48. Chapter 48
Arwen
Cold air slaps against my overheated skin the second I step onto the balcony. I grip the stone railing and suck in a shaky breath.
What the fuck was that?
I was stupid. How was I supposed to explain it if Maddox or Atticus saw me dancing with Alexi like that? But it was like we were magnets, unable to resist the pull to each other. At least until Alexi showed who he really is.
All around me, SinVail glows gold beneath the autumn night while music pulses faintly through the doors behind me, muffled now by distance and cool air. I shouldn’t care what Alexi does. I definitely should not care who he kisses.
And yet my chest still aches with the image of him dragging that girl against him like I meant absolutely nothing.
“Arwen?”
I look to my left. Atticus stands near the far end of the balcony, shadowed beside one of the ivy-covered columns. The second he sees me, his entire expression softens. His eyes drag over me, lingering on the green dress, and something raw flickers across his face.
“Clearly, the universe is torturing me tonight,” he says in a quiet voice, already stepping closer towards me. “You look beauti—”
The balcony doors slam open. “Atticus, there you are.”
Daphne Langley sweeps onto the balcony, wrapped in silver satin and entitlement. The second her eyes land on me, her face twists.
“Oh.” Her nose wrinkles. “What are you doing out here?”
Daphne looks me up and down with open disgust. “I didn’t realize they were letting trash attend the ball this year.”
Atticus’s expression goes flat. “Shut the fuck up, Daphne.”
She whips her head toward him in complete surprise, like no one has ever spoken to her that way before. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You should just go back inside. I’ll be there in a moment.”
Outrage floods her face. “You’re seriously defending her?” She gestures at me. “I’m sure your father would love hearing about how you’re treating me—”
Atticus rolls his eyes.
“Tell my father whatever you want,” he says coldly. “He might act like he cares if you suck his dick while doing it.”
My jaw drops, and Daphne gasps like he shot her.
“You can’t—”
“Yeah, I’m aware of all your calls to him. We’re done tonight.” He grabs her shoulder, steering her inside before she can continue shrieking. “We’re leaving.”
For one glorious second, I think that’s the end of it. Then Daphne’s gaze snaps to me. And something sharp and ugly flashes behind her eyes.
The world tilts violently. Suddenly the balcony railing is gone beneath me.
My stomach drops as the stone disappears from under my feet and I’m falling—
The ground rushes toward me stories below. A scream tears from my throat as panic detonates through my chest.
I’m going to die.
Then—
A pulse of energy slams through my skull, and her illusion shatters like glass.
The balcony snaps back into focus too late, and I hit the stone floor hard instead, pain exploding through my knees as silk tears along the front of my dress.
For one disoriented heartbeat, I can’t breathe. Atticus is suddenly there, and realization hits me all at once. His power wraps around my mind like steel walls locking into place, cool and steady and furious.
That bitch.
“You—” I surge to my feet.
Then punch Daphne directly in the face. The crack echoes across the balcony. Daphne stumbles backward with a shriek, clutching her nose as tears spring to her eyes.
“What the fuck? You hit me! You can’t hit me!”
“Yes, I can,” I snap. “And I’m considering making it a hobby.”
“You psycho—”
“Enough.” Atticus steps between us, eyes blazing at Daphne. “You used your power on her? Again?”
She turns toward him with watery, outraged eyes. “It was a joke. Are you really going to let her assault me like that? She’s trash, Atticus. I’m your fucking date!”
Atticus doesn’t even hesitate. “You deserved worse.”
Her mouth falls open.
“Get out of here, Daphne.”
“You can’t be serious—”
“Leave now.”
Something in his voice breaks through her outrage, because she glares at both of us before storming back into the ballroom, blood leaking through the hand clutching her nose.
Atticus turns toward me, all his anger dissolving into concern. He crouches down to look at my scraped knees through the busted fabric.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lie, furious at myself that I wasn’t paying attention and let her, of all people, get past my mental shields.
The balcony doors open again and Maddox steps outside. He takes in the scene, and his expression looks like he seconds away from violence.
“I have it from here, Willshire.”
Atticus’s face hardens. “I was helping her.”
“And now I’m here.”
The tension between them slams into the balcony like a physical force. Atticus doesn’t move.
Maddox steps closer. “You should go play the role of obedient little heir before you bring more trouble down on her.”
“Maddox,” I snap.
But Atticus just huffs once under his breath. Bitter. He shakes his head, but something painful flashes across his face before he looks at me one last time. Then he leaves without another word.
I exhale hard. “You don’t have to treat him like that. He was on my side.”
Maddox arches a brow. “Please. He can survive a bruised ego after what he put you through last year.”
“We’re past that,” I respond.
His expression says that he absolutely is not ‘past that’.
I brush my hands over my dress before grimacing at the torn silk near my knees. “Maddox, I’m so sorry. I fell and ruined your beautiful dress.”
His brow pulls together. “…My dress?”
I blink at him. “Your gift?” I gesture downward. “I got your note about ‘wearing my power beautifully’.”
Confusion spreads across his face.
“No,” he shakes his head. “You said you were borrowing something from Holly. You look amazing, but I know how much you hate skirts and dresses, so…”
Icy dread slides down my spine. “No…”
Then I see it. A shimmering black note card sitting on the balcony railing like it were just waiting for me to find it. My pulse stops.
Slowly, I pick it up.
I knew it’d fit you perfectly.
— V
The blood drains from my face as I look around, panicked.
How did this note get here? Is he watching me right now?
“Arwen?” Maddox’s voice sharpens. “What is that?”
I take a step backward. “I have to get out of here.”
“What?”
“I need to change.” Panic claws up my throat hard enough to choke me. “I need this dress off right now.”
Maddox catches my wrist gently before I can bolt.
“Hey.” Concern replaces the irritation on his face. “Who gave that to you?”
“Who do you think?” I bite out. “Your psychotic brother is taunting me.”
I know it’s not fair to take this out on him, but after the invasion of my mind and constant violation of my privacy, I’m breaking a bit.
I wish I were invisible.
“Arwen.” My name comes out small as concern fills his face.
“Please… just let me go back to my dorm right now. I feel like I’m suffocating. I need to be alone.”
His gaze searches mine for a long moment.
“Please. I need you to trust me too,” I say desperately.
Eventually his grip loosens. “Find me first thing tomorrow,” he says.
I nod once. Then practically flee the balcony before he can ask anything else. I’m fooling myself if I think he won’t be sleeping outside my door tonight.