Chapter 48
Naomi and Willow are hovering around me like two frantic hummingbirds, pinning my hair, adding shimmer-dust to my shoulders.
I understand what they’re doing. They’re not dressing me in a gown, they’re helping me don my armour.
A battledress of white gauze and crystals.
In the mirror, an innocent young woman stares back at me. Pretty, simple, a debutante, a sacrifice.
I definitely do not look like a warrior.
The dress itself is a masterpiece—layers of white silk and translucent iridescent gossamer.
My hair has been swept up into an intricate braided crown, and diamonds from Donovan hang from my ears.
“Stay still, Theo," Naomi murmurs, her brow furrowed in concentration as she applies silver liner to my lids. “This is the final touch.”
Naomi’s outfit is stunning. She’s wearing a column of almost liquid-silver silk, slit up to the thigh with a criss-crossing leather harness strapped across her chest. The halter neck shows off her toned shoulders. She’s calling it BDSM icicle.
But Willow is the fire to our ice. The fine velvet is cherry red, and almost looks like a medieval princess should be wearing it.
When she pulls up the skirts and shows me her heavy boots, it makes me smile.
“I’m not much of a fighter,” she grins. “But I’m happy to kick the shit out of some balls.
And check these out.” She opens a leather box to reveal a pair of earrings.
Glittering red and a slightly tubular shape.
“What are they?”
“Smoke bombs!”
“And I've got fuses built into these straps,” Naomi says. “We can grab liquor bottles from the bar and have them exploding in no time.”
“You both are so badass. I know it’s dangerous, so I feel guilty for saying this. But I’m fucking glad you’re with me.”
Naomi’s cell buzzes.
“The cars are here.”
Shit.
I take one last look at myself.
I look like a beautiful, innocent doll. When I flex my fingers, Lumina shifts inside, easing my nerves. Whatever happened yesterday with Wes hasn’t had lasting consequences, thank Gods.
“Alright, let's do this.”
—Lu? Can you hear me? We’re heading out—
Silence.
—Ludo? I’m serious. If you can hear me, give me a sign.—
Nothing. My stomach does a slow, sickening roll. If the Conclave has found him, if they’ve done something to my minotaur… I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep the ‘placid doll’ mask on long enough to get through the front door.
“Theo? Car's waiting,” Willow says, her hand on my shoulder. She senses the shift in my mood, the way my eyes have gone from vacant to panicked.
“I can’t reach Lu,” I whisper.
“He’s probably just out of range,” Naomi suggests, though her voice lacks its usual tactical certainty. “Keep your head in the game, T.”
She’s right, I have to, but I hate the uncertainty.
We walk out into the cold December air. The academy courtyard is a sea of gun-wielding guards and idling luxury vehicles. Naomi and Willow are ushered into a sleek black limousine.
But Max appears at my elbow and steers me towards the Range Rover. “I’m driving us, Sparkles,” he murmurs. “Why don’t you get in the back, and I’ll act as chauffeur?"
That’s not part of the plan. What’s he playing at?
He hustles me into the car, then takes off as I’m still buckling up. “What’s happening, Max?”
He doesn't answer, just drives through the main gate with the rest of the vehicles. “Max?”
Then he takes the forest road. What the fuck.
“Seriously, Max. If you don’t start telling me what’s going on, I’m going to be pissed.”
“It’s just a tiny diversion, Sparkles. Trust me.”
Hmm. I do trust him, but this is not an evening to be playing games.
Where the track meets the dense treeline, Max suddenly pulls over. The tires crunch over frozen pine needles.
“Why are we stopping?”
“Order to go,” Max says, turning around and a wolfish grin spreading across his face.
Out of the shadows of a towering oak, a figure emerges. My breath hitches.
It’s a man. A tall, broad-shouldered man in a pitch-black tuxedo that fits his massive frame to perfection.
His white hair is braided back tightly against his skull, revealing the sharp, noble lines of his face.
But it’s the eyes that stop my heart—they aren't his usual mismatched hazel and green. They’re a piercing, ice-blue.
“Contacts,” Max murmurs. “Cosmo’s idea. Help with the disguise.”
The door opens, and Ludo slides into the backseat beside me. The scent of rich earth and expensive cologne hits me all at once.
“You’re here,” I choke out, throwing my gauzy, crystal-covered arms around his neck. “You’re actually here.”
—I dug a tunnel out….many days of work…couldn’t let you go without me—
Max shifts the Rover into gear, pulling back onto the road with a roar of the engine.
—You look like the moon, Nymph. Beautiful and more powerful than any of us know—
“Oh, Lu. I love you, and I’m so glad you’re here with me. I need you.” Something occurs to me. “What about the guest list? How are you going to get in?”
—The dragon gave me a false name…I am a distant relative now—
Thank Gods. I lean my head against his shoulder and all the fear that had been gnawing at my gut for days quietens.
Ludo is the heart of us. With him by my side, I can do anything.
???
The drive to the Singleton-Smith estate feels like a fever dream. Outside the tinted windows, the world is a blur of winter shadows, but inside the Range Rover, the air is thick with the anticipation, testosterone and the low, steady thrum of the engine.
As we turn onto the private mile-long driveway, the manor looms out of the darkness. It’s a monstrosity of stone and glass, lit up like a Times Square. Hundreds of fairy lights drape from ancient trees, and a line of luxury cars snakes toward the grand portico.
High-level Conclave enforcers are flanking the entrance.
Ludo takes my hand. His grip is firm, grounded. —I won’t let anyone touch you, Nymph—
The Rover pulls up to the entrance. A valet in a white-and-red uniform opens my door. and Max hands over the keys with a cocky wink.
The entrance hall is an assault on the senses. The theme is everywhere—massive ice sculptures of phoenixes and dragons are melting slowly into pools of water, while real fire pits roar in the hearths.
“Theodora, darling!”
Shit. Janine Hart glides toward us, wearing a blood-red pant suit and six inch heel.
She looks triumphant as she takes my hands, her fingers cold and gripping.
“You look exquisite. A true masterpiece.” Her eyes flick over to Max, then linger on Ludo.
Her smile falters for a micro-second. My heart stutters.
“And who is this handsome addition to your party, Maximus?”
“Ivor Horne,” Max says smoothly, and I curse Max out internally. Now is not the time to laugh. “He’s my cousin from Kormovia. Thought it was time he saw how we do things in Havengard.”
Ludo, AKA Ivor, stops glaring at Max, then bows his head just enough to be polite. Janine’s gaze slides off him at the knowledge he’s unimportant.
“Welcome, Mr. Horne,” she says, before turning her attention back to me. “Come, Theo. Alistair and the others are in the ballroom. Let us get some refreshments before the ceremony begins.”
She leads me away, and with every step I feel more vulnerable. Reality setting in.
—Heading to the library now, pulu—
Shit. Alexis. Things are getting really real. I can’t see any of our gang, but it’s not a surprise, the place is packed.
Janine leads me into the ballroom like I’m a prized show-pony. The room is a dazzling sea of silver, white, and crimson. My eyes dart through the crowd, searching for any of our team. I spot Naomi, pretending to inspect a voluptuous ice sculpture of Jordan.
Willow goes to join, notices me, then quickly looks away as she sends me a message.—You OK? Need me to come over and run interference with Janine somehow?—
—No, I’m good for now. Keep on patrolling and looking for trouble. Lex is going in now—
I watch her turn and move off into the fray.
Janine leads me further into the room and then I see him.
At the far end of the room, standing on a raised dais beneath a sparkling chandelier, is Cosmo. He looks magnificent in his black suit and even from this distance I can see the massive diamond cufflinks at his wrists. I can also sense the absolute misery inside him.
Next to him, Jordan’s hand is on his arm as she gazes around like the cat that got the cream. She’s also dressed in white, just like a bride.
Cosmo’s gaze meets mine for a split second. Fuck. The memory of our kiss surges through my body. I shake it off.
No time for confusing feelings, the game has officially begun.