57. Chapter 56
The last two weeks before the party were practically nonexistent.
Between pretending everything was normal during classes, attempting to brew an antidote using a kitchen stove and the ingredients her friends bought, and soaking up every last minute she could with them—and Ezra—there was barely time for anything else.
Now that the night was here, she could scarcely breathe.
She wrapped the vial tightly in her hand, saying a silent prayer it would work as expected, and she slid it into the crevice between her breasts, hoping the magic covering the ballroom wouldn’t make it disappear while she was inside.
“You’re sure it’ll work?” he asked as the four of them walked along the path to Belarune.
“Not entirely.” She buttoned her jacket back up, and before clasping the last one, she reached for her necklace, wrapping her hand around the handcrafted pendant she’d worn since the morning he gave it to her.
“We’ll get to you either way,” he told her, sliding his hand into her open one. He squeezed gently, trying to comfort her, but even the brush of his magic against hers couldn’t soothe her nerves. “Before anything happens to you. We’ll find you and fight whoever is behind this.”
“I know you will,” she whispered.
Soon enough, they stood before the entrance to Belarune Hall.
She scowled at the gold-plated limestone in the courtyard and the golden statue in the center of the oversized fountain.
Instead of going inside, she looked at her friends, at Ezra, and her throat tightened.
This could be the last time she saw any of them.
“Don’t say goodbye,” Maeve said, stepping closer. “We’re going to get out of this. In one piece.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Liam said.
Maeve glared at him before softening her gaze back at Ivy and grabbing her hand. “It’s more of a…see you soon, right?”
“Yeah, of course,” Ivy choked out. She wrapped her arms around Maeve tightly, taking in her raspberry scent and how she returned the hug with just as much love. When she pulled back, there were tears in the corners of Maeve’s eyes.
She turned to Liam and hugged him, just as tight. Her face tucked against his chest with how much he towered over her. “We’ve got your back, Ivy.”
“I know I can count on you.” She pulled back from him, grinning before she turned to face Ezra. In her periphery, the others gave them some space.
“Ivy.” His voice was barely a whisper as tears choked him already. “No matter what happens, I will find you. I don’t care who or what I have to go through to get there.”
She nodded, exhaling shakily as her tears fell freely.
He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing them away before he pressed his lips to hers softly.
They melded together as if they were committing the kiss to memory.
She never wanted to forget his gentle cupid’s bow or how he’d slide his hand to the nape of her neck as he deepened their kiss.
He pulled away, his dark blue eyes opening slowly before mapping every inch of her face. “Ivy, I…” He sighed as his brows creased.
Her breath hitched as she waited for him to finish.
Please say it, she thought. She could feel it when he looked at her, touched her, kissed her.
She wanted him to say those three words first as if it would give her the courage to hope she would find a way back to him, even though she was standing at the precipice of death.
Her mind wandered, away from what she was about to step into, toward a parallel universe where their lives had been normal, where they were only two people who found each other and had time to fall in love.
“I’ll see you soon,” he murmured.
And just like that, she was brought back to this world. The one where danger seemed to lurk around every shadowy corner and she had to venture into the dark alone, hoping their plan worked.
“See you soon.” She stepped back, her hands falling from his, and she continued on the path to Belarune straight ahead. Before entering the building, she glanced over her shoulder and smiled faintly as he stood in the same place, watching her leave.
Maybe after this was done, that world could become a reality.
Or as close to it as possible. They’d put this year behind them once they’d saved Briar and stopped those behind it.
Then simply…move on. At least, that was what gave her the courage to take the last step into the building, setting their plan into motion.
She followed the same path as the other times they’d come to the parties, standing behind a small group of students in line at the double doors leading to the ballroom.
There were two students standing at the door, as always.
Except now she couldn’t help but wonder if they were in on it.
Were they secretly part of the Illusionists, too?
Or were they clueless about the cover-up these events provided?
She stepped through the magic barrier, grimacing as it stretched around her body like a glove before she popped out on the other side.
She took in her outfit, and her breath shallowed.
Instead of something grandiose or intricate like the other times, all she wore was a cherry-red silk gown and her hair straightened down her back.
The magic had transformed her clothing to blend in with the background—the red, pink, and white draperies, balloons, and lighting that decorated the room—so when she was gone, nobody would notice.
It would be as if she had never been there to those recalling the night the next day.
She moved to the side by the end of the stairs, peering down her neckline enough only to find that the antidote she had tucked away was no longer there.
Shit.
Why didn’t she anticipate that? Her fingers rapped against her thigh before she moved through the crowd to find a corner to think of something else.
She didn’t get far before a sharp, cold sensation crackled over her magic.
She glanced over her shoulder, and her lips parted, half in awe and half in rage.
Silas glided through the crowd as if he were a soft, cold breeze on a winter night.
Instead of being dressed in all black, he wore a blood red button-up shirt that complemented his pale skin.
His blonde hair was pushed back, except for the stubborn lock that fell in front of his eye as he neared her.
“You’re radiant tonight, Ivy,” he greeted, a small smirk on his smooth face.
She crossed her arms as she glared at him. “Fuck you.”
He chuckled, his grin turning devilish as he admired her body in her dress. “It’s too bad we’ll never get the chance, darling.”
Darling. How dare he call her that? How could he stand in front of her, acting like nothing was wrong when that couldn’t be further from the truth? She clenched her jaw shut and turned away from him. She didn’t need to stand here and listen to his bullshit.
But a grip wrapped around her wrist, like silk-wrapped steel, sending shards of ice crawling up her arm.
Then his breath was at her ear, and she froze.
Was this it? Did she miscalculate how the night would go and he’d drag her into his shadows, never to be seen again?
She wouldn’t go quietly. He’d probably like that.
Her mind rushed to her friends outside. Mave.
Liam. Ezra. They were all waiting for her so they could follow.
If she never made it outside, they’d never know she was taken.
What if she never saw them again? Tears rose to the surface, but she forced them back. She refused to let him see how all of this affected her.
His hand slipped into hers. “Dance with me.”
She twirled around so fast that Silas lost his hold on her. She stared into the dark, inky pools of his eyes. What was he playing at?
“Please?” he asked, his voice low as the surprise melted away from his features.
“Why?” Her voice cracked and shook as the fear she’d barely been containing seeped out. “Why not just get it over with?”
“Perhaps I only want to feel what it’s like to…” his voice drifted off as if he thought better than to finish, then he shrugged. “What else will you do while we wait for what’s to come?”
“Think of another plan.” She scowled. “Can’t say I enjoy my death being inevitable, unlike you.”
He shook his head, tutting his tongue as he took a step closer to her. The subtle scent of wood smoke and sea salt emanated from him, curling around her, and she couldn’t help but be swept up by it.
“I know you’re smarter than that, Ivy.” The tips of his fingers brushed against hers. His were so different from Ezra’s. They were softer, colder. “Dance with me?”
Her magic flitted inside, as if it were skating on the frozen lake outside. Her breath hitched. Ezra was the only person her magic reacted to in such a way. Or so she thought.
The band on the stage transitioned from an upbeat into a slower song with their string instrumentalists. The dulcet tones of the violins wove through her, and her hand slid further into his.
“Yes,” she whispered, the word acting like the wax seal on her death certificate.
He smiled, and instead of malice behind it, there was…
a sadness. His fingers slid between hers before he guided her to the dance floor.
As they moved to the center of the room, the crowd parted, their eyes flitting between the two of them.
He slowed to a stop, spinning her gently to face him before placing his free hand on her lower back to start their dance.
She laid her arm on his shoulder, her hand moving to the back of his neck. The fringe of his blonde hair tickled her skin, sending pinpricks of ice down her spine to mix with the storm swirling inside her.