Page 100 of Fall into Place

It had only been a few days since she first kissed Callum, and she was terrified that if something went wrong tonight, she could lose him forever. Was it foolish to go to this ball? Should they wait until next month—or the month after? There were so many places on this island she’d yet to explore: She imagined lazy days and weeks together, swimming in silver pools under starlit skies, horseback rides along the jagged cliffs of the western coast, visiting magnificent buildings glamoured by vampires who no longer lived there, making love in gorgeous ruins overgrown with ivy.

It was all just a fantasy; Tess knew that. She’d almost been killed more than once on this island, even within the walls of this compound. She knew Callum would do anything to protect her, but she also knew it was unreasonable to believe he always could—especially since Felix’s entire clan wanted him dead. The longer she stayed here, the greater the risk that something would go wrong and she would never be able to leave. She knew they had to do this—not just for themselves but for Nantale, Sylvie, and the others too.

Tess threw on clothes and went back to her room—she needed to find Sylvie to finalize her gown for the ball. Since Felix’s apparent crush on Tess was crucial to their plan to find out where Isobel’s rooms were, it was important that Tess look as beguiling as possible. She and Sylvie had discussed a number of options yesterday, and Sylvie promised that she’d come back with a few finished choices for Tess to try. To Tess’s delight, Sylvie was already waiting with the dresses when Tess got back to her room.

“Someone slept in.” Sylvie raised an eyebrow—she obviously knew exactly why Tess was so late.

“Sorry,” Tess mumbled, though she couldn’t suppress a smile.

“Not a problem.” Sylvie grinned back at Tess. “Did you eat? Should I make you a little nosh before we get to the gowns?”

“I’m okay—Callum won’t stop feeding me.” She laughed.

“He likes taking care of you.” Sylvie nodded approvingly. “That’s how it was with Alberto too.”

“Was it very difficult?” Tess asked. “Loving someone whose life was so different than yours?”

“No, bubbeleh.” Sylvie rubbed Tess’s shoulder affectionately. “He never asked me to give up my priorities. I got to live my life the way I wanted, and at the end of the road, he was always waiting.”

Tess nodded tightly. It seemed too hopeful to believe that a future like this could be possible for her and Callum, but at the same time—wasn’t it? Wasn’t that the point of risking their lives tonight? Tess felt a sudden surge of determination, a belief that they really could do this.

“Okay, Sylvie. Let’s try on some gowns.”

Sylvie had made a whole variety, from a modern slip dress in forest-green satin to a full-on medieval gown draped in elaborate crimson brocade—which Tess loved, but it was far too heavy to be practical for an event where she might well end up running for her life.

In the end, they settled on a gown made of shimmering champagne lace embellished with tiny crystals. It had a bustier top that fit like a glove and showed off Tess’s cleavage, a skirt that was loose enough to move in, and sheer, flowing sleeves that caught the air when Tess walked or twirled, flying behind her like a cape.

“It’s perfect,” Tess breathed. “I don’t know how you did this.”

But when she smiled back at Sylvie, she saw Sylvie was on the brink of tears.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” Sylvie waved her hand. “Just—my daughter, she could never stay out of my closet. And I loved it. Anything I had, I always wanted her to have it, because it made me happier to see it on her. I thought I’d get to do that with my granddaughters too, but now I missed their proms, their graduations…”

Tess hugged Sylvie tightly.

“I’ll get you back to them,” Tess promised. “I swear it.”

—

A few hours later, after Tess set her hair in loose waves, did her face in glowy makeup, and practically doused herself in Nantale’s Egyptian musk oil, she stepped back into the gown Sylvie had made her. She grabbed some gold hair clips and earrings from the top shelf of the armoire, and she noticed the purse she’d carried when she came to the Isle. She took it down to examine its contents—no more copy of Blood Feud (Callum still had that), but her phone and the tarot card Flora had given her were still inside. She remembered how she’d felt when she’d drawn the card, seeing the blindfolded woman trapped by a circle of swords. Tess identified with that trapped feeling so much when she first saw the card—but strangely, she didn’t anymore. She finally felt like she understood some of what Flora had told her: that she was capable of rescuing herself, if only she believed it was possible.

She tucked her phone and the card into a pocket inside the dress and made her way down to the great hall of the compound.

“Wow.”

Callum stood in the compound’s doorway, wearing high-waisted black trousers along with a crisp black button-down, all beneath a flowing black cape that hit just below his knees. With his hair slicked back and his face shaved clean, he was every bit the dashing rake Tess had imagined for so many years.

“You look incredible,” she breathed.

“You’re one to talk.” He strode toward her and placed his hands at her waist, pulling her in roughly to kiss her. Tess wished at that moment that they didn’t have a ball to attend, a red diamond to steal, a stranded sister to rescue. All she wanted was for Callum to take her back to his room and lock the door.

Instead, he glamoured two masks to match their outfits: Tess’s was small and sparkly, to be held on a stick and cover only her eyes, since she needed Felix to recognize her. Callum’s, on the other hand, was black and covered his entire face, which hopefully would help him avoid detection by anyone from Felix’s clan.

“Okay.” She exhaled, her nerves starting to roil. “I guess it’s time to go?”

“One last thing,” Callum said, removing a small black velvet bag from one of his pockets and holding it out to Tess.