Chapter 12
FINN
Josephine’s room is a whirlwind of silk, lace, and satin as we prepare for the masquerade ball on a major last-minute time crunch that has both of us growing more and more flustered with each passing minute.
“This one isn’t right either,” she huffs from behind the changing screen.
“Let me see.”
With another small sigh of frustration, Josephine steps out from behind the changing screen, trying in vain to smooth down the ruffles of the dress and looking wildly uncomfortable.
“You look stunning.”
She’s dressed in a magnificent poofy, ruffled gown that alternates between layers of white and pale pink. I thought the colors would look good with the pink in her hair, but the mass of fabric envelops her like a marshmallow—a beautiful marshmallow.
“That’s what you said about the last one.” Her hands get sucked into the dress as she rests them on her hips.
“No, the last dress made you look ravishing.”
It was a red number with tassels like a 20s flapper dress. It was nothing short of amazing on Josephine. So is this one. But she’s right. Neither of these gowns fit the occasion.
“The eggplant purple number made you look stunning,” I correct.
While true, that dress wasn’t up to par either.
“Right. I’ve tried on too many outfits. My brain is starting to jumble them all together. The whole fashion show montage thing looks way more fun in the movies.”
I second that but keep the thought to myself. Someone needs to be the calm voice of reason to keep this train on schedule.
We’re running out of options. The no pile just keeps growing. “Why don’t you give the pink ball gown a second try?”
Josie eyes the mound of gowns laid out on her mattress, the pink tulle of the dress in question barely visible underneath so many of its competitors. “It looks too much like something an eight-year-old would wear trying to be a princess.”
“You’re going to have to pick something. The pink one is pretty. What was wrong with that one?”
“It is pretty, but it’s not appropriate for a ball.”
“More appropriate than showing up in the nude,” I point out.
“Yeah, but I’m sure you’d love that.”
She steps up close, the billowing hem of her dress brushing against my legs, keeping Josephine at arm’s length.
I step past the barrier of Josie’s dress and pull her closer. “No. Your body is for my eyes only.”
The possession I feel over her is growing. It’s not like me, and I don’t know how to handle the rush of protective and greedy impulses.
“Really?” Josie blinks, looking surprised by that. “You’re not into the whole sharing thing? Maybe a threesome?”
“It’s not my thing.”
“Huh.”
“Does that bother you?”
“It’s just unexpected, I guess.”
“How so? Do I give off some kind of vibe that says ‘sexual deviant’?”
“Well, you run a sex club. And, as someone who’s been around for… a while, I assumed you would have a wide variety of interests.”
Interests, huh?
“So, I have to be some kind of sex-crazed fiend with a huge laundry list of kinks?”
“No,” she says, her gaze searching mine for something. “But how would you feel knowing your Unity Witch is a sex-crazed fiend with a laundry list of things she’d like to try out?”
I hazard a guess. “Threesomes?”
“Among other things.”
The idea of sharing Josephine makes me homicidal but it’s a possibility I’m going to have to consider. At least for now. Until we figure out this unity bond.
“Try on the next,” I urge, dropping her gaze and nodding towards the few remaining options.
She frowns as I take a step back, hurt in her dark gaze and seeping through our bond.
I understand her search for the right dress, but if she doesn’t pick something to wear soon, we’re going to miss the ball altogether. And failing to show up to such an important event would look bad.
It would be a poor first impression if Josie wants to integrate herself back into her coven.
She hasn’t said much to me about her plans for the future, but she’s going to have to start thinking about finding her place here in the city if she hasn’t already. It won’t be long now before we figure out whose bond is going to stick: mine, Rune’s, or Sebastian’s.
I watch her shadow shift on the other side of the privacy screen, bending over to pull the dress up her body.
It’s clear she’s meant to be here and not back in England. And it goes far beyond a Tremé witch’s need to be connected to her ancestral lands.
I saw Josephine on her first day in the city—I felt her. The anxiety, the curiosity, the potency of her magic. She has blossomed in such a short amount of time and the transformation has been incredible to witness.
“Hey, Josie? Last week in the mausoleum when you called on the spirits for help…” I trail off, not sure that’s the most accurate description of what she did. “Did you know you could do that? Is necromancy something that runs in your family?”
“Not even a little bit,” she says from behind the privacy screen.
“You and your grandmother ran a funeral home back in the UK, right?”
“We did,” Josie says, then answers my next question before I can ask. “Every dead body I’ve seen has stayed dead.”
Which means my hunch was right—her necromancer abilities are a result of the unity bond.
“It’s a pretty awesome power to have,” I comment, watching the shadow of Josie’s body contort as she struggles to free herself of the cumbersome garment.
“Are you kidding? It’s not cool or awesome. It’s horrible.”
“I meant it in the original context of the word. Awesome, as in reverence, admiration, or fear. Your ability as a necromancer—even an untrained, unskilled one as yours—is powerful. Once word spreads about what you did, people all over the city will think twice about coming after you.”
“Maybe.”
“This is a good thing, Josie.”
I get only silence from the other side of the partition. She’s still not convinced. I groan when I hear footfalls in the hallway. I was enjoying some alone time with Josephine.
“What’s wrong?”
“Rune is here.”
“Yes, he is,” Rune announces his entrance, throwing open the double doors of Josie’s quarters and traipsing in like it’s his room, not hers. “We’re supposed to leave in five. Everything else is good to go except you two. I even managed to wrangle Sebastian. What’s the holdup?”
“I can’t figure out what to wear,” Josephine calls from behind the screen, fabric shuffling as she slips into the next—and hopefully final—dress.
We’ve been through eight already, with six nos and two tentative maybes.
“What do you think?” Josephine steps out in another ball gown silhouette, this one with less lace but more bustles.
I watch the look on Rune’s face as he takes her in. “Give us a twirl, cher,” he says, motioning for her to turn.
She follows the order, lifting the heavy skirt that threatens to swallow her up.
“I know what your problem is,” Rune announces when Josie has completed the three-sixty.
“What? What’s wrong with this one?” Josie looks down at herself, her face scrunching up as she scrutinizes the latest contender.
“Problem is, you’re listening to Finn for fashion advice.” Rune assesses the remaining pile of fabric draped over the armchair.
“Not helpful,” I deadpan.
My fashion sense is more recent than his.
Though if we’re going to make it on time, maybe it would be better if Rune took over. As long as he doesn’t try to put Josie in a skin-tight mini dress, it can’t be any worse than my attempts.
“Hold on. I’ve got an idea,” Rune says, turning back toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Josie asks.
“To raid Naomi’s closets.” Rune winks at me before disappearing, and I can only hope he’s not being serious.
Josie flashes me a nervous gaze. “Why am I dreading to find out what he has in mind?”
I sigh and sink deeper into my chair. “Because you are an incredibly smart and intuitive woman.”
“Should I try on another while he’s gone?”
“Don’t bother. Rune won’t be gone lo?—”
I cut myself short when my sire whisks back into the room.
He holds up a hanger on the end of his finger and Josephine’s eyes go wide. “You have got to be joking.”
There is so little actual fabric to the garment that calling it a dress would almost be a lie. It’s all straps of leather and bits of mesh more suited for Club Sanguine than a masquerade ball intended to celebrate the life of the late high priestess.
“I am.” Rune tosses the strappy leather piece onto the couch. “I just wanted to see your face. Totally worth Naomi kicking my ass for going into her room and raiding.”
“You’re terrible,” Josie says with a shake of her head.
“I know. You’d look hot as hell in this though.” Rune bends to draw Josephine into a kiss, his voice low and ruff as his whisper brushes her hair. “You should try it on for us.”
“We don’t have time for that right now.”
“That’s okay, you can hold onto it; I doubt Naomi is going to want it back now anyway. We’ll save that outfit for a date at the club.”
Josephine’s heart rate spikes at the thought, and I scent a hint of fear from her, but more than that, intrigue and arousal.
I shouldn’t be surprised. She did warn me she has a list of things she’d like to try out in the bedroom. I should have asked her what’s at the top of that list.
I curse myself for not showing more enthusiasm. I hope Josie doesn’t take that to mean I’m not interested in exploring those things with her. I would try anything once if it meant holding onto Josephine.
“What are the three of you doing?” Sebastian storms into the room wearing a crisp black suit and matching mask with a single black feather—simple, yet stylish. “We are going to be late for this stupid party.”
“It’s not a party,” Josephine snaps at him, struggling to turn around in however many layers of material is weighing her down. “It’s a farewell to our high priestess.”
“The one who tried to kill us all,” Sebastian deadpans. “I’m aware.”
Josie holds up a pointed finger. “You better be on your best behavior tonight. Otherwise, you can just stay here by yourself.”
His gaze darkens. “I was originally hoping for a nice, quiet night in, but now that you mention it, I think I will come. If for no other reason, I do enjoy annoying you.”
I roll my eyes. Our king excels on that front.
“And don’t think for a moment that I’ve forgotten what you did to me in front of those Moon Witches, little witch. That will be addressed.”
Josie has the good sense to look abashed. “It had been a very bad night, and you deserved it. Although, I didn’t mean for it to get away from me. I am sorry for that much, at least.”
I meet Rune’s gaze and though it’s good she sees the err of her actions, Bas isn’t one who will let her off that easy.
Rune jumps in to change the subject and gets us back on the most immediate problem. “None of us will be going anywhere if we don’t get our witch into an event-appropriate outfit.”
Sebastian looks over Josephine’s attire with a frown. “Wait here.”
Josie flinches when he flashes out of the room, still not used to vampire speed. Or maybe it’s Sebastian she isn’t used to. “Whatever he brings back can’t be as bad as Rune’s pick,” she says.
That’s true, but I have other worries on my mind right now.
“Maybe it would be best if Sebastian didn’t come with us tonight,” I say carefully. “He hasn’t been himself, and your first foray back into the witching world isn’t the best place for him in his current state.”
“Has he been getting worse?” Josie looks between me and Rune.
“I don’t know about worse, but he sure as shit has gotten no better.” Rune frowns at the empty doorway. He told me about him acting weird down in the tunnels last week.
There are moments where I’d swear the guy is haunted and barely hanging on by a thread. I’m worried we won’t be able to stick our heads in the sand much longer.
Josie meets my gaze. “If he can’t handle going to a party, do you really think it’s a good idea to let him continue to be King of the?—”
“—and if they don’t have an open bar at this thing, I’m going to riot,” Rune interrupts loudly, tapping his ear and tipping his head toward the door, “And apps. I’m going to gorge myself on some fancy finger sandwiches.”
“Please, for the love of Gaia, don’t embarrass me tonight,” Josie says just as Sebastian zips back into the room, a pristine garment bag flowing behind him.
If he overheard our previous conversation, he shows no sign of it.
“Here.” He thrusts the bag at Josephine. “Put this on and let’s get going,” he says in a tone that brooks no argument.
Josie takes the hanger from him and unzips the bag a few inches to peer inside. I get a peek of pink, or maybe purple, before she zips it up again. “This? Really?” Josephine looks at it with clear reservations. “You don’t think it’s a little…”
“A little what?” Sebastian challenges.
“Nothing.” Josie quickly shuffles back behind the changing screen with Sebastian’s dress in hand, leaving the three of us to wait silently.
I rise out of my chair and start to pace, the vortex of emotions in the room all flaring within me at once.
Josephine’s anxiety about tonight.
Rune’s excitement for a night out.
Sebastian’s usual anger and gloom.
Things are getting worse.
Not just with Sebastian’s mental state, but with all three of us. There is tension between Rune, Sebastian, and me that hasn’t been there before and it worries me.
The three of us are brothers.
We’re supposed to be a united front, yet we keep butting heads—and not in the harmless way we used to. These days, it’s like we’re one wrong word away from being at each other’s throats.
Sebastian was at mine less than a week ago.
I look to Rune, then Sebastian on either side of me, wondering how to get back to the way things used to be.
“I thought it would give too much of a wedding vibe, but I have to admit,” Josephine says as she steps out for the reveal. “This is pretty damned close to what I imagined wearing tonight.”
Sebastian’s pick is a mermaid cut that hugs Josie’s body in all the right places, accentuating her curves and leaving me spellbound. The bodice is a pearlescent white adorned with delicate, intricate-looking beadwork that bleeds into the skirt. The mermaid cut flares out at her knees with puffs of delicate, shimmering organza that shifts from pinks to purples.
I knew she would look stunning in whatever she ended up wearing, but seeing this gown on her, the way the fabric clings to her form and shimmers subtly in the light—Sebastian outdid himself with this pick.
I’m not the only one taken by Josephine.
Rune lets out an impressed whistle, his hazel eyes shining as he takes in our mate. “Well, I’ll be damned. Who knew Bas had such an eye for fashion?”
Sebastian’s expression remains impassive, but a hint of satisfaction gleams in his icy blue gaze as he looks over his work. “I have an eye for many things.”
Even Josephine can’t take her eyes off herself. She turns from side to side in the full-length mirror, watching the way her dress moves as she does. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Sebastian.”
“It’s almost perfect. You’re still missing the key component of the ensemble.” He produces a mask that perfectly complements Josephine’s gown.
The mask is a delicate work of art, a harmony of the sun and moon. The sun, resplendent in its golden glory, sits above one eye, while the moon, a delicate crescent, graces the other. The mask sparkles with celestial gemstones that catch the light like stars in the night sky.
Josephine takes the mask, and as she gazes into Sebastian’s eyes, her own shine with gratitude. With the mask in place, and the look completed, she is transformed into an ethereal goddess.
Sebastian eases forward, his movements stiff and tentative as he reaches behind Josephine to take the clips from her hair. The long, black tresses fall loose, cascading down her back in waves. The darkness of her hair and the fuchsia streaks are a striking contrast against the lavender and silver of the dress.
Josephine seems taken by the nearness of Bas, her heart racing until he steps back to give her some space.
She blushes when she catches Rune’s approving eye, and warmth spreads through her as she takes the three of us in. “You three clean up very well. I’m a lucky girl to have such handsome escorts. For tonight, let’s put our differences aside and have a pleasant time.”
Wouldn’t that be nice?
“Then we need to get our asses in the carriage, Cinderella.” Rune gestures to the door.
“Right, what time is it?” Josie grabs my wrist, twisting it around to look at my watch. “Crap, we are so late.”
Rune steps up behind her, his usual carefree smirk in place. “You’ve never been to a formal event like this, have you?”
“What makes you say that?”
Rune slips his arm through hers and tugs her along. “Because, darling,” he says as he spins the two of them around, “important people are always fashionably late.”
I can’t help but admire the two of them. The radiance of Josie’s smile is enough to rival the sparkle of her dress as it catches the light. She is always so carefree when she’s with Rune.
My sire shifts her in his arms, and I notice how their hours of sparring together has given him a casual familiarity when he handles her body. “How else do we make our grand entrance?”
She giggles. “I’m more of a stick to the shadows kind of woman.”
“That will never do. If nothing else, the three of us will teach you how to command a room like the royalty you are in this city.”
Josephine squeals when Rune scoops her into his arms, both of them gone from the room in the next moment.
“This is going to be a long night,” Sebastian grumbles on his way out, hands stuffed deep into his suit pockets.
I don’t want to agree with him, but I have a feeling that, one way or another, all eyes are going to be on us tonight.