Beckett twisted to see what Graham was looking at. As soon as he did, his heart sank.
Marcus and Jasper—or rather Blaise—had entered the club, arm in arm. Marcus was dressed as some sort of prince, and Blaise was resplendent as a princess. They truly did make a magnificent couple.
Noah didn’t think so, though. He frowned and immediately began to push his way through the patrons surrounding him. Beckett could see exactly what his intent was. Noah was going to confront Marcus, right then and there, with the club teeming with witnesses to what was sure to be a disaster.
“Oh, no, no, no,” Beckett murmured, pushing away from the bar and attempting to reach Noah’s side.
He didn’t make it in time. The last few party-goers standing between Noah and Marcus and Blaise parted when they saw the scowl Noah wore, giving him both a clear path and an audience for the confrontation.
“How dare you flaunt your infidelity in front of all these people?” Noah demanded of Marcus, shouting loud enough for Beckett to hear, even with the din surrounding him.
Marcus replied, but there was too much distraction for Beckett to make it out.
Unfortunately, as Marcus stepped in front of Blaise, holding his arms out protectively, those nearest to the scene realized something was happening. They grew quiet and formed a perimeter, which only drew more attention to the confrontation.
“You are mine and I am yours,” Noah insisted, again loud enough for all to hear, especially since a hush was starting to fall. “How could you betray me by clinging to this…this faux female?”
Beckett swallowed sickly and tried to pick up his pace to reach Noah, but the wall of bodies between them became thicker as more people noticed the fight. No one questioned Blaise as a woman. It was an unspoken rule of the club, one that could end with Noah banned from the place if he persisted.
“How many times do I have to tell you that it’s over between us?” Marcus boomed, drawing still more attention. “It has been over for months. You need to stop this, Noah.”
“I will never stop pursuing the love I know we have,” Noah said, moving in short, agitated jerks. “You know it and I know it.”
Beckett broke through the crowd at last, nearly stumbling toward Noah once he was in the growing space of the confrontation. He slipped right up to Noah’s side and said, “Now really isn’t the time.”
It was as if Noah didn’t even hear him. “Who is this…this person to you?” he demanded of Marcus, gesturing to Blaise. “How can he possibly love you as much as I do?”
Beckett cringed, knowing the stir Noah’s words would cause. He reached for Noah’s hand. “We should step outside for a moment,” he said as calmly as he could, inching closer to Noah. “Some fresh air will help, I think.”
No one was listening to him, least of all Noah.
“You’re mad, Noah,” Marcus boomed, sinking Beckett’s heart deep into his gut. “You’ve chosen exactly the right costume, because you’re as mad as a hatter. You should be institutionalized.”
“How can you say that to me, my love?” Noah asked, visibly starting to crumble.
“Please don’t say that.” Beckett appealed to Marcus. “It isn’t helping.”
“Nothing will help him,” Marcus said, throwing out an arm to Noah. “The man left his life in London to pursue me when I have given him no reason to. Quite the opposite. I have told him that I don’t want him more times than I can count, and yet, here he is. How is that not madness?”
“It is love,” Noah shouted, grief lacing his words. “It is pure love. It is the sort of love that stays the course and does not waver in the face of storms. It is love that would travel to the ends of the earth and wait until the end of time if necessary. The only people who would call it madness are those with little imagination to speak of.”
“I have no imagination then,” Marcus said, his words clipped. He shifted slightly so that he could grab Blaise’s hand. “I do have love, though. I love Blaise. I love her as herself and I love her as Jasper, and I intend to spend the remainder of my life loving her with all my heart.”
In spite of his clear anger toward Noah, Marcus smiled at Blaise with adoration that had Beckett’s heart overflowing with emotion.
Too much of that emotion was bittersweet, though. Beckett glanced to Noah, squeezing his hand harder.
“No,” Noah said, his shoulders slumping. “This cannot be happening.”
“It is,” Marcus said, back to scowling and snapping at him. “Get used to it. Now, if you will excuse me.”
He pulled Blaise to the side, causing the crowd to part and allow them to flee to the other side of the room. Much of the activity in the club had paused while the confrontation took place, but as soon as it was over, the buzz started again as though nothing had happened. The band even launched into a new waltz.
Within seconds, everyone was dancing and laughing and carousing again.
Beckett was jostled from behind and ended up crammed against Noah. It was probably for the best, though, as Noah looked like his energy might give out entirely.
“How about a drink, eh?” Beckett suggested, letting go of Noah’s hand so he could slide his arm around Noah’s waist. “That will take the sting away.”