“Are you going to tell her I was here?”
Cass looked at me, her gaze delving deep. “You know what I miss most about before?”
“What?”
“All of us together. We were a mismatched family, the five of us. But we had something great. And we didn’t just lose Marin or the treasure. We lost everything.” She swallowed. “I want my family back, Gavin.Fix this.The witch doesn’t get to win.”
An unspoken agreement passed between us.
Cass shook her head. “No. I won’t tell. She’d shut us out. Marin only has three weeks to break her curse. She needs the best, she needsyou.”
She stepped back, one hand on the doorframe.
“Consider this your head start.”
Chapter 18
Gavin
The black brocade jacketwas a bit snug, but it would have to do. I unbuttoned the collar of the crisp white shirt peeking beneath the lapels and tied the mask to my face with a satin ribbon.
Bowen leaned against the bedpost, arms folded across his chest. “You’re going to a masquerade ball? Do you even know how to dance?”
“Dance?” I frowned at my reflection in the gilded mirror. “I thought masquerade balls were just revelers in disguise, sipping wine, and meeting for clandestine trysts in the bushes. That’s what I’ve always done before.”
Bowen’s lips twisted into a sardonic smile. “Sure. But there’s usually dancing involved first.”
Liana chuckled from her seat on the bed. She nudged Bowen in the side.
“You can’t expect a thief like Gavin to know anything about polite society. Be happy he’s not going there to pick everyone’s pockets.”
“Believe me, love, polite society will not be in attendance tonight. And don’t give him any ideas.”
I pressed a hand against my chest and peered at them through the mirror. “I’ll have you know, I’m a very selectivethief. I only go after big prizes. I’ve no interest in pocketing rings and jeweled cufflinks.” I angled my chin and adjusted my collar. “What matters is that Marin will be there. I’ll figure out the rest. Dancing can’t be that hard, considering I’m so light on my feet.”
Bowen’s features darkened. “I am as thrilled as anyone that she’s back, but according to you, Marin believes you’re the reason she spent the last three years in an underwater prison. And she thinks you stole her house. She’ll probably stick you with a dagger the moment she sees you. Some spirited couple will find your body stuffed in the bushes.”
I tapped the black satin covering half my face. “Then it’s a good thing I’m wearing a mask, isn’t it?”
“A mask isn’t going to fix anything. This won’t be easy, Gavin.” Bowen’s voice turned raw as he met my gaze in the mirror. “I know exactly what Marin is going through. I spent a year consumed with the same kind of rage and thirst for vengeance. Her anger and mistrust won’t disappear because we want them to.”
Liana’s fingers smoothed over Bowen’s forearm. The weight of their past lingered in the gaze they shared.
Bowen cleared his throat as if that could clear the memories, too, then continued, “Marin won’t believe you when you say you didn’t betray her. And I know that’s hard to accept, given the history you two share. You’d think that would be enough, but it’s not. She’s spent years convincing herself of what happened. It’s shaped how she sees the world. Even if her reality is built on lies, fighting you is safer than opening herself up to the possibility of more pain and loss.
“Trauma heals in degrees. It won’t be a single truth that breaks down Marin’s walls, but a hundred small ones that canbuild a new foundation. That’s what you’re up against.”
The gravity of Bowen’s words settled deep. The truth of them made everything more complicated.
We had Marin back, but we really didn’t.
And if we weren’t careful, we could lose her all over again.
“I know. And I’m prepared for it. If we had more time, I wouldn’t have to play dirty, but she’s going to need some persuasion to let me get close enough to help.”
Liana furrowed her brow. “Persuasion or coercion? Because your plan is devious. I agree with Bowen. You’re going to end up dead in the bushes.”
“No. I won’t. My plan is brilliant. Look, if Marin wants nothing to do with me when this is all over and she’s safe, fine. That’s her choice. But unless I force her hand, she’ll take on this hunt alone. Just like she took on everything herself before she joined our crew.”
