Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
Jupiter
A week had passed, and nothing felt real anymore. Lydia’s nimble fingers worked through my hair, styling it into loose waves that cascaded down my back. I stared at my reflection in her vanity mirror, barely recognizing myself beneath the makeup she’d meticulously applied.
“Stop frowning,” she chided, catching my expression. “You’ll mess up your lipstick, and I just spent twenty minutes making you look like a goddess.”
I forced my face to relax, though the tension remained coiled in my shoulders. “Sorry.”
“You should be. This is my best work yet.” She stepped back to admire her handiwork, head tilted critically.
I smoothed my hands over the white dress I’d chosen for tonight.
A gown that glittered with every movement like captured starlight.
The delicate straps and plunging neckline revealed most of my serpent tattoos, the fabric dipping nearly to my navel before cinching at my waist. The slit that ran up my thigh was scandalously high, showing more leg than was probably appropriate for such a formal event.
“Perfect revenge dress,” Lydia declared with a wicked smile. “The ‘fuck you, I’m gorgeous’ kind.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, though it felt hollow. “Is that what this is?”
“Isn’t it?” She raised an eyebrow. “One last night pretending to be the happy axis to the almighty Nightfall Shield before you jet off to London and leave them all heartbroken? If that’s not revenge, I don’t know what is.”
I sighed, fidgeting with one of the straps. “It’s not revenge. It’s just the deal I made with Waverly. Play nice for one night, let them present me as their axis to save face with the Assembly, and then I’m free to transfer.”
“Right.” Lydia rolled her eyes. “And the fact that you picked the sexiest dress in existence has nothing to do with making them suffer.”
I didn’t answer. Maybe she was right. Maybe some petty, wounded part of me did want them to see exactly what they’d thrown away.
The past week had been excruciating, all four of them trying constantly to talk to me, to apologize, to explain.
They’d camped outside my door, sent flowers, letters, and gifts.
Percy had even tried to break in one night when he thought I was asleep.
I’d blocked them all completely, reinforcing my mental walls until the bond was nothing but the faintest silver thread. It hurt like having a limb slowly amputated, but the pain was preferable to feeling their remorse, their desperation. Their love, which had come too late.
“They’ve been miserable,” Lydia said quietly, as if reading my thoughts. “Tye said Eris nearly broke Melissa’s arm when he confronted her.”
“I don’t care,” I lied. “That doesn’t undo what they did.”
“No,” she agreed, “it doesn’t.” She met my eyes in the mirror. “But maybe—”
“Don’t.” I cut her off. “Please, Lyd. Not tonight.”
She nodded, understanding in her eyes. “Fair enough. Tonight is about you looking absolutely devastating and making the entire Assembly regret ever messing with Jupiter Black.”
I stood, letting the dress fall to its full length. The material caught the light, making it look like millions of diamond shards had been sewn into the pale fabric. “How do I look?”
“Like you could destroy worlds with a glance,” she said with fierce approval. “Which, technically, you can.”
I managed a smile that almost reached my eyes. “That’s the plan.”
Lydia’s phone buzzed on the vanity. She checked it and grimaced. “They’re here. Tye says he’ll meet us downstairs.”
My stomach clenched. “I thought we were meeting them at the gala.”
“Change of plans, apparently. Waverly insisted you arrive together.” She squeezed my hand. “You can do this, Jupe. It’s just one night.”
“Just one night,” I repeated, trying to convince myself. “And then I never have to see them again.”
I gathered my small clutch, checked my reflection one last time, and followed Lydia out. Each step felt like walking toward an execution, the weight of what awaited me growing heavier with every floor we descended.
Tye was waiting in the lobby, looking uncharacteristically formal in a tailored suit. His eyes widened when he saw me. “Holy shit, Jupe.”
“Good holy shit or bad holy shit?” I asked, attempting to mask my anxiety.
“Definitely good,” he assured me. “You look incredible. You’re going to give those assholes heart attacks. Oh yeah and I guess you look okay too, Lyd.”
She punched him in the arm. She did look amazing in her ruby red ball gown, with her hair straightened into a glossy sheet.
Tye’s expression sobered. “You sure you’re up for this?”
I nodded, squaring my shoulders. “I made a deal. One night of pretending, and then I’m free to go to London.”
“And you’re still set on that? Leaving?” His eyes were serious now.
“I have to. I can’t stay here, Tye. Not with them. Not after everything.”
He nodded, understanding but not happy about it. “Just know you always have a place with us, wherever you go.”
The lump in my throat made it hard to speak. I simply squeezed his arm in silent gratitude.
Outside, the sleek black car waited, its windows tinted to obscurity. My steps faltered as we approached. Through the mental walls I’d built, I could feel them inside. Tye and Lydia were taking the Dreadwatch car coming up behind ours.
Tye opened the door for me, and I took a deep breath before sliding inside. The interior was dimly lit and spacious enough that I could sit without touching any of them, though it was close.
They were all there, dressed in formal black suits that made them look even more devastating than usual.
Percy sat directly across from me, his dark eyes immediately finding mine.
Aiden was beside him, golden gaze traveling over me with naked hunger that made my skin heat.
Draco and Eris flanked me on either side, careful to leave space between us.
“Jupiter,” Percy said, his voice low and rough. “You look devastating.”
I didn’t respond, just inclined my head slightly in acknowledgment before turning to look out the window as the car pulled away from Dominion’s gates.
“The gala is being held at the Celestial Hall in Manhattan,” Draco said, breaking the awkward silence. “Most of the Assembly Council will be there, along with representatives from academies across the world.”
“I know,” I said coolly. “Director Waverly briefed me.”
Another silence fell, this one even more strained than the last. I could feel them exchanging glances, communicating silently through their shield bond.
“Jupiter,” Aiden began, leaning forward slightly. “Before we get there, we need to talk about—”
“No,” I cut him off firmly. “We don’t need to talk about anything.
The agreement was that I would attend as your axis for one night.
That’s it. No discussions, no explanations, no apologies.
We go, we smile for the cameras, we present a united front, and then next week I leave for London. End of story.”
“It doesn’t have to be the end,” Eris said.
I finally looked at him, letting him see the emptiness in my eyes.
“Sorry doesn’t fix what’s broken,” I said simply.
“And I am broken. You all made damn sure of that. But if I want to glue myself back together strong enough to replace you with a better shield, then I will. Because I’m better than what you turned me into. ”
The raw pain that flashed across each of their faces should have satisfied me. Instead, it just made the ache in my chest worse. I turned away again, focusing on the city lights beyond the window as we crossed the bridge into Manhattan an hour later.
“For what it’s worth,” Draco said, “Melissa has been expelled. The Assembly is investigating her family.”
“Good for them,” I said flatly.
The rest of the ride passed in silence, tension thick enough to choke on. I kept my eyes fixed on the passing scenery, pretending I couldn’t feel their stares, their longing, their regret pulsing against the barriers I’d erected.
When we finally arrived at the Celestial Hall, I had to fight to keep my expression neutral.
The historic building had been transformed for the evening, its grand facade illuminated with magical lights that shifted through the colors of the zodiac designations.
The red carpet leading to the entrance was lined with reporters and photographers, all eager to capture the arrival of the elite zodiac warriors and their axes.
To any human, this would look like some kind of movie premier, but they’d walk on me without a second thought.
“Remember the plan,” Percy said as the car stopped. “We present as a united shield tonight. No matter what’s happening between us privately.”
I nodded stiffly. “I know my part.”
Eris exited first, extending his hand to help me out. I took it briefly, the first physical contact I’d allowed any of them in weeks. His fingers tightened around mine for just a moment, his amber eyes searching my face. I pulled away quickly, steeling myself as cameras began flashing around us.
The others emerged, arranging themselves around me in the protective formation of a shield with their axis.
Percy at my right, Aiden at my left, Draco and Eris flanking us.
To anyone watching, we would appear exactly as expected—the prestigious Nightfall Shield and their powerful Ophis axis, united and formidable.
Only we knew the truth. That this was the final act in a tragedy none of us had seen coming.
“Smile, honey,” Percy murmured close to my ear as we began walking toward the entrance. “They’re all watching.”
I did smile, a perfect curve of my dark red lips that never reached my eyes.
His hand at the small of my back tightened fractionally before relaxing again.
Through the bond, a wave of such intense anguish crashed against my barriers that for a moment, they nearly buckled.
I reinforced them quickly, refusing to be drawn in by his pain.