Page 137 of Revenant

“I’m just going to grab something from Moriah’s closet. It’s not like we’re going there to bask in the festivities.”

Koen’s brows furrow together. “Why wouldn’t we?”

I let out a small chuckle of confusion. “Um, because there are more pressing matters than us waltzing around the dance floor?”

“I’m sure we’ll find the time.” Butterflies take flight in my stomach at his vague promise. And part of me hopes I can hold him to it.

He sets the ten cards I picked face down beside me, flipping them over in a non-distinct pattern. But as he turns over each one, victory runs through my veins when none of them are my card.

He looks between the cards and me, probably trying to figure out where he went wrong.

“That was a nice distraction,” I tell him in a sigh, trying to rein in my happiness that I was able to shake him. The nurse takes the needle out of my arm, pressing a gauze at the prick wound and securing it with bandage.

“Why magic tricks?” I ask him.

He smiles and collects his cards, shoving them into his pockets before standing. “After everything happened…I couldn’t give it up.” He leans down and presses his lips to mine. His tongue skates across my lips and I greedily allow him access.

Except, when his tongue touches mine, it’s tougher than usual, and suddenly my mouth feels…full. I pull back sharply, and without permission, Koen pulls something from my mouth.

A wicked grin spreads over his face as he turns the face of the playing card toward me.

There’s literally no fucking way.

The queen of hearts stares back at me and there’s no attempt in schooling my expression.

My mouth hangs open in shock, unable to form words as he takes my silence as the perfect opening to place a chaste kiss on my cheek and leave me to wonder how the hell he did it.

“You have to open them,” Moriah states, her arms crossed over her chest, mirroring mine. But I can’t bring myself to take another step closer.

Two black, discreet boxes lie on top of her bed. Both have matching white bows tied perfectly in the center, but that’s not all they have in common.

They both have my name on them.

“I don’t really think I want to do that.”

“What’s the worst thing that can happen? They’re pretty boxes,” she muses.

“A gilded cage is pretty…but it’s still a cage.”

“Touché.”

I release a breath and take two weighted steps forward until my knees brush against the edge of her bed. The ribbon unravels with ease, and a gasp gets lodged in my throat the moment I lift the lid and reveal the gown underneath.

Moriah looms over my shoulder, gawking at the stunning deep burgundy velvet. It’s soft as I pick it up from the bodice, noting it’s not just velvet—but silk as well. Sleeveless with crystals and pearls that rest where they would outline my hips, sitting atop them for everyone to admire.

“Who’s it from?” Moriah asks, searching around the fabric to find a note, but comes up empty.

A soft smile reaches my lips. “If I had to take a guess? Pryce.” Red is his favorite color after all.

“That’s actually the cutest thing ever and I’m officially disgusted. Open the other one.” Her demand rings loud and clear, especially when she circles the bed and bounces on the other side with anticipation.

I place the dress gently back into the box, and secretly hope the other holds shoes that will go with it. I’m sure I have something deep in the depths of my closet, but who doesn’t love getting new shoes?

But when the ribbon falls away and the contents of box number two are revealed, I’m left both confused and speechless.

Moriah must feel the same way. Except the speechless part—that’s something she never is. “Two dresses?”

“Maybe he wanted to give me options?” But even as the words leave my mouth, I’m not convinced.