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Her gaze flicks to Alek, who nods, although something about his demeanor has me wondering why he’s suddenly so uptight. “Yes, that’s right.” He’s quick to recover, but I didn’t miss him clamming up. “This is Willow.”
She purses her ruby lips and examines me closely. “Oh, it’s great to finally meet you. I have heard so much about you.”
She has?
It’s the most bizarre feeling. Why does it feel like I should know her?
She begins to toy with the ruby pendant around her neck, sizing me up. Something turns lethal in Alek as he watches her fingers closely. “I’m so pleased to finally meet the guest of honor. We all can’t wait for the ball. Alek has been keeping you, among other things, a secret.”
My cheeks heat as I clutch my thighs to stop from throwing my knife at her head.
She clearly knows the real reason for this ball, which means she’s one of the “close friends.” Could she be a part of The Circle?
She definitely looks the part of wicked witch with her long black hair and ruby lips…
The fairest of them all…
An epiphany hits, leaving me winded. Oh, my god.
Alek and Astra make small talk while I frantically skim over Saint’s journal in my head. I didn’t understand what he was trying to say because I was looking at it the wrong way. He has left me breadcrumbs, clues he knew I would eventually work out because what he left me was a…code.
The incorrect sudoku puzzle should have been enough of a clue because Saint doesn’t make mistakes. The sentences made of numbers decipher like a Morse Code as each number represents a letter. And the sudoku puzzle is the key to figuring out what each number means.
I can hardly contain my excitement.
I then remember the ambiguous flowchart. They are people. Three people, to be precise. And Astra is one of them.
But I need to be sure.
Saint said six dwarfs. I glance around the room, looking for any clues, something which will confirm my hunch. And when I see it, I stop myself from leaping from my seat and screaming amen.
In a larger booth a few tables down, I see six men. From their look alone, one can see they aren’t here to enjoy the fine dining. They are here to protect their…queen. They keep a very close eye on Astra, which confirms they are here for her.
“Let’s talk about these matters another time,” Alek says, a clear warning that Astra is crossing a very thin line.
His caution has me snapping from my thoughts to focus on what’s going on around me.
“Gladly, but you’re too busy, it seems, of late, to discuss anything with your friends.”
He is? This is news to me.
“And we have much to discuss.” Astra may be smiling, but a grievous threat lurks beneath. She isn’t a woman who appreciates being ignored.
“Chow—”
The moment I hear his name, a tremble passes through me. Alek senses my discomfort and quickly shuts Astra down. “Now is not the time.” He is seconds away from ripping off her head.
I’m watching the ultimate standoff because Astra doesn’t seem like the type to back down. She eventually nods even though her anger is palpable.
“Very well then. I’ll see you very soon, Willow.”
Astra’s grin should fill one with warmth, but it does the complete opposite for me. She appears to be sizing up her prey.
I nod in response.
She saunters back to her table, waving to a few people along the way.
Robert arrives with our food, and although it smells delicious, eating is the last thing on my mind. I need to get back “home” and decode Saint’s journal.
