CHAPTER 2: AMONGST GODS AND MONSTERS

RUBY'S POV

Up close, Alexander Ray was even more attractive than he looked in pictures. It was almost unfair. As the music shifted to a slow, sweeping melody, he began walking toward me. It was time for our first dance.

He moved with an effortless, striking grace. He seemed to act gently as he took my hand, but I wasn't fooled; it was probably just an act for the hundreds of cameras flashing around the ballroom. He slid his free hand around my waist, his long fingers pressing into the fabric of my dress, and pulled me closer.

Instantly, I was hit by his scent. It was a rich, masculine musk that practically screamed old money and expensive woodsmoke. My breath hitched. I looked up, but his blue eyes were so incredibly bright and expressive that I instantly panicked. Whoa. I couldn't look him in the eye. It felt like he was looking right through me.

"You can relax, Ruby," he finally spoke, his deep baritone cutting through the fog in my head. "I'm your husband now."

"I am relaxed," I shot back automatically, trying to sound sophisticated.

A tiny, amused smirk played on his lips. "Then why are you staring at my chest and not looking at me?"

"Because you were not looking at me either," I replied, lifting my chin defensively.

"Hm. Fair enough," he murmured.

We went quiet for a while, the silence stretching between us as we swayed to the music. Just when I thought the tension would choke me, I felt the brush of his fingers against my jaw. His touch was surprisingly warm as he gently tilted my head up, forcing me to hold eye contact with him. He didn't say a single word. He just stared into my green eyes with an intensity that made my heart hammer against my ribs.

Before I could decipher what that look meant, the music faded. The dance was over. Alex dropped his hands, gave me a polite, distant nod, and walked away.

I stood there on the dance floor, trying to catch my breath. But before I could even process my first interaction with my new husband, a tall, dark-haired guy with piercing grey eyes stepped forward. He was at least 6'2 and looked like he belonged on a European runway. Seriously, did someone open the gate for the gods to enter today? Because d*mn.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, offering a charming smile.

"I'm James Ray," he introduced himself as he led me into a slow step. "Cousin to the groom."

"I'm Ruby Bells. The bride to the groom," I replied, my natural talkative nature slipping out now that the heavy pressure of Alex was gone.

James burst out laughing. "Good one. So, how are you enjoying your wedding?"

"I think the guests enjoy weddings more," I admitted, looking around the glamorous ballroom. "I don't even know half of the people here, and I've been smiling and showing appreciation to them all day. My face muscles are literally begging for mercy."

He laughed again, his grey eyes crinkling. "The best part of a wedding is the drinks, you know. The alcohol, to be precise. And the women."

I let out a genuine laugh. "Oh, I don't drink. But the women? I might have to agree with you on that. If I wasn't straight, I probably would have gone home with three of them by now."

James lost it, his shoulders shaking. "You are funny. Alex is going to have so much fun with you."

I snorted, thinking back to the stone-faced statue I had just danced with. "I don't think 'fun' and 'Alex' go together. He seems very uptight."

"Oh, that's just an act," James said, his smile turning a bit mysterious. "Just be you, Ruby. You'll see." He gave my hand a warm squeeze as the song ended. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Thank you, James," I smiled, genuinely grateful for the breath of fresh air.

As he walked away, I stepped off the dance floor, desperately needing a quiet sanctuary. I just wished I wasn't the bride so I could slip out the back door and go home. I started navigating the grand hallways of the venue, looking for one of the empty VIP holding rooms to hide in.

Instead, I ran right into a familiar face.

"Escaping already?" Chloe asked, leaning against the wall with a glass of champagne in her hand. Her shiny blonde hair was perfectly styled, and her brown eyes swept over me with a familiar, critical gaze. "You know, thousands of girls would literally die to be in your position right now, and you're acting like it's an issue. Drop the act."

I suppressed a sigh. Yeah, I forgot to mention. My sister, Chloe, is a twenty-two-year-old spoiled, rude b*tch. If we weren't family, we would most likely hate each other's guts. We don't see eye-to-eye on a single thing, and at best, we just try to co-exist without burning the house down.

"Well, I would gladly trade places with most of those girls," I replied, crossing my arms over my white dress. "But I guess that's why they weren't chosen."

Chloe rolled her eyes, taking a slow sip of her drink. "You look good. Mum sends her greetings, by the way."

I frowned, looking past her. "Mum's not here? Why?"

"She had to get her nails done," Chloe answered carelessly.

A sharp, familiar pang of hurt sliced through my chest. Ah. Of course she does. Each time I dared to forget that I was adopted, my mum, Mia Bells, always found a way to remind me. Who on earth uses a manicure as a legitimate reason to skip their own child's wedding reception?

"Tell her thanks," I replied to Chloe, my voice turning completely cold as I turned on my heel and walked away.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, blinking back the hot tears that threatened to ruin my makeup. This day just couldn't get any worse.