Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
“Okay, we’re done.” Cecil put his makeup brushes down and stared at me. “It’s my best work ever, and somehow, I can’t enjoy it, knowing that at any point you’re going to fall asleep and start screaming and clawing at the walls.”
I pushed him away lightly. “I told you, I’m fine, Cecil.
” I felt better after a glass of champagne, and even better after Cecil shoehorned me into an absolutely knock-out shimmery gold dress with a sharp halter neck that hugged my throat and swung down almost to the butt at the back.
But the lingering fear rolled around in my gut like five-day-old Chinese takeout.
That little episode in the bathroom had knocked the wind out of me. Even the memory of it had felt so real. And now, I couldn’t shake the fear I didn’t know what was real and what was not.
“You better behave yourself at dinner,” Cecil said sternly. “Donovan sent word while you were thrashing around naked on your bathroom floor like a dying fish. He’ll need to meet you at the restaurant.”
I pinched my eyes closed. “Can we please stop talking about it?”
“I can’t!” He let out a little whinny of distress.
“This date is important, Chosen. It’s the first ritual you have to complete, and the bond might not survive if you fall asleep at the table and turn into a stark raving mad woman and run away from Prince Donovan.
Actually, you know what?” His eyes lit up.
“I know something that will keep you awake and as upbeat as a fat kid in a cake store?—”
“No,” I said firmly. “No cocaine.” I got to my feet, feeling a little unsteady.
Even if this was all real and not a hallucination, there was no chance in hell I’d ever run away from Donovan.
He made me feel so safe, I was far more likely to run towards him than away.
“I’m not worried in the slightest.” I shuddered as the buzz of my lie almost electrocuted me.
“Please, Cecil, just relax. Have a cocktail.”
Cecil eyed me suspiciously. “Don’t mind if I do,” he said, shimmying over to the wet bar. “It will have to be to-go, though. I have to drive you to the restaurant in a minute.”
I rubbed my temples for a second, trying to ease the tension in my head. “I haven’t even asked where we’re going.”
“A little place called Romeo’s.”
I blinked. Romeo’s was almost more exclusive and expensive than Cloud.
Where Cloud was a demonstration of the snobbishness and pretentiousness of fine-dining, Romeo’s was older, quieter, less flashy—more old-money than new.
The menu hadn’t changed in a decade. And unlike Cloud, you could actually see your feet at all times.
“He managed to get a reservation at Romeo’s on such short notice? ”
“Actually, no. They laughed when I called and asked for a reservation. So, we bought it.”
“You bought the restaurant?”
“Well.” Cecil tossed his mane out of his eyes. “His Highness did.”
I shook my head and decided to leave that one alone. “Why is Donovan meeting us there?”
“Two reasons,” he said, clip-clopping over with the bottle to top up my champagne. “It’s part of the courtship ritual; you’re supposed to meet alone, unarmed, and unescorted at a neutral destination.”
I nodded. “That makes sense.”
“The second reason is that he’s…” He threw back the last of his martini and mumbled something under his breath.
I narrowed my eyes. “What did you say?”
He sighed heavily. “He was in need of some healing when he came back from Faerie.”
“Healing?” I reared back, alarmed. “Why, what happened?”
“You’ll have to ask him, Chosen,” Cecil said, a little bitchily.
“He didn’t share that particular tidbit with me.
” He slammed down his martini glass and looked me in the eye.
“Look. My one job—my one job—is to look after you, to make sure you’re happy.
I can tell you’re not happy. Even if you’re just really tired, it’s making me extremely uncomfortable. ”
I licked my lips. “Cecil… I’ll be okay. Let me get through this date tonight, and I’ll have a proper night's sleep. I’ll talk to Bronwyn in the morning, shake out the cobwebs, and everything will be okay. Actually, speaking of Bronwyn, that reminds me,” I said, looking around. “Where’s Cress?”
Cecil hitched his shoulders—a careless shrug. “No idea. Eryk and Nate are with Prince Donovan, so I expect she’ll be with them, too.”
I patted the window frame. “Has she been home?” I asked Violet. She bumped my fingers back twice. “No? Not at all?” I turned to Cecil. “Should we be worried about her?”
He let out a whinny of laughter. “We should never stop worrying about her. I expect Cress is out doing what she does best, beating up supernatural creatures for information, that kind of thing. Now come.” He held out a hoof for me to take. “Your carriage awaits.”
“Okay.” I gathered up my dress and let him escort me to the elevator. “But the carriage will have to pick me up from the parking garage.” I grimaced. “Striker is still out there, watching me.”