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But I can’t.
And that’s just the way it is.
Chapter Forty-six
Brynn
I was excited about the masquerade ball when Aiden first told me about it.
After he bought my dress and shoes, I went online and ordered this cute little purse just for the event. It’s small with a silver handle and trim, but the exterior of the bag is satin twisted and bunched to look like roses covering it.
It’s perfect.
And I’ll need a purse so I can take emergency money and my keys, the lipstick I’m wearing tonight in case I need touch-ups.
My excitement has ebbed, though. It has mostly turned to sludgy dread that settles in my gut and makes me feel terrible while I’m waiting for Aiden to pick me up.
And then the moment comes.
I grab my phone and purse. I still keep my phone out for now in case it’s a kidnapping, though Addison assured me the ball itself isn’t a decoy and there really is a Blue Blood Ball.
She agrees that I definitely should not be going to it, though.
When I get my first sight of Aiden, I can admit he looks very handsome.
His black hair is slicked back and he’s wearing a well-tailored blood red velvet tuxedo jacket with a black shirt underneath. He’s wearing black slacks and loafers, and even his cuff links are onyx.
“You look very nice,” I tell him politely.
He cracks a smile as he looks me over. “And you look absolutely perfect.”
When I was getting ready, something about the dress reminded me of Christine Daaé. Maybe the off-the-shoulder piece. Since I dressed as her the night we all met and this is my personal farewell to the entire Blue Blood scene, I thought it poetic to style my hair the way she did during Don Juan Triumphant—the point of no return. I pinned back a bit of hair on the left side and secured it with a red rose clip. Having a rose in my hair matches my bag, and though I typically don’t, I went with a red lip, too.
I feel ready for a masquerade.
A bit of excitement comes back when we first leave, but it mingles with dread. I know Killian will be there, and I know he’ll be there with her.
Aiden said there would be plenty of people, so we would be able to blend into the crowd easily, but I can’t shake thoughts of Killian spotting me.
Aiden bought the masks, and I’ve seen mine—a beautiful, intricate black lace mask to match my dress—but my mouth and jawline will still be visible, and what if that’s enough for Killian to recognize me?
Glancing over at Aiden, I say, “You brought the masks, right?”
“Of course,” he answers idly, his gaze fixed out the front windshield.
Unease ripples through me.
I swallow, touching my phone to light it up and seeing I have no service.
My stomach bottoms out, and I look over at him again.
He keeps his eyes on the road.
“Um, how much longer?” I ask, hating that my uncertainty is very much detectible.
A faint smirk tugs at his mouth and he looks over at me, his dark eyes glinting with mild enjoyment over my clear discomfort. “Not too much farther.”
I look around at my surroundings and realize I’ve been so anxious about the ball, I haven’t been watching landmarks this time. We’re nowhere near campus based on how long we’ve been in the car and the trees lining both sides of the street.
