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I opened my mouth, but she cut me off with a look.
“Okay, yeah, it matters. I don’t like the secrets either. I don’t like that everyone looks at you like they want something from you when you walk through the halls, like they’re waiting for you to break into song or something when you’ve already given so much. All of them are keeping secrets. But that doesn’t matter when it comes to what’s between you and Cole. He cares about you, and I think he’d kill himself before he’d do something to hurt you.” She finished applying my lipstick, my lips parted in shock as I processed what Daphne had said.
“There. Nowthoseare lips he’s going to fall over himself to kiss.”
I blushed.
Daphne set to work on my hair, taming the drying tangle of red locks into a proper shape while the heat of the flames dried the strands.
“Do you really think it’s okay to look past all of it and just… take a leap of faith? Everything in my head says it’s a bad idea.”
“Of course your head is going to say that. You’re in Hell, and I think it’s an improvement over what you went through with our pack. But forget all of that. What does your heart say, Avery?”
Chapter XXIX
Ilovehim.
“It says… I want him.” It was as close to the truth as I could handle.
“Thentellhim that. You’ve already died once, Avery.” Daphne’s voice was somber. “Do you want to waste a second chance by filling it with regrets?”
What would that mean if I died again and never gave Cole and me a chance? Just the thought made my stomach clench. “No.”
“Then there you have it. Now, let’s get you in this dress.”
I hadn’t doubted something would be provided to me, so I was unsurprised when I went to the closet and opened the door to find the dress.
But the dress was beyond anything I’d ever seen before, let alone worn. In my time in Moon-Ghost, I’d relied on Daphne’s secondhand clothes more than anything else, living in frayed jeans and tees.
“Wow,” Daphne breathed. “And I thoughtmygown was nice. Put it on!”
It took the two of us to get me in the dress and lace it up. I could barely believe my reflection.
It wasn’t simply green, but a sparkling forest tone that looked as rich as the hunting grounds in spring. The material was satin with sparkling beads strategically placed to enhance my curves before fading out into the large skirt and train. The sleeves were sharp and off-shoulder, giving the dress a powerful appearance. The train laid out elegantly behind me. The color brought out the hue of my hair, finally tamed under Daphne’s careful hand, and matched the ruby necklace that hung on my neck.
“You look like you should be wearing a crown,” Daphne mused.
I couldn’t even argue. I knew exactly what she meant.
We finished getting ready. I helped Daphne into her own gown, a sleek gray sheath that flared out at the bottom. If the ball was supposed to start an hour after training, then we were going to be fashionably late because we’d blown past that deadline.
And yet, I felt lighter than I had before.
We opened the bedroom door and there was Cole.
I’d thought I’d seen Cole looking regal before, but this was on another level. His attire was formal, almost historic looking. He wore formal pants and a military jacket with a gold chain fitted across his broad chest. Over his shoulder was a velvet cape. Gold chains held the outfit in place, secured with emerald stones on the ends. Every stitch of fabric was black, in a way that could’ve washed out a weaker man but just highlighted how dangerous the male in front of me was.
He’d been casually leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest, when I’d opened the door. Once he spotted me, he moved, standing up to his full height as his gaze raked over me. It was heated and possessive as it took in every swath of fabric that had turned me from his sparring mate into a formidable woman.
Daphne excused herself to head to the ball. I barely noticed.
I was transfixed.
I love this male.
“A glimpse of you would bring a lesser male to his knees.”
The compliment rolled over my skin like a warm fur coat, covering me with pleasure. “Thanks. You’re not half bad yourself.” And there was no doubt, looking at him, that he wasnota lesser male.
