"What did you say to her?" Daemon asked as Arianna slid her arm back in his, her smile spreading wider across her lips as she smiled at the guests, recognizing some of them who immediately smiled back in recognition.

"Just scared her a bit," Arianna replied. "She knows not to play with me, but she’s been acting brave lately. So I had to remind her of a few things."

Daemon stared down at Arianna, waiting for her to continue but she didn’t. She just stared ahead, completely ignoring his gaze.

Daemon made another mental note to research Vivian and Logan.

He’d found them unworthy of wasting his time on but from the looks of things, Arianna’s relationship with Vivian ran deeper than what they portrayed as best friends.

"Arianna!"

Arianna quickly turned to the voice, recognizing it.

She found Lilian, running towards her while holding up her long green dress so she wouldn’t step on it and fall.

"I knew you would be here," she said as she quickly wrapped Arianna into a tight hug. "That was why I only agreed to come here. My parents have been bugging me to interact with more men so I can bring home a man one day. Knowing that you’re back in the city, I just knew you would be here. Although, I doubted Vivian would send you an invite. That woman is so shameless. Not only did she betray you, but she’d also sent you an invite just to spite—"

Lilian’s lips instantly paused when she acknowledged the tall man standing right next to Arianna, his aura imposing as he stared at her with the deadliest glare.

Lilian forced her saliva down her throat as she quickly pulled Arianna to the side.

"Who’s he? Why’s he glaring at me like that? Is he your bodyguard?"

Daemon’s lips jutted when he heard her.

’Bodyguard?’ He felt like he’d been slapped on the face.

Arianna giggled, placing a palm on Lilian’s shoulder.

"He’s not my bodyguard." Then she found herself laughing. To think something would take Daemon Langford as a bodyguard truly baffled her. "He’s my husband."

Lilian froze for a second. She blinked once, and then twice, her gaze shifting from Arianna to the large man behind her still glaring daggers at her.

"I’m sorry what?" She leaned closer as if she hadn’t heard her clearly.

"My husband. That’s Daemon Langford."

Lilian blinked at her once again, then twice before she burst out laughing.

"Oh wow! You really got me there. For a second I thought you said Daemon Langford was your husband. I had a few sips of wine in the car before stepping out so I shouldn’t be drunk now, right?"

Arianna revealed a downward smile before parting her lips to speak. "You shouldn’t be." Then she held Lilian’s hand and walked right back to where Daemon was standing. "Daemon, this is my closest friend, Lilian Sovelski."

Lilian glanced between Arianna and Daemon once again.

"You’re serious," she mouthed hard, her eyes widening.

"Lilian," Daemon acknowledged flatly, drawing her attention back to him.

"Daemon," she said, then she returned her gaze to Arianna, a worried look on her face.

Without saying a word, she pulled Arianna away again.

"You’re married to Daemon Langford." It wasn’t a question, more like a statement she couldn’t believe she was saying herself. "How’s that possible? You disappeared for two months and you suddenly returned, now married to Daemon Langford? How’s that even possible? Is he keeping you hostage? Are you owing him money? Do you need help?"

There was fear mixed with urgency in her tone, making Arianna’s heart go warm instantly.

If only she’d recognized Lilian’s loyalty faster. She had, but she’d leaned into Vivian more, thinking she was more of a better friend.

’Oh how blind was I?’ She wondered.

"You don’t have to worry. I’m not owing him money and he’s definitely not keeping me hostage," she responded.

Arianna was unsure if she should tell Lilian the truth. Perhaps, about her family background but leave out the part of her marriage contract with Daemon.

"I’ll tell you everything later, I promise. But right now, you could say I met Daemon and fell in love with him."

Lilian cocked an eyebrow that said You think I’m stupid?

Arianna sighed.

"I’ll tell you everything, just not right now."

Lilian gave her a deadpan look, one that told Arianna she wasn’t going to let things go until she opened her mouth.

Lilian was called by a man, drawing both their attention towards him.

He was dressed like every other bachelor invited to the party. Custom-tailored Armani suit, a tie, and the latest Rolex watch shining on his wrist.

"It’s so nice to see you here," said the man, his hand with the watch moving up to adjust his tie even though it didn’t need any adjusting. "If you don’t mind, can we talk?"

Lilian groaned as her lips parted to speak.

"I’m already talking to Arianna so I’m not free for anything, if you don’t mind." She repeated the last four words like him, as if mocking him.

She stared at him dead in the face, waiting for him to leave.

"I wish I could oblige but your parents sent me here," he said, his smile still on his face.

Lilian’s face instantly hardened.

"I’ll be waiting," he said before walking away.

Once he was gone, Lilian turned to Arianna.

"We’ll talk about this later. Right now, I’ll go and handle that idiot," she promised before turning her back to leave, heading to where the man was with profanities flying out of her mouth.

Arianna turned to Daemon who was already staring.

"She called me a bodyguard," he said, taking offense.

Arianna took a closer look at him.

Daemon had a muscular build, the type that would certainly make people think he worked in that field.

Arianna quickly covered her mouth, unable to stop herself as she laughed.

Daemon was about to say something when he saw someone behind her.

His face instantly hardened.

"Arianna." Her body instantly froze at that familiar voice.