AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER33
Evie
“Here,” Kat says, ramming a champagne glass into my hand. “Don’t know about you, but I’ve got to get this sour taste out of my mouth.”
My lips feel numb as the glass touches them. “I can’t believe he did that.”
“Really?” Kat says through a snort. “You’ve experienced his douchebaggery firsthand. What the hell made you think he was a nice guy?”
“Fucked if I know.” I swallow half the champagne in a gulp, and then the rest, clapping a hand over my mouth to soften the inevitable belch.
“Come.” Kat links arms with me again and drags me toward the hallway we just came in through. “We need to find Willow and make sure she’s okay.”
“I don’t want to see her,” I say, pulling back on Kat’s arm. “I feel like shit.”
“You?Why? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“We were getting ready together,” I murmur. There’s a brass band playing some upbeat jazz music on the other side of the dance floor, but closer to the entrance where we came in, the music is pretty much drowned out by the white noise of people chatting and laughing and clinking glasses. “I could have said something, but I was so wrapped up in myself, I didn’t even think about it.”
The dress had caught me off guard. It was delivered on Thursday afternoon wrapped in a big, shimmery white box. I had no intention of opening when I realized what it must be… but later that night after supper, my resolve weakened.
My knees went weak when I saw the gorgeous fabric. I couldn’t help trying it on. I felt like a damn princess.
I still do.
But I’d made up my mind. I wasn’t going to the ball with Owen, and he couldn’t buy my affection with a silly dress. I kept up that mantra as I took it off and carefully set it back in the box.
That’s when I noticed the second, smaller box inside. I thought it was maybe a pair of earrings or something to go with the dress. I wasn’t prepared for the stunning diamond and sapphire collar I found inside.
“This wasn’t you, Evie. Owen’s a fuckingdick. The Royals all think they can move people around like pawns, and he’s the worst.” Kat pushes up to her tiptoes. “I think I see her!” But she quickly drops down again. “No, not her.Shit.She looked really upset.”
“Let’s split up.” I grab another glass of champagne from a passing waitress and point down the hallway. “I’ll head toward the library. You check the girls’ bathroom.”
I hike up my dress and slip off my shoes, hurrying through the closest entrance—the girls’ common room. There’s still an X of yellowCautiontape blocking out the entrance to the stairs. I doubt Willow would have gone up there. I take the hall that leads to the library. Only a handful of lights have been turned on, the gloomy passage more than a little eerie in the middle of the night.
My paranoia is at full strength tonight… because it seems like someone’s following me. But every time I turn to look over my shoulder, there’s no one there.
Unless they’re hiding in the shadows.
It feels like there’s a dozen bees trapped in my stomach by the time I reach the library. It’s the first time I’ve seen the doors closed since I started studying at the university, but I check to make sure they’re locked anyway.
Damn it. I’d really thought Willow would—
“You look breathtaking.”
I spin on my heel, a hand on my heart as it gives a hard thump against my breastbone. Owen is standing a few yards away. A lock of hair has fallen over his forehead, and when he moves forward, there’s a hint of unsteadiness in his steps.
“What are you doing here?” I don’t realize I’m backing up until my hands brush the library door. I flatten my palms, trying to force myself to hurry down the hall and away from Owen, but it feels ridiculous to run from him. Despite the darkness in his eyes. Despite the way he keeps clenching his fist.
Something catches the light, and I realize he’s holding the collar I dropped.
I bite my lower lip, my fingers rising to brush my throat. “I’m sorry. It felt like it was suffocating me. I know it was expensive, but I couldn’t—”
“This?” Owen runs his thumb over the big sapphire set in the middle of the collar. “I couldn’t care less about how much it cost.”
He’s close enough that I can catch his scent. He’s wearing different cologne tonight, something heady and so,sointoxicating. Was it planned? Or is it a scent he only wears to special events?
Or did he wear it just for you?
