Chapter 41 Taera
Taera
The party takes up what seems to be a rooftop courtyard with flowers strung between shadowed pillars on the outskirts of the square.
The air is warm and floral, but it feels like we’re outdoors.
Even the glass bricks beneath my feet imitate cobblestone.
An angular, glass moon shines down on us, illuminating the scene in pale light that makes my dress glow.
Soft, sensual music descends from above.
After the glass games, I’m more prepared for the sexy hardly there outfits that cling to their wearers like my wide-eyed gaze.
“You look good.” Omi elbows me gently, and I make myself exhale. They’re right. Thanks to them—and Annie—I’m not a total impostor in this surreal scene.
“Thanks,” I say.
Then I spot him, and breathing becomes difficult again.
Nikolai stands at the far edge of the courtyard, half in shadow, but the moon finds him anyway. His clothes are dark: well-fitted black pants and a matching jacket over a silver shirt. Even the gold of his hair shines silver.
It takes a beat for me to notice: his clothes match mine perfectly.
My neck heats, indignant. When he spots me, he scowls right back.
“I’m going to say hi to Annie,” Omi says, laughing. Before I can cling to them, they disappear into the crowd.
Blazing green eyes approach.
“What are you doing here?” Nikolai’s jaw clenches as he takes in my dress, which—under the silver light—shimmers like it’s woven out of moonbeams. We look like we belong next to each other, and I hate it.
I shove down my skittering nerves. “What are you doing here?”
“You shouldn’t have come,” he murmurs, his tone edged with warning. “Where did you even get the dress? Trying to look like me now?”
“Never.” I hold my chin high, already too aware of all my flushed, exposed skin. “And it’s none of your business where I got the dress.”
“You seem to like making yourself my business,” he grumbles.
“Trust me, I have no desire to be anywhere near you,” I mutter, attempting sassy.
“Sure.” His eyes darken. “Just like the morning after the labyrinth.” Nikolai drags a lingering gaze down my dress.
The urge to cover myself is so strong that I have to dig my nails into my palms to keep my hands at my sides.
A smile ghosts across his lips. I keep my jaw clamped shut so I won’t babble.
I’m sure I’m blushing, and I’m sure he’s noticed.
“I knew it would suit you!” Annie squeals, bursting out of nowhere. “You look devastating.”
The redhead, clothed only in smoke that gathers around her chest and hips, skips up beside us and gives Nikolai a peck on the cheek.
“You have to admit, Niko, she looks gorgeous.” Annie beams, looking at me with a radiant smile.
“She does,” Nikolai replies, sounding far less pleased about it. Even so, my stomach does a little flip.
“Stop glaring.” Annie scolds him with a laugh. “This is a party. Have some fun!” She loops her gloved fingers around my wrist. “Come on, Taera, let’s get you a drink.”
I let her pull me away from Nikolai, and only once my back is to him do I allow myself to indulge in a smug grin. Let him glower. He’s not the only one with secret plans.
“I’m so glad you came, Tae-tae.” Annie plucks two glasses from a floating tray and hands me one brimming with silver liquid. She clinks hers against mine.
“What’s this?” I can’t discern the color of the drink; it’s perfectly reflective.
Annie grins. “A good time.”
“I don’t usually drink,” I say. It’s an understatement. I’ve only ever stolen sips of my mother’s wine on the night of the solstice, back when we could afford wine.
“It’s not alcohol.” She winks. “Just an illusion.”
I don’t know whether that makes it better or worse. But when Annie takes a deep drink from her glass, I wet my lips with my own. It tastes like pears—like rain and dancing and sunsets. The liquid sparkles in my mouth, leaving warmth behind. My eyes widen, and Annie giggles.
“You’re adorable.” She laughs, resting a hand on my shoulder. She trails her fingers down my arm. “You know…”
“I do?” I ask, my breath catching under her smoldering gaze.
“I’d fuck you. If you want a taste of something new.” She smiles at me, and the smoke around her torso curls up around her fingers, caressing my skin.
I choke, sputtering. “I—But you’re—We’re both—”
“Smoking hot?” She leans in closer. “I’m a conduit, you’re a source. Tale as old as sand.”
“N-no thanks,” I squeak. “Not that I’m not… flattered.”
She laughs. “You’re so sweet.”
Looking away, I attempt to recover. Instead, I spot Jezebel nearby, wearing nothing but fuchsia paint splattered across her body.
My jaw hardens.
I’ll do whatever it takes to escape the Halls of Glass, even if it involves her. Taking another small sip of shimmering courage, I square my shoulders.
“I need to talk to someone,” I murmur.
Annie winks. “You know where I’ll be.”
I weave through the crowd. Each step toward Jezebel feels like wading deeper into quicksand. Knowing she’ll try to trick me—that I want her to—doesn’t make me any more at ease.
I glance around, looking for Nikolai, and spot him across the courtyard, deep in conversation with a dainty blonde girl. Put together, their babies would have hair the color of the sun. I shove that thought out of my head, tearing my gaze away.
If he has the audacity to charm sources like it’s nothing, I can march up to Jezebel and try to provoke her into helping me escape—by stealing my magic. I stride toward her now, wondering how to breach the circle of scantily clad magicians.
Turns out, I don’t have to.
“My, my. A little mouse,” Jezebel coos, and the group parts like a hungry mouth opening wide. I’m no longer approaching; I’ve been enveloped. I didn’t mean to become the centerpiece, but I certainly have Jezebel’s attention. The splashes of paint across her body remind me eerily of blood.
“I was hoping to talk to you.” My heart pounds, and I keep my eyes safely on her face.
“Ooh, she speaks! Niko’s little copycat.” Jezebel waggles her brows at my dress and the students around us laugh. “What could we possibly have to talk about?”
“I was hoping… we could talk privately.”
“A private matter?” Jezebel smirks. “Trying to figure out how to keep his interest? Is he getting bored already?”
I clench my teeth. She has information I need. When I don’t say anything further, Jezebel narrows her catlike eyes. The students around us continue whispering, exchanging looks. Their eyes flit over me like they might eat me.
“We were just about to play a game,” Jezebel says, her teeth glistening far too bright. “Want to join?”
I glance around. “I don’t really—”
She sneers. “I don’t talk to sources who are too scared to join in the fun.”
Fine.
“I’d love to join.”
“How exciting!” Jezebel applauds.
I try to join the circle’s edge, rather than stand in the center, but someone shouts, “She should go first!”
“Yes, you should.” Jezebel smirks at me. “Truth or dare?”
My breath hitches. Ordinarily truth would be easier, but honesty is dangerous here. I could put my family at risk. But will she dare me to do something even worse? As long as this gets me out of here, I can take it.
“Dare,” I say.
“Make her take off her clothes,” someone jeers. I ignore them. Humiliation is a small price to pay in exchange for my freedom.
“I think she needs to warm up first.” Jezebel purses her lips. “I dare you to finish your drink.”
I’d forgotten about the glass clutched in my hands, brimming with silver. I don’t know how it will affect me, but at least Annie was the one who gave it to me—not Jezebel. When I hesitate, someone jeers.
Jezebel quirks an eyebrow. “You playing or not?”
“I’m playing,” I say. I raise the glass to my lips and swallow the liquid in three quick gulps.
It’s as sweet and fresh as summer watermelon juice, and I gasp.
Warmth unfurls through me. Muscles relax that I didn’t realize were clenched.
I try to catalog each side-effect like I would for a tincture in the apothecary.
Ease. Mild euphoria. Nothing sinister. I smile back at Jezebel. Her cat eyes narrow.
I take my place in the circle. The next student steps into the center.
“Dare you to kiss yourself,” someone calls.
The cute little conduit splits into two perfect copies, turning to lower her lashes seductively at herself. She grabs her own hips, pulling herself into a heated kiss full of tongue and teeth.
I find myself laughing at the impossible sight.
“Truth.”
The group’s attention is on someone else, so my attention drifts away from the game, across the courtyard.
I see Nikolai again. He catches my gaze, frowns, then turns back to the girl he’s talking to.
Every time I see him, he’s with someone else.
It doesn’t take a genius to decipher what he’s up to—filling up on all their magic—but it still makes me scowl.
“So what do you want?” Jezebel hisses at me through pointed teeth, breath hot against my ear.
I step back, meet her gaze. “I need your help.”
“What kind of help?”
I keep my voice low. “I want to leave this place.”
“Not enjoying the party?” she mocks. “Lose your date, perhaps?”
“No.” I glance around, then lean in closer. She smells spicy: of cloves and oranges. “I want to leave the Halls.”
Jezebel’s eyes sparkle. “That’s a big ask for a little mouse.”
“I know you can help me,” I murmur.
“Let’s play some more.” Her lips quirk upward. “And I’ll think about it.”
I’m shoved by cheering hands into the center of the circle, and another glass of liquid starlight is pressed into my palm. It’s cool and fire-warm all at once, and the edges of the night begin to blur.
I’m dared to dance atop a table. It feels free, swaying to the music, no longer confined by my usual stiffness.
I catch Nikolai’s eye again, and he frowns.
Again. But I don’t need his approval. I turn the other way, toss my hair, enjoying the way the music makes me tingle.
I don’t need his scowl. I don’t need him.
Jezebel becomes more fun as the night goes on.
She laughs loudly and dances and tells students to do the silliest things.
I lose track of why I’m playing this game, finding myself giggling when someone has to trade clothes with someone else—one girl ending up in a dress that’s far too short, another trying to hide herself behind a thin layer of leaves growing across her skin.
Some of these magicians are really very pretty when they’re naked.
The circle spins. My skin buzzes. My turn again.
I know I’m supposed to choose dare, but I’m getting bored of that one.
“Truth,” I say next time those feline eyes fall on me.
Jezebel’s cat eyes twinkle. “Who at this party would you most like to kiss?”
I tap my finger against my lips, pretending to ponder for a moment, then grin sheepishly. “Nikolai.”
Jezebel tilts her head back and laughs. Everyone cheers around me.
“Do it! Do it!” the circle chants. I chant along with them until Jezebel pulls me back into the center, spinning me around.
Nikolai smirks at me from across the circle. His arms are folded over his chest. When did he join the game? I blush, laughing, and turn back to Jezebel, but she claps her hands together, starting the new chant. “Kiss! Kiss!”
When I look back at my green-eyed magician, he’s laughing and shaking his head, stepping into the circle toward me. He closes the distance between us and my heart soars.
“You want a kiss?” he says, grinning down at me.
“Yes,” I declare.
The students around us squeal and holler, stomping their feet against the floor.
This party is amazing.
Nikolai’s strong arms catch my waist, hot, sure, possessive, pulling me closer, and I shiver. He leans down, breath brushing my cheek, his eyes fluttering closed.
I lift my chin up to meet him.
My magic snaps—hard.
I jerk back, stunned.
My lips sting, my ears ring.
Everyone is laughing and pointing at me.
Not soft laughter. Not party laughter.
“Such an idiot.” Jezebel laughs loudest of all. “The look on her face!”
I whip my head back toward Nikolai.
Only, it isn’t Nikolai.
Dominic, another conduit from class, is spitting like he just tasted something rancid.
“Gah.” He grimaces, then grins crookedly at me. His face morphs and blurs before my eyes, flashing Nikolai’s features. “Did you really think it was me, sweetheart?”
Fresh laughter explodes. Someone actually doubles over. Someone else snorts.
I clap my hands over my mouth, trying to ease my burning skin. I didn’t kiss Nikolai at all. I was tricked.