01-24-2023, 02:23 AM
The limo came to a stop as Sage mentioned Jaxen. Aiden chuckled as he remembered that particular night. It had been a shame there had not been more like it. Aiden had picked up some new tricks from that gathering. The power to change one’s appearance was beyond useful and it had made Aiden contemplate further applications of the Light. If only experimentation had been less of a danger…
“I would be shocked if Nox’s show was anything like Jaxen’s. The man is insufferably flamboyant,” Aiden quickly said as he downed the last splash of whiskey. Cooper dutifully opened the rear door as Aiden set the glass down upon the vehicle’s wet bar. Aiden spotted the flashing cameras and the gaggle of paparazzi just beyond and he stifled a sigh. He had all but avoided the lime light since coming to the CCD. It was a shock to find them here. Was the Ascendancy himself backing this event? How had Nox – a relatively unknown persona on the world stage – garnered such attention?
Aiden slapped a charming smile on his face on rote and slid out of the limo first, pulling Sage behind him. Aiden’s grip on Sage’s hand was firm. He needed Sage to know that he was uncomfortable despite what the rest of his body language said. Cameras blinded him for an instant as Aiden posed casually and smiled for the world – not daring to blink for a second. Dimitri followed behind Sage and worked to clear a path for the ex-rockstar as the paparazzi swarmed in tightly to capture what they could.
“Aiden! Are Kyle Rice’s allegations true? Were orgies a regular occurrence at your after parties?”
“Aiden Finnegan! Why have you decided to delay your book release?”
“Mr. Finnegan! Who is the young man with you tonight? Is this your new lover?”
“Aiden! Can you issue a comment on-“
On and on the questions poured as nameless individuals tried to speak over one another. Dimitri all but shoved the sharks aside as Aiden finished up his posturing and made his was through the sea of bodies that lay before him. His grip on Sage’s hand only tightened as the barrage of questions kept pounding away.
“Ladies and gentlemen! I will not be commenting on anything other than my dear friend, Nox, and his performance tonight. If you wish to find me after the curtain call, I will be more than happy to speak with you then, but for now, please allow my boyfriend, my personal assistant, and myself to enter the venue for – what I am sure will be – an amazing and captivating night. Thank you,” Aiden announced to the assemblage in a magnanimous tone.
The paparazzi did nothing of the sort, of course. Dimitri was just as determined, however, and finally opened the rest of the way for Aiden and Sage to proceed unmolested. Aiden squeezed Sage’s hand once more and pecked him on the cheek as they finally came to a cleared space upon the red carpet.
Jaxen Marveet was standing directly in Aiden’s path. He couldn’t help but to laugh out loud.
“Speak of the devil and he doth appear,” Aiden said jovially, “Jaxen, my friend, how are you on this fine evening? Nice digs.”
“I would be shocked if Nox’s show was anything like Jaxen’s. The man is insufferably flamboyant,” Aiden quickly said as he downed the last splash of whiskey. Cooper dutifully opened the rear door as Aiden set the glass down upon the vehicle’s wet bar. Aiden spotted the flashing cameras and the gaggle of paparazzi just beyond and he stifled a sigh. He had all but avoided the lime light since coming to the CCD. It was a shock to find them here. Was the Ascendancy himself backing this event? How had Nox – a relatively unknown persona on the world stage – garnered such attention?
Aiden slapped a charming smile on his face on rote and slid out of the limo first, pulling Sage behind him. Aiden’s grip on Sage’s hand was firm. He needed Sage to know that he was uncomfortable despite what the rest of his body language said. Cameras blinded him for an instant as Aiden posed casually and smiled for the world – not daring to blink for a second. Dimitri followed behind Sage and worked to clear a path for the ex-rockstar as the paparazzi swarmed in tightly to capture what they could.
“Aiden! Are Kyle Rice’s allegations true? Were orgies a regular occurrence at your after parties?”
“Aiden Finnegan! Why have you decided to delay your book release?”
“Mr. Finnegan! Who is the young man with you tonight? Is this your new lover?”
“Aiden! Can you issue a comment on-“
On and on the questions poured as nameless individuals tried to speak over one another. Dimitri all but shoved the sharks aside as Aiden finished up his posturing and made his was through the sea of bodies that lay before him. His grip on Sage’s hand only tightened as the barrage of questions kept pounding away.
“Ladies and gentlemen! I will not be commenting on anything other than my dear friend, Nox, and his performance tonight. If you wish to find me after the curtain call, I will be more than happy to speak with you then, but for now, please allow my boyfriend, my personal assistant, and myself to enter the venue for – what I am sure will be – an amazing and captivating night. Thank you,” Aiden announced to the assemblage in a magnanimous tone.
The paparazzi did nothing of the sort, of course. Dimitri was just as determined, however, and finally opened the rest of the way for Aiden and Sage to proceed unmolested. Aiden squeezed Sage’s hand once more and pecked him on the cheek as they finally came to a cleared space upon the red carpet.
Jaxen Marveet was standing directly in Aiden’s path. He couldn’t help but to laugh out loud.
“Speak of the devil and he doth appear,” Aiden said jovially, “Jaxen, my friend, how are you on this fine evening? Nice digs.”
Russian Dolls and Broken Gods, a new Fantasy novel by best-selling author, Aiden Finnegan, out this December! Preorder online and instore today!