Chapter 29
CHAPTER
29
Looking in the mirror, I was unable to reconcile myself with the refined lady looking back at me. I reasoned that I had spent too long wearing fighting leathers, and it was the fact that I was wearing a dress again. The female in the mirror was a mere shade of the girl who arrived here; scared, unsure of herself, longing for everything she’d lost. The reflection in the mirror was confident, intense, and ready to be unleashed on the world.
The dress only added to the power I felt coursing through me. If I had been trying to downplay things, I might have chalked it up to the excitement of finally leaving Basdie even if for just one evening, but that wasn’t it. I was ready for this mission. My gown wasn’t armor, but it was perfectly designed to disarm anyone who crossed my path.
We arranged for each of us to travel in a handful of carriages. Some of us solo, others in pairs. We staggered our arrival times to ensure we did not appear as a group, making it easier to blend in with other attendees. With the help of Saryn and Theory, we knew the fake names to use upon arrival. The others had already departed. Gia and I were last.
When I stepped into the carriage she gave me a shocked look, remarking, “Damn, Cress, and I thought I was the belle of the ball.”
I blushed at her words, taking it as a compliment but also starting to worry that maybe I had gone too far.
She could see the concern on my face and cut in, “Don’t worry, you’re not going to ruin anything. I’m going to be exactly what he wants and more.”
Gia looked beautiful, but I knew this was not her final appearance. She’d arrive looking like herself, but as soon as she could spend a few minutes getting inside our target’s head, she’d shift and look like the object of his desire for the rest of the evening while we carried out our mission.
The clopping of the horse hooves and the rich scent of polished mahogany was a welcome trip down memory lane. I hadn’t accounted for the longer-than-expected carriage ride when I chose this dress design, but Gia and I made small talk in between rehashing the plan—for my sake more than hers. Her job was pretty straightforward: Keep the target distracted while the rest of us acquired the goods.
When I heard the wheels of the carriage transition from the sound of the beaten dirt to that of stone, I knew we had likely reached the premises of the estate. I felt the coachman bring us to a halt, and I looked at Gia with nervous trepidation. My confidence wavered briefly. Were we ready? Were we going to pull this off as a team? Was the plan the right one? Gia reached across and grabbed my hand tightly, looked me square in the eye, and said, “No mistakes, no mercy.”
Her words were electric, bringing my focus back with a jolt. I nodded at her. As we both made our way out of the carriage, I looked up at the massive stone building, firelight beaming from every window. The escorts each took our hands with their crisp white gloves and ushered us to the entry line.
The circle drive was filled with countless carriages dropping off guests, one after another. Each person attending was dressed more elaborately than the last. The ladies were draped in jewels, from diadems to necklaces—the real stars of the evening. The males were merely more accessories.
I did not see the rest of our team as we continued to step forward in line, preparing to give our false names at the door. The wait felt like both an eternity and a single moment. I tried to calm my breathing and think back on everything Saryn and Theory had taught us. Mental shields up at all times. See beyond distractions. Listen to what is not being said. Always be aware of the exits. Anything out of the ordinary is not a coincidence.
So many lessons, wise words, and instructions swirled through me that I initially hadn’t even heard the greeter ask for my name. The insistence in his voice interrupted my distraction and told me that this was not the first time he had asked. I said the name I had been given, and Gia squeezed my hand as he nodded and let us pass. I let out a small sigh of relief. We were in.
The giant rectangle room was two stories, with us having entered at ground level—which was also the top floor. The clean white marble covered every inch of this place. Floors, pillars, walls, it was all stone of the highest quality, and it was clear that their wealth far exceeded that of even my own family. It was possible that someday the king would have made them Honored Fae if it weren’t for their son’s criminal dealings.
I had a suspicion that Gia’s family had this kind of wealth, if not more. She didn’t seem to balk in the way I did, which made me remember that someone who belonged here wouldn’t be gaping at the scene. I composed myself and continued to assess the room, trying to remember the layout from the drawings and orient myself.
The distractions were plenty. Bright yellow flowers filled the room with a thick floral scent at every turn. They adorned every inch of the room. Wrapped around stairwells, covering long banquet tables. They paired perfectly with the white stone and the golden filigree throughout. This home was more than lavish; it was borderline gaudy.
Gia and I stood at the top of the wide stone staircase that led down one level into the open ballroom. On the opposite side was another staircase. This gave those on the main level the ability to look down and admire the dancing from above. Multiple golden crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings overhead, canvasing the dance floor in abundant light. Since this floor was underground, there were no windows, but the walls were lined with wall-to-wall mirrors, making the space look even larger and more mazelike.
There was no hiding in here. Everything was bright. Too bright. I had hoped for dim lighting, dark corners, a way to become one with the shadows, but that would not be the case this evening. We started to make our way slowly and carefully down the staircase.
Across the dance floor, I was relieved to spot more of our team. I made sure not to stare at them and scanned my eyes across the dance floor with delicate ease and confidence. As my gaze moved back across the ballroom, I could see the expression on Trace’s face as clear as day. He was staring at me with molten hot intensity.
Gia whispered to me, “Next time you can design my dress.”
His eyes widened almost imperceptibly, and I had to admit I did take the smallest bit of pleasure in knowing that I could still get his attention. It was then that I realized it was likely I had gained the notice of more than just him.
Suddenly, all eyes were on me and people were clearly whispering, some even going so far as to point. As we arrived at the bottom of the stairs, I found myself face to face with a very handsome male, but there was something sinister in the way he looked at me.
His eyes quickly roamed the length of my body, drinking me in. My back was completely exposed, and the bottom of the dress was a shiny, milky white satin that hugged my hips and flared and flowed behind me. In front, my hip bones protruded from above the waistline, exposing my navel.
But the bodice of the dress was what made it truly unique. Two giant feathers, dyed canary yellow, hugged the sensuous curves of my figure, beginning at the waist of the skirt and continuing up my chest. They splayed out across my breasts, covering me but leaving little to the imagination.
They had said this party would be ostentatious and debaucherous. I was fitting right in, and now I was regretting it. This wolf of a male had a feral intensity about his appraising gaze. He grabbed my hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a soft kiss atop it.
“My name is Fenix, but you may call me Nix.”
A small gasp escaped my lips. He probably thought I was just nervous about the kiss, but Gia’s eyes flared at me and I could see her begin to shift nervously. This was our target. The host’s son had already intercepted us, and it was all my fault. Why did I wear this stupid dress?
“And what shall I call this exotic bird before me?”
Flustered by the unplanned encounter and misdirected attention, I fumbled, trying to remember the name I was supposed to say. Suddenly, Gia interrupted and put her hand out for him, expecting a similar treatment. He turned his head in surprise and kissed her hand as well.
“My name is Lorne and this lovely specimen is my dear friend Astrid.”
A sly smile spread across his face.
“Well ladies, welcome to my family’s estate. Good of you to join us for this evening’s celebration.”
I remained speechless because I could feel his desire towards me and that was most certainly not the plan.
Gia continued, “We’re delighted to be here. Your home is just as stunning as I had heard. Would you be so kind as to grab my friend and me a drink?”
Nix nodded and began to step away to fulfill Gia’s request. Once he left, I let out an enormous, panicked breath.
“Cress, listen to me, we have to pivot. I’ve been inside his head this whole time, and there isn’t a single female I can shift into that is going to lure him more than what you just presented him with. He’s enamored, and we’re fucked. You better be ready for this impromptu change in plans. You’re the bait now!”
My palms began to sweat. I had not ever accounted for a scenario where I was the bait. That was the shifter’s job. Get in his head, find out what he likes, transform and distract him.
Just as Nix arrived back with our drinks, Trace approached us, bowed, and put out his hand to offer me a dance. I grabbed it, not knowing what else to do, but welcomed the quick exit from Nix to buy myself some time to figure out how we were going to pull this off now.
Trace pulled me in close to him, and as the string quartet echoed the next waltz, he began to quickly shuffle us farther out onto the dance floor, and farther from Nix so he would not be able to hear us. I knew Gia could handle him, but I would eventually have to come back to her aid. Trace moved us through each of the steps, practically carrying me along the way as my mind raced with possibilities.
All I could utter was, “I’m…I’m so sorry. I messed up, didn’t I?”
Trace squeezed my hand to reassure me.
“The dress didn’t help, but even I know that your beauty goes beyond some feathers and frills. Who wouldn’t want you?”
Trace continued to twirl us through the countless number of people on the dance floor. I found no relief in his compliment.
“What do we do now?” I said, worried.
He leaned into me, speaking very calmly, “Stick to the plan. Now we know exactly who he wants. Gia needs to shift to look like you, but that means you can’t risk being seen near one another again. Find a way to stay far apart, and she can handle him.”
I breathed a small sigh of relief and relaxed minutely in his embrace. The music seemed hollow and drowned out as a world of golds and yellows spun in swirls all around us. The dancing lessons had paid off.
“Varro and Nori are in place to handle the nanny and children. Cairis has moved to the upper level to prepare for watch duties. The plan is still good, Cress.”
When the song came to an end, he held my hand out as he pulled away and acknowledged me with a bow. Then he lifted my fingers to his lips and kissed them—while staring directly back at Nix.
“What are you doing?” I chastised.
“Making sure he wants you. Males are jealous creatures, and they especially don’t like others touching what is theirs.” He nodded and then stepped away.
I watched him go, and that’s when I noticed he was donning all black. The usual. But there wasn’t a hint of his tattoos anywhere. He had glamoured them completely out of sight to keep his true identity well-hidden. Each of us were focused on mental shields and small glamours. With all the training, it didn’t require too much energy or focus to keep it up for a while. Gia was the one who needed the real endurance to pull this off.
I turned on my heel and began to make my way back to her. I had to find a way to convey that the plan was still intact. When I arrived back at her side, she smiled cheerfully, sipping her champagne, and Nix handed me mine. I was grateful for a drink to calm the nerves and cool me down, but Saryn’s words echoed in my mind: “Be careful of ingesting anything handed to you.”
Since Gia didn’t adhere to the rule and hadn’t dropped dead from poison, I figured it was safe and lifted the glass to my lips. Suddenly, I felt Nix’s warm hand resting on my lower back.
“You’re quite the dancer, Astrid. I had hoped to be the first in line, but I guess we’ll consider the fellow in black a warm-up.”
I let out a small fake laugh and nodded at him sweetly, realizing I would need to play along with this seduction for the time being. I lifted two fingers to my head and pressed them against my temple just for a second before bringing my hand back down to my side. To most this looked like I was developing a headache, but Gia would recognize the signal. It meant that I was going to briefly let down my mental shields and give her access to my mind.
I conveyed through my thoughts the instruction Trace had given me and as soon as I saw her deliver the return signal my shields were back up. Nix grabbed my hand and I passed my empty glass back to Gia.
“You two enjoy yourselves. Astrid, meet me at the ladies’ room afterward.”
Nix was smooth and charismatic. He danced even better than Varro, but the feel of his hot breath on my neck and the way his hand wandered too low made me feel sick to my stomach. I did not envy Gia. Her role as the bait was not a pleasant one, and I would gladly give it back.
I tried to focus on the fact that he was handsome and took comfort in the blade adhered to my inner thigh. I ran my fingers along his velvety jacket, noting the rich merlot color.
His dark brown facial hair was trimmed neat and short. His deep brown eyes weren’t anything special, but they matched perfectly with his slicked back hair. He smelled of foreign cologne. Not a natural scent, like Trace. I leaned into him, letting his body press against mine, knowing that this would be exactly what Gia would do.
Trying to muster more confidence, I snaked my fingers behind his head and ran my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. I could feel him stiffen in delight, but this was all just a game to me. A means to lower his defenses.
With him focused on dancing and the feel of our bodies now closer than ever, his mind was an open window for me to peer into. There I found lustful thoughts, but they were not sweet or kind. This host who was charming on the outside was anything but in that imagination of his. Whether it was myself or Gia, we could not let him be alone with us or in control. Shivers went down my spine at the thought. He felt the goosebumps on my skin under his hand.
“Do I make you nervous, little bird?”
The nickname sounded gross coming from him, especially after I’d seen thoughts of just how he wanted to treat this little bird. It was clear he liked his females innocent, pliable, and willing. Everything I wanted to say back to him was the opposite of that. I had to stay focused. Be what he wanted. Do what Gia would do.
I leaned into his ear and whispered back sweetly, “No, but I am a bit chilled. Will you keep me warm?”
I pressed my peaking nipples into his chest, letting him feel me. That got his attention. As the song came to an end, he twirled me one last time and ended with me in a dip. When he pulled me back up to meet him, I remembered where Gia had said to meet her.
That’s when we heard the chiming of the bells. We knew this meant that guests needed to transition to the terrace if they wanted to see the Canary Veil.
“Come, Astrid, let us see if the sky truly is canary yellow.”
As he said the words, he ran a finger gently along the yellow feather covering my breast. I couldn’t believe the audacity of his touch; I was practically a stranger to him. He thought I was in his trap, but he didn’t know the web was mine.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll fly away?” I teased. “Let’s get Lorne first so she can join us.”
Without waiting for his agreement, I grabbed his hand, leading him up the staircase toward the back wall and in the direction of the ladies’ room. When Gia was not there waiting for me, I took the opportunity to part with Nix just for a moment.
“Wait here, let me see if she’s still in there.”
He looked annoyed, but also knew that he probably wouldn’t have much luck winning my favor if he commented.
I went inside the room to find Gia behind a curtained stall, and it was like looking into a mirror. She had shifted into me and transformed her dress to match mine. I could see there wasn’t a hint of difference.
“Gia, he doesn’t like strong females. Be careful,” I said with a warning.
She nodded. “Trust me, I know his type. I’ll be his sweet little daffodil.”
“He’s going to lead you toward the viewing on the terrace, but he’s as warmed up as they get; keep him busy. I’ll make my way to the others.”
When Gia left the restroom, I could hear the bells still ringing and peeked around the corner watching guests scurry by toward the terrace exit at the other end. Gia locked her arm in Nix’s and let him begin to lead her away. I heard her say, “I’m not sure where Lorne went, but you’ll stay with me, won’t you?” Gods she was way better at this than me.
With the guests heading in the opposite direction, I hastily performed a glamour trying to conceal myself as I walked away from the terrace towards the bedrooms.
When I arrived, Varro was standing in the doorway. Inside the room to the immediate right was a closet. When he gave me the hush sign across his lips, I knew it meant that the nanny was secured and sleeping. He needed to remain in close proximity for his Siren Song to keep her asleep. I ignored the fact that I could see him eyeing my dress, just like all the other guests had.
It’s just a dress was all I could think, especially after the debacle it had caused us thus far.
Across the bedroom, I saw a young lady in a simple work dress and apron talking to two small children, a boy and a girl. She was whispering to them, and they appeared to trust her. That’s when I realized it was Nori. She had glamoured me and them to think she was the nanny. If you studied closely and knew what to look for, the illusion became more apparent, but there’s no way those sleepy children and their untrained eyes would notice a thing.
She grabbed each of their hands and began to lead them away from their nursery room.
As she passed me, I heard her say, “Don’t you worry, just come with me, let’s get a special treat. We won’t tell anyone.”
Once she exited the room, I peered back down the far hallway where I could see Cairis. He acted disinterested in the celestial showing and pretended to focus on his smoking pipe and the glass of liquor in his hand. People passed him one by one, ignoring his presence entirely. The guards that stood nearby treated him no differently than any other guest.
These people were so focused on guarding their wealth that no one seemed to think about the children, and it was sad—but worked in our favor. What an unbelievably wicked thing for Nix to hide these stolen goods near his innocent siblings. It was reckless, putting them in harm’s way like this.
When Trace arrived, I took my place at the midpoint between Cairis and the bedroom. Trace and Varro began to dismantle the room quietly in search of the box. Saryn said we’d know it by the king’s emblem etched into it.
Ever since receiving the mission, I was curious not only about the box but also what other illegal items Nix might be hiding. I had made sure not to distract myself with those thoughts, ever since we built the plan for the mission. But now that we were here, it was harder to ignore them.
Part of me wished I was in the nursery helping them search, but I remained steadfast in my position. I waited for what seemed like ages. With each passing minute, I grew more nervous. Trying to look inconspicuous, moving about the upper balcony acting like I was fixing my dress, or admiring a painting. I made my way toward the wall of windows, and from there I was able to see the Canary Veil. It was truly a sight to behold.
The whole sky was lit in a yellow haze. Unlike the auroras which looked like smears of watercolors painted across the night, this was only one color, an entirely yellow sky. I could barely make out the faded twinkling of stars behind the blanket of color. It wasn’t anything like sunlight. I can only describe it as a yellow pane of stained glass held up over the pitch-black night sky.
I could hear the onlookers outside ooh ing and ahh ing. I glanced back at the nursery and could hear Varro and Trace shuffling about. Nori and the children were still gone, off somewhere keeping them distracted with milk and cookies. Cairis, still on watch, had not sent any alerts or concerning signals.
As I continued gazing up out the window at the miraculous sky, I felt a warm hand snake around my waist.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” the silky-smooth voice said in my ear.
I turned to meet a male that was familiar, and yet not. He looked so much like Nix, but there were slight differences. Almost imperceptible, but there.
Before I could stop myself, I said, “Didn’t we just meet earlier?” Trying not to sound as confused as I was or too irritated that a stranger had touched me like I was his property.
He let out a small chuckle. “Ahh, my apologies. You must have met one of my associates. Someone with my wealth and business endeavors must employ specific practices to keep certain guests at a distance. I’m Fenix, but you can call me Nix.”
My teeth clenched tightly, and I tried to keep my breathing even and calm. I could not show him the alarm that was coursing through me. If this was the real Nix, then who in Gods’ names was Gia with?
“I’m Astrid, and what endeavors are those?” I whispered back nervously, before realizing a delicate flower would not pry—but it was too late.
His foxlike features twisted into a grin. “I’m in the business of procuring rare and beautiful things, hence why I find myself drawn to you.”
I ignored the flattery. I could smell alcohol on his breath, and his eyes were glossy with bad intentions.
“You know, there’s an absolutely stunning view from the private terrace of my room. Let me show you.”
Before I could deny him, he grabbed my hand and began leading me toward a door along the same hallway as the children’s room. I was panicked that he’d hear Varro and Trace tearing through the nursery in search of what we came for. I needed to somehow alert one of them and do something to get their attention.
I began to walk with him and then pretended to trip and fall on my dress. I let out a loud yelp, hoping one of them would take notice. Nix helped me up from the ground, and I acted embarrassed.
“You ladies and those high heels. I don’t envy you. You can slip them off in my room, don’t worry.”
The implication was not lost on me, and I began to worry about my safety and Gia’s. Since Nix arrived at my side, I had tried to penetrate his thoughts. But despite the intoxication, his shields were unbreakable. Unlike the male from earlier whose mental shields were nowhere to be found, thoughts oozing off him like he might as well have said them aloud, this one was a steel trap.
If I was with Nix, headed to his bedroom, where was Gia? Was she okay? As we passed through the threshold of his doorway, I saw Varro out of the corner of my eye and gave him a hand signal to let him know something was off.
When we entered Nix’s bed chamber, he closed the door behind us and the echo of the lock clicking caused a pain in my chest.
“Take your shoes off, we can’t have you taking another tumble, can we?”
There was a padded bench at the end of his bed and I sat down, doing as he instructed but also using it as a way to stall. I began to work on the buckle of my high heel, when suddenly Nix was on his knees before me and taking my foot into his hand.
He fumbled slightly with the latches, but insisted on helping me remove my shoes, giving him a chance to greedily run his hands along my feet and up my bare leg. I anxiously pulled away and stood, trying to make my way to the terrace he mentioned.
“We really should check out the view, how much longer will it last?” I questioned, trying to sound like we were running out of time to see the veil.
When I turned back toward him, he was hovering over me. He grabbed my chin, squeezing it a little too tightly, turning it up toward him. “What do you mean? I have my view right here.”
He ran a finger down my bare chest, in between where the two yellow feathers covered my breasts. Then he placed his other hand on the white fabric of the skirt by my hip and began to drag it upward slowly as he said, “And here is my veil…”
His words were sour with drunkenness and potent lust. I needed to give the team time, but I was beginning to worry that if he ran his hand any higher, he was going to be quite surprised to find a blade on such a delicate bird.
Every fiber of my being didn’t want to do this, but I knew I had to find the courage. Be the bait , I kept repeating to myself. Control the situation, don’t let it control you. I leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips, pulling his hand from my hip up to my face and keeping him far away from finding that blade.
He showed no patience or restraint before his tongue was sweeping into my mouth. The taste of liquor on his tongue made my stomach twist. His kisses became deeper and more fervent with each passing moment. He was sloppy and stumbling, and I tried to keep us both upright as he pressed his body further into me. Then his hands began to roam once more. He pushed them against my chest and began kneading my breast.
I needed to scream, to cry, but instead, I focused my fear inward and let anger turn me hard like a stone. No matter where he touched or fondled, I would not let myself feel it, I would not let my body react the way it would as if this was welcomed or wanted. Just buy the team time, failure is not an option.
I let out a fake small whimper here and a moan there to make him think he was in control, that I was enjoying this. It only fueled his passion further, and that’s when he turned forceful. He shoved me down onto the bed and crawled on top of me.
I could feel the sheath of the blade along my leg beginning to dig into my skin. I wanted to grab it and stick it in his side, over and over, just like I had done with the Vesper, but I knew I could only do that as a last resort.
Saryn had permitted us to do whatever we wanted with Nix, but what if that set off a whole other chain of events leading to more chaos, leading us farther from getting what we came for?
He began to fiddle with his belt buckle and I tried to reason with him, “Maybe we could slow down, I’m not ready for that. Let’s go slo…”
Before I could finish my words, he put his hand over my mouth to muffle the sound of my voice. “Stop talking, little bird, and start singing.”
He tried to position himself over me and shifted his grip in an attempt to lift my dress. I felt his sweaty hands groping at my legs as he tried to reach between my thighs. At the same moment I felt his hand touch the sheath, I heard the loud banging of celebratory fireworks from outside.
Suddenly the doors to his bedroom flung open and Varro was standing there, having kicked straight through the lock. His eyes were wide, brows furrowed in anger as he took in the sight of Nix pinning me to the bed. Despite my attempt at acting, he could see the fear and distress written all over my face. Varro’s features were painted with frantic rage as he scanned the situation before him.
Behind him there were loud noises, yelling, and the sound of rapid footsteps. I knew we had to go quickly; with Nix distracted by Varro’s interruption, I reached for the knife, jamming it into his side and hopping from the bed as fast as possible.
Nix screamed in pain yelling, “You bitch! Guards! Guards!”
He crawled across his bed, blood pouring from around the dagger sticking out of him, and pulled a corded rope. A bell sounded, clearly used to alert the staff that danger was on the premises.
I left my shoes behind, because in reality I was better off barefoot than in those things, and ran toward Varro. The scene on the other side of Nix’s door was unraveling quickly into chaos we had not planned for.
Cairis wasn’t too far away but would have to handle the three guards who were storming in from the terrace all on his own. Nori and Gia were nowhere to be seen.
Two guards ran up on Varro and me with swords raised, but they both suddenly grasped at their throats, knees buckling, as they began to gasp for breath. Siren Song. Varro had rendered them defenseless before he walked up, grabbed them by the scalp to expose their necks, and ran his blade across each of their throats. I shuddered at the blood spurting and pouring out of them.
“Come on!” Varro instructed me as he stormed toward the exit, both of us still wary of our surroundings.
The booming sound of fireworks continued outside, the guests completely unaware of the small battle underway inside the house. The nanny, now awake, the effects of Siren Song diminished, came running out of the children’s nursery screaming. She wasn’t a threat, but she was only going to alert more guards. I gave her one swift punch to the side of her face, knocking her out cold. She’d wake up with a massive headache, but she didn’t need to die for this. In between unsure steps and exasperated breaths, I asked, “Did you find it?”
Varro and I continued to walk in a defensive stance ensuring no blind spots.
“Yes, Trace has it. Just focus on getting out of here alive.”
He had never sounded like this. Panicked and unsure. Cairis had finally plowed his way through those three guards when Varro shouted, “Go, just go. I’ve got her!”
I looked up to see a clear exit near Cairis. He was covered in blood—not his own. With no other guards in his way, he could make it out under the cover of the celebratory commotion and get to the rendezvous point. All I could hope was that Gia and Nori were already there.
Down in the middle of the ballroom, we spotted Trace. Box in one hand, guard’s sword in the other. He had already hacked his way through half a dozen fighters all on his own. He began to make his way up the staircase on the opposite end of us, almost to the exit, when suddenly more guards rushed in, flanking Varro and me. There were more than the two of us could handle.
Varro and I had the same thought. We both ran down the steps and across the dance floor to the place where Trace just was, but he didn’t return. When I looked up, he was still at the top of the stairs, staring down at us. The echoes of guards’ footsteps encircled us from every angle. Why wasn’t Trace coming to help us fight?
Varro shot me a concerned look, but I couldn’t entirely discern what he wanted me to do.
“We need to fly, it’s our only way out.”
Out of breath and with my heart racing, I unfurled my wings just as Varro did. The minute we were both airborne, I felt a sharp stab through my shoulder and I quickly plummeted back to the hard marble floor.
I writhed in agony, screaming. An arrow had pierced my wing and was embedded in the back of my shoulder. The pain seared through me and my blood began to pool across the pale floor. Shocked, I looked up at Varro and saw fear in his eyes, and then I looked back at Trace, where he stood near the doorway.
His stare was hollow. He took off through the exit door, box in hand, leaving me and Varro to fend for ourselves.
The words echoed in my mind as I began to feel lightheaded.
Failure is not an option.
That’s when it became clear to me what this was all about. I knew we were a team, but the mission came first. I was the reason the mission went downhill to begin with. No one else deserved to get hurt because of me.
“Go…go now!” I choked out toward Varro, still hovering above me.
Guards were everywhere, but if he flew fast and possibly straight through the nearest window, he could make it.
“No,” he fumed and landed beside me.
I looked up to see Nix standing at the top of the stairs we had just run down, holding his side and still bleeding as he yelled, directing his guards, “Kill him and bring me that wretched whore! She’s mine to deal with.”
Instinctively, Varro raised his wings over and around me, trying to shield me as I lay below him on the ground.
“Pull the arrow out,” I begged him.
“No, you’ll lose too much blood!” I’d never seen Varro look truly scared, until now.
The thought that at any minute arrows would begin showering down upon us terrified me, but then I looked up at Nix and that terror shifted into hate.
I heard the countless clicks of crossbows, and it was as if time had slowed down. Varro hovered protectively over me, and I looked into his bright blue eyes, eyes that said goodbye. My rage played through my mind like the pages of a book: the gambler at the tavern, my father delivering me to the king, Saryn slapping me, hours upon countless hours under the torturous hand of the Vesper, Nix’s hands all over me, Nix forcing himself on me, the way the dagger felt sliding in his side. Suddenly, all that rage exploded out of me in an indescribable burst of energy that flared out in all directions.
Varro and I were wrapped in the warmth of safety, like a cocoon that shielded us from everything. Power flowed off of me, quaking the ground beneath us, shattering every window, and blasting every guard and Nix through the air to slam into the walls closest to them.
A sudden silence reigned, only broken by the echoes of cracking walls, falling glass, and the guards’ pained moans. Outside, the fireworks ceased, and the sounds of screaming guests took their place.
The ruckus grew fainter with each passing second. I felt incredibly tired and drained. What had just happened? I wondered if the blood loss from the arrow had become too much. I felt myself slipping into a fog, and in the distance, I heard the faint echo of Aster’s words, “How strong is faith, when arrows nocked?”
Varro tucked me into his bloodied, golden arms, and I was overcome with an unexpected sense of comfort before the sensation of whooshing air skimmed past us as he flew us out of the destroyed ballroom. My eyes fluttered, and the last thing I remembered was how warm Varro’s hands had felt on my too-cold skin.