, adding drama to the music. Overall, the setting was pristine and romantic.

Though, a nervous feeling nagged in my conscience. One too many eyes were on us. I tried not to look at the vampires seeming to relish in the sight that I was dancing with the man I love. Remorse is weighted within the root of my heart for Kai as if to say what I am doing is wrong. It's only a dance to Orlando. However, to Kai, it will mean more if he catches us.

Orlando and I dance in circles to match the music. My gut churned to notice, Veronica, Eric, Mr. Collin, Mrs. Collin, Zoey, Chester, and a lot of their friends and family saw I was dancing with Orlando. Their eyes expressed no ounce of emotion while their enemies were gaily, watching the scene play out.

Finally, the music stopped, and I went to amble off, but Orlando didn't allow it. Instead, he was sure to lock my elbow with his. Then he walked me off the dance floor.

"I should go," I insisted, but Orlando's eyes captured my gaze, and I melted into his masculine beauty.

"Just wait," he whispered romantically.

A powerful force came over me. Now, I was glued to him in this hazy mist.

Then a ringing pressed my ears and my temples heated. The spell broke, and my eyes were free from Orlando, but then my heart fell into an endless dark void.

My eyes met Kai's lethal gaze, catching me falling prey to Orlando's charm. Aside from him were Mitchell and Levi, giving prowling looks like they were ready to tear Orlando into pieces.

Orlando's eyes followed where I was staring, and he was sure to notice them. Bravely, he took me over while my heart pitter-pattered to our every step. Kai was so mad it was hard to face his direction.

"You have no right to dance with my wife," Kai's menacing voice sent every bone throughout my body to shiver. Offbeat, my heart rammed into my chest so hard, I felt it was going to ricochet out of my chest like a cannon.

"It's a ball," Orlando seethed his irritation. "I have every right to dance with the woman you outright stole from me."

"Not without my permission, and I don't recall you asking," Kai bit back, snarling. "You have zero rights to be anywhere near her!"

To end this brawl, I left Orlando's side and went to Kai. He might be mad at me, but he'd never harm me, intentionally.

"Please, can we not do this here," I begged, and for a second his eyes connected with me before they narrowly traced back to Orlando.

"You best keep your distance," Kai warned.

"That will never happen!" Orlando challenged. "She loves me, and I will make sure she knows I love her and no one else, like you try to claim."

Kai gnashed his human-disguised teeth, "This is coming from the philanderer who already has his bed full!"

Hereafter, Kai publicly besmirched Orlando, he took me away. We went to an empty room behind these columns with his friends.

"Kai, I'm sorry," I stuttered lowly.

Being angry, he interrogated me with a million questions, "For what! For lying about using the bathroom or for being with Orlando and his family? Are you sorry that you purposely went looking for him? Perhaps you're sorry that you got busted? Maybe you're sorry, I found you dancing with him, instead of with me!"

"For all of it," I submitted, and his friends showed heart.

"Lighten up Kai," Levi said curtly.

Kai exhaled, and then he expressed a more settled appearance. "I'm sorry I yelled. I'm madder at him than you."

Speechless, I stood there blinking. This was the first time I'd seen Kai snap out of his rage that fast. The more time I spend with him, the more he keeps bringing out a new personality, I've never known he had tucked away.

He held his arms wide open to offer a hug. Without needing to think, I went into his arms, and he tenderly hugged me.

"I'm sorry for losing my cool," he whispered fondly into my ear before he kissed my neck from below my jawline.

When I gazed into his agate eyes, I realized his friends Levi and Mitchell were gone. Being only the two of us here, my lips fill the void between us as my head slightly slants.

Our mouths brush against each other until I hear, "Victoria!"

I yanked away from us latching entirely. My heart sank into a bottomless crater when I saw Orlando standing at the large doorway. Hurt and brokenness antagonize him to feel like a high dudgeon. He couldn't bear to witness Kai and me nearly kissing. Unable to communicate, he vacates the premises.

Deep in my heart, I wanted to chase after him, but I knew better. As much as the pain skinned the layers of flesh off my heart, I knew it was best that Orlando did move on.

Holding my tears, I face Kai, who had been observing me this whole time. He was emotionless, and his eyes remained tame.

"I know this is hard for you, but you're making the right decision by letting him go," he fawned, caressing my cheekbone. Then he fondly kissed my forehead.

It appeared as though he read my emotions dead on. Kai knew, I wanted to pursue Orlando, however, I was thrown off to see he was gaining patience with me.

"Are you hungry?" he sweetly asked.

"A little bit," I softly replied.

During my visit with the Mill family, I didn't eat or drink anything that they offered. Currently, it was long past dinner.

"Well, let's feed you. I'm sure our triplets are hungry," Kai winked at me with a flattering smile. Then he held out his arm for me to take. With a weak smile, I took his arm, and we walked out. At the food bar, he got me a plate, and then we sat at a table behind the pillars from the ballroom. A few of his family members sat with us while I ate. And Kai sipped on a champagne glass of blood.