AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In what feels like another lifetime ago, I paraded clothes and jewels like this without a second thought, but now, all of this feels so…superficial. So insignificant in the greater scheme of things. So much will change if—no,when—I leave this place.
A knock sounds on the door, rapping in time with my heart. I know who it is, but that doesn’t make what I’m about to do any easier. Sara squeezes my shoulder in support. I place my hand over hers, unsure when I’ll see her again.
“Tonight is our night,” I whisper, nodding in assurance.
She swipes away a stray tear.
Coming to a slow stand, I examine my full reflection, wishing I didn’t look how Alek wanted me to. But there is no denying that, coupled with the elaborate dress, opulent jewels, and monster heels to make me stand tall, I look like a queen.
And when another knock sounds at the door, it’s clear the king doesn’t like to be kept waiting.
“Tell me it’ll be okay.” I inhale deeply, hoping it’ll help with the nerves.
Sara smiles, but the gesture is so bittersweet. “Saint is coming. Of course, it will be.”
Turning, I give her a tight hug, unsure what the circumstances will be when I see her next.
I will never be ready for what tonight holds, but when I think I’m as ready as I can be, I break our embrace and make my way toward the door. When I open it, Alek stands before me, looking immaculate in a tailored tuxedo that accentuates his defined body.
His fresh cologne wraps me in a bubble of citrus and pine. His slicked-back hair highlights his strong features and full lips. He too looks the part of royalty, and when his steel blue eyes float up to the tiara in my hair, he makes it clear he’s glad I relented to his request.
“You look…stunning.” His pause isn’t for effect, and the fact he appears to actually mean it has me shifting uncomfortably on my feet.
The commotion below hints our guests are arriving by the droves.
I close the door behind me, leaving Sara inside as it’s safer for her in there than it is for her out here. I make an attempt to move, but Alek stops me when he reaches into his suit jacket pocket.
“It wouldn’t be a masquerade ball without this.” He produces a beautiful white mask, decorated with shining diamonds and lace. “May I?”
The mask offers me a sense of anonymity, so I nod.
He walks behind me and positions it over my eyes. I hold the edges in place as he gently ties the ribbon in a bow. Once it’s secured, he walks back around to face me.
“???? ???.” When he sees my confusion, he quickly reveals what he just said. “My god, you really are an angel.”
A hollowness sinks low because Saint called me that. Having Alek say it is…unsettling. However, when he slowly brushes away a stray piece of hair from my cheek, his fingers lingering, that feeling multiples tenfold.
Before I have a chance to recoil, he lowers his lips to mine and…kisses me.
The shock of feeling his warm mouth move against mine leaves me standing motionless, too dumbfounded to move. He caresses my lips with his before gently pulling away. Every part of me retches in disgust.
“I know you don’t feel that way for me yet, but I hope, in time, you will.”
That won’t be happening in this lifetime. Or the one after that.
I watch as Alek dons a mask of his own. When it’s settled over his face, I can’t help but think how fitting the gold wolf mask is because he is just that tonight—a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“Shall we?” He offers his arm, and I peer down at it.
My chest begins to rise and fall as I am unsure how to get through the night without having a heart attack. I have no idea what I’m walking into. Saint hasn’t divulged what he has planned, but he hasn’t let me down before. I know he would have sent word if something was wrong, so I just have to have faith.
With that thought, I slip my arm through Alek’s and allow him to lead me down the stairs. With each step we take, I can’t shake this ominous feeling that we’re both stepping into the unknown, which is ridiculous. But something sinister lingers in the air. I can feel it.
And when we descend the staircase and are greeted by a sea of faces, some friendly, mostly scowling, it just heightens the sensation that both Alek and I are in trouble. However, he doesn’t seem to be in tune with my premonition because he saunters down the last step with confidence.
He doesn’t release my arm as he greets a couple hidden behind extravagant Venetian masks. I scan my surroundings with my heart in my throat because I wonder if Saint is already here. He said Oscar was the key to get him past the guards standing post at the front door.
I notice a line of elegantly dressed people, waiting to walk through what appears to be metal detectors. These are new.
