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When I looked back at myself in the mirror, absolute beauty stared at me. I still looked like myself, just... a more sensual version. My hair fell over one shoulder in glossy waves, and a comb made with deep red jeweled rosettes kept one side away from my face. But the thing that stopped my breath in my chest was the choker around my neck. The chain was a network of twisting onyx-encrusted thorns that came to a point at the hollow of my throat where the thorns transformed into an upside-down rose made entirely of red diamonds.
“Moira,” I breathed, my hand hovering above the beautiful flower. “This is too much.”
“It's just right. This way, Thorne will know you’re thinking of him even if you can’t be with him.”
“I thought you didn’t like him.”
“The Dark Prince has his uses. And he hasn’t pissed me off lately. Besides,youlike him, and I adore you, so...” She lifted one creamy shoulder in a shrug. “I’ll tolerate him for your benefit. To that end, I actually have something else for you.” She held out her hand where a blue vial rested in her palm.
“Where the hell did that come from?”
“Magic, dearie.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course. I should have known.” I plucked the vial from her hand. “What is it?”
“Just a little something to help your vampire resist the urge to beat the shit out of everyone who looks at his mate. Trust me. It will make the night far easier on you both if you mask your scent.”
“What do I do with it? Drink it?”
“If you want a serious case of the runs, sure.” She took the bottle from me and opened it, pulling out a dropper filled with the liquid. The bite of freshly crushed roses tickled my nose. “One or two drops should do the trick. Put them behind your ears, down your cleavage, between your thighs, maybe. Wherever you like, but it’s important to help him out here. A vampire with an unclaimed mate is dangerous, especially when there are other unmated vamps in the same space. Let’s try our best to keep him out of trouble.”
I was already dabbing the rose oil on before she finished speaking. Anything that would help Noah was A-OK with me. But if this was such an issue, why was this the first time anyone mentioned it to me? Seemed like something I should be wearing on the regular.
Moira must have sensed my question because she added, “I hadn’t realized just how serious things had gotten between the two of you, or I would have made you a concentrated batch earlier. As it was, the spell takes at least two weeks to mature. This was the soonest I could provide you with any after I ran out of my supply.”
“Does Noah expect me to be wearing this?”
“Doubtful. I know his mother had to bathe in rose oil before they sealed their bond because her scent was so tempting to the rest of the vampires at Blackthorne Manor, but that was a long time ago now. It’s very likely he’s never been told how to manage something like this.”
Finished Noah-proofing myself, I set the little vial behind me on my desk. “How do you know all this about his family?”
“Who do you think supplied Cashel Blackthorne with the oil? My coven, of course.”
“You Belladonnas are just always right in the middle of things, aren’t you?”
She booped me on the nose. “And don’t you forget it.”
“So, you’ve faerie witch-mothered me this gorgeous dress, made me the most beautiful version of myself I’ve ever seen. What about my mask?”
“Way ahead of you, Cinders.” Moira stepped forward, affixing something black and glittery over my eyes.
When she moved, I was finally able to see the intricate lace mask that mirrored the design of my choker. Dozens of twisty thorns rested against my skin, not quite poking me. It was beautiful and just this side of dangerous. I loved it.
“Wow. That’s... a weapon?”
“Darling, everything’s a weapon if you use it right. Just ask Alek.”
My chest fluttered at the mention of the mischievous Viking. I wondered what his mask would be. “What about you? Who are you going with?”
Ash had returned home after her weekend visit, and I hadn’t seen Moira with anyone else since. “Emilia. She and Ash are friends, so there are no worries of unwanted awkwardness. She’s going to be Eve, and I’m her snake.”
As she said it, green smoke swirled around her, replacing her yoga pants and drapey shirt with a body-hugging gown of the same color. A silver snake with bejeweled red eyes wrapped around her neck, acting as the clasp that held the clingy material together. But as I watched, the tail wriggled, and it dove into the fabric, moving languidly down her curves. It was hypnotic. Deadly. Absolutely sinful.
In a word, it was perfect.
“Shit,” I whispered. “You make one sexy snake.”
Moira smirked. “I know. Careful now, your harem is full. But if you want a bite of my apple, I’m willing to share.”
