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“Saint’s sister?” Cirilla didn’t bother to hide her exasperation with me now. “She moved back in today. You told me to set her up in the north wing when she arrived.”
“Oh. Right.” Another spark of annoyance shot through me, and I ignored Cirilla’s knowing look. She was well aware that I hadn’t really forgotten about her arrival that night, but she was just one more thing I didn’t want to burden myself with.
I should have asked Saint to hold off a day, because of the party. She was just going to mess things up.
But my friend had been so genuinely concerned for Elix’s safety. It was hard to refuse him when Saint was truly the onlybeing in the world that I trusted entirely. It was a small sacrifice to make—especially when I didn’t have to deal with the kid.
“Is Saint with her?” I asked hopefully. The good thing about all this was that Saint and I could reconnect after too long apart. Once upon a time, he and I had been inseparable, despite our clash in life statuses. It would be good to rekindle our friendship if he could find the time.
Cirilla shook her head. “He was called out of town on a job, apparently. He’ll come back and check in when he’s back in the city. He did send his regards—and his thanks again.”
My disappointment mounted. Not only was I stuck babysitting, I also wasn’t getting the benefit of hanging out with Saint for the trouble. Sucking in a breath, I forced a smile and shrugged, turning back to look at myself in the mirror.
“Fine.”
“Fine?” Cirilla echoed. “What does that mean?”
I eyed her through the glass. “It means fine. Thanks for the heads up. What else do you want?”
Cirilla shook her head. “You need to go check on her.”
Genuinely surprised by her instruction, I spun around again. “Why? What’s wrong with her?” I asked worriedly. I already didn’t like where this was heading.
Visibly stifling a sigh, Cirilla ambled forward to brush an invisible piece of fluff from my shoulders, and I instinctively stepped out of her reach, my eyes narrowing. She should have known better than to touch me, but I let her action slide. She dropped her hands and met my stare.
“Nothing’swrongwith her,” the enchantress replied. “She’s… fine. But she doesn’t seem all that impressed to be here. It would probably go a long way if you at least made an appearance to reassure her. It’s your house, after all.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Now?”
“She’s here now,” Cirilla reminded me.
“I know, but surely it can wait until tomorrow.”
The enchantress gave me a reproving look. “It will take you five minutes,” she said flatly. “And it will ensure that she’s not wandering the halls while you’re having your ball.”
While she did have a point, it was an unnecessary annoyance that I didn’t want to endure, and I groaned loudly in protest. “I really didn’t sign on for that,” I grumbled, but I didn’t argue beyond that. I made a promise to Saint to keep his sister safe, and if she was already showing signs of discomfort, I’d better put the kid’s mind at ease. The last thing I needed was for her to take off or throw a fit in the middle of my party.
She just got to the palace, and she was already causing problems.
“Let me finish getting dressed, and I’ll meet you in the north wing.”
“I’ve got other matters to attend to,” Cirilla muttered. “You’re having a party, remember? Someone has to manage the details.”
I rolled my eyes skyward. “I’ll meet you in the ballroom later, then.”
Cirilla moved toward the doorway and paused as if she were going to say something else, but seemed to change her mind before vanishing in a plume of red smoke, the smell of ash lingering in her wake.
Quickly, I changed into the red button-down, relishing the soft cotton on my skin. Securing my belt and slipping into a pair of comfortable but polished designer shoes, I straightened my outfit in the mirror, ready to party.
Spraying my cologne, I stepped into the cloud of cloves and white sage before running my hand through my thick mane of hair, hand falling over my beard. Ensuring I had everything I needed from my suite, I grabbed the private elevator to the second floor. I didn’t want to risk breaking a sweat taking the stairs when I was so fresh and clean.
Even at this hour of night, several of the servants still worked, mostly because of the party, but they all stopped to bow their heads in respect as I passed.
I nodded pleasantly, humming to myself, the guest list fresh on my mind. There had been enough RSVPs to reassure me that my night would not be lonely, nor would my bed be empty—probably not for the next three days.
Pushing my way through the doors of the north wing, I entered the common hallway and headed toward the guest suites. Here, the corridors were silent. No staff worked, and the atmosphere was stiller than anywhere else in the palace.
For half a second, I forgot where I’d asked Cirilla to put Elix. I glanced back toward the center of the palace, but instead of seeking out the enchantress, I temporarily enacted my wolf hearing to catch the faintest of sounds beyond the thick walls. Elix should have been the only one in the guest suites now. Later, after the party, when my revelers had consumed too much food and drink, all the rooms would be filled with bodies, continuing their own private soirees until the break of dawn.
