The girls gaped at me. “What are you talking about, Emma?” Delmare asked.
“We don’t have any proof,” I said. “What’s it going to look like if I accuse them of murder on the night of the King’s Ball? People will think I’m trying to get them kicked out, so Ethan and I have a better shot at winning.”
“But… we heard them with our own ears,” Odette said.
“We didn’t record it,” I said. “Without evidence, it’s our word against theirs. We don’t have any proof.”
Delmare frowned. Kiara and Odette both dropped their gazes in defeat. They knew I was right.
“Should we tell Ethan?” Delmare asked.
I hesitated. Ethan had the right to know about this. But at the same time, the King’s Contest started tomorrow. This would be a huge distraction. He’d be so busy trying to get justice for Waldron that he wouldn’t focus on winning the Contest, and there’d be a bigger chance we’d lose.
Everything rode on us getting that crown. This would have to wait.
“We need to keep this a secret, for now,” I told the girls. “I’ll tell Ethan what Elijah did after the Contest is over. Then he might be able to do something about it.”
Kiara nodded. “Right. None of us will say a word.”
“Not to any of the boys, either. They’ll tell Ethan,” I said sharply when Odette opened her mouth. “This stays between us girls.”
“Ooh, a secret.” Odette’s eyes widened. “Don’t worry, Emma, we’ll keep this on the down-low.”
“But Gabby said they would try to kill you during the Contest. Shouldn’t we be worried?” Kiara asked.
“They can damn well try.” I narrowed my eyes. “All I can say is, they’d better watch their backs.”
“Agreed,” Kiara said firmly, and she nodded. “It’s the job of the ladies in waiting, and the knights, to protect their contestants and make sure they make it through to each task safely. Don’t worry, Emma. The rest of us will make sure Gabby and Elijah don’t tamper with your stuff. You and Ethan just focus on winning that Contest.”
We were still lost, but when we headed in the direction Gabby and Elijah had gone, we found our way back to the ballroom. I didn’t see either of them mingling with the crowd. The only person I recognized was Theo, who was sitting at a table by himself and looking rather forlorn.
The four of us dispersed— Kiara went off to go find Gabby and Elijah. Her idea was to tail them for the rest of the night at a distance, just in case the two of them decided to try to come up with a plan to off me and Ethan. We gave Odette the job of acting natural, so at least one of us didn’t look suspicious. Delmare headed off on her own, to look for Stefan and Alexei.
Before I found Ethan, I wanted to talk to Theo first. He just looked so freaking pitiful. I slunk into the seat beside him and adjusted my skirt. He barely glanced at me. His eyes trailed Odette as she weaved her way around the ballroom.
“You want to tell me what’s going on?” I asked. I flung a leg over my knee and bobbed my foot to the music.
Theo barely glanced at me before finishing his drink. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Bull,” I spat at him. “You’ve been eyeing Odette all night. You’re wearing a fucking rainbow tie because she wanted you to. Something’s up between you two, and it’s more than a little crush.”
Theo sighed and set down his drink. “You’ve caught me, Emma. As has everyone else. What do you need to know?”
“When did you bond with Odette?” I asked. “And why is it taking you so long to tell her the truth?”
Theo paused for a moment, his fingers roaming over the champagne glass, before he said, “I bonded with Odette when we were kids. It’s really rare for that to happen. I was only seven, she six. We were chosen as the lead dancers for the children’s ballet, and, well… when I held her in my arms, I knew.”
“Didn’t she feel the mating bond connect, too?” I asked.
Theo shook his head. “It’s not as obvious for sorceresses. The connection isn’t as strong, not until they accept it. Sometimes it’s easy for a Marked to overlook a bond, or be confused by it. You can feel something, but it might not be what you think.”
Theo scratched his head. “The thing is, it was such a long time ago I don’t think Odette remembers. You know how she forgets… things.”
I nodded my head. Oh, I knew. “You have a polite way of putting how bubble-headed Odette can be.”
He grimaced. “Well… she has a quirky personality, but there’s more to it than she lets on.”
“What do you mean?”
