“That’s really pretty,” Landy said softly.
“The Alex Perry dress.” Caroline fanned her eyes like she was going to cry – even though we both knew she wasn’t. “That dress is so Manhattan. I’m so proud.”
I chuckled and turned to my sister, the one who’s opinion mattered the most. “Well?”
She gave me one of her rare, genuinely happy smiles. The vulnerable kind she didn’t let most people see. “That’s…wow. I love it, twin.”
My heart fluttered. “You don’t think it’s too short?”
She shook her head. “No one is going to notice it’s short. Besides, you’ll be more comfortable knowing you can move around in this one easily – and that’s important. And your glitter boots Deacon got you will look sick as hell with this.”
I grinned. My twin knew me so well. I spun around to the wall mirror and inspected my dress. It really was perfect for the occasion. “Okay. This is it. Now let me see y’all’s!”
Amelia jumped forward and twirled. “Look, ours match!”
They did. The bodice was made of almost the same silver sequins, but the neckline was a delicate scoop and it had cap sleeves. The sequins fell to her hips and then the skirt flared out in rose-colored tulle down to mid-calf. But all along the tulle were silver sequin stars.
“We’re gonna look great in pictures together!” I chuckled, but then I spotted Landy watching me. So I turned to her and smiled. “Landy! That color is incredible!”
She blushed and twirled her skirt. Her dress was made entirely of a deep burgundy velvet that fell to the floor and had long sleeves. It was definitely modest, but Landy was not a girl who wanted to stand out. This dress was perfect for her.
I turned and had to bite my cheek to stop myself from commenting on Caroline’s dress of choice. It was gorgeous and hot and she looked like a million dollars in it. I pointed to her. “The Dior?”
She wagged her eyebrows. “You know it.”
It was a sapphire blue, tea-length silk gown that cinched at the waist and had a wide, deep V-neck to show off her assets. I was very glad she wasn’t still after Deacon in this thing. “That’s girl crush material, Caroline.”
She grinned. “Thanks, but I think Tegan wins that title.”
Then I remembered hearing her reaction to my sister’s dress and I suddenly didn’t want to look. I can’t wait to see my brother Cooper’s face. That wasn’t a good sign. I spun around – and my breath left me in a rush.
I cursed. “Dammit, Tegan. Does that even count as a dress? You had more clothes on last night at dinner, and that dress barely hit mid-thigh.”
Tegan cackled like a Disney villain and did a little shimmy. “What? I like black.”
“That’s not black, T. That’s see-through with a hint of black.” I rolled my eyes. “Tennessee is scary enough without you dressing like this.”
She grinned and shrugged. “I know, but I can’t wait to see Cooper freak out.”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “One day we’re gonna have to stop torturing our brother. You know that, right?”
“Duh. But that day is not today.” She gestured toward her dress. “So imma wear this.”
This was a black mesh dress that was basically entirely see-through with black lace strategically placed over her body parts. The straps on the shoulders were thinner than my pinky and the V-neck dipped all the way down to her belly button. Then the material hugged her body tight until it flared out just above her knees.
It was a dress designed to kill…and she knew that.
I shook my head. “All right, well it sounds like we’ve all picked our dresses—”
“You know what that means!” Caroline looked up from typing on her phone. “Hair and makeup time!”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Deacon
“Tennessee…” I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. “For the millionth time, you have to wear a tux tonight.”
“I still haven’t heard one valid reason as to why—”
“Because you’re Coven Leader for Goddess sake!” I groaned and scrubbed my face. “For the love of – why is this so complicated?”
“It seems to me the biggest struggle might just be getting him to wear any shirt,” Noah said while laughing. “Because he’s been standing there for thirty minutes shirtless.”
Christian frowned. “Yeah…it’s giving me a complex, too. Can we get him to cover up?”
I threw a stack of ties at the two of them then turned back to Tenn. “Dude. You’re Coven Leader, this is your first Yule Ball and shit has already been crazy because of Samhain and Joseph. Now you had us open this school. This whole event is kind of a big deal and you need to look your best—”
“Why though?” He held up two different dress shirts and wiggled them in the air. “Tell me why?”
“Teeellll me WHY,” Christian sang that Backstreet Boys song.
Noah immediately jumped in.
Neither one of them could stop laughing.
I was about half a step away from using my gift of persuasion on Tenn, even though it probably wouldn’t even work. But still.
Tenn tossed both shirts on the couch beside us. Then he pointed to my white velvet and satin tuxedo. “How does this make me look appropriate?”
“This wouldn’t, but you’re more important than me…and with that comes certain—”
Tennessee groaned. “How about if I just don’t wear my leather jacket? Just a regular black shirt —
My phone blared from my pocket. When I pulled it out, I found Royce’s face on my screen as he tried to face-time. There was a good chance I didn’t have time for whatever nonsense my cousin was about to throw at me, but I could use his assistance with Tenn.
I answered the call and held the phone up to my face. “Hey, Royce. What’s up?”
Royce sighed and shook his head. “Is boss man there? I’ve been texting him.”
I flipped the screen to show a very shirtless Tenn “Yep. Currently trying to convince him he must wear a tux this evening.”
Noah and Christian burst into laughter.
Royce’s eyebrows rose. “Did I hear that right?”
Noah leaned into the phone. “You heard that. And I suggested navy.”
“No, navy ain’t his color man.” I pushed Noah away from me. “He needs a classic.”
The sales guy, Dominic, walked up and rubbed his palms together. “How are we doing here — oh, not well, I see.” He laughed.
“Excuse me, mister sales dude guy?” Royce shouted through my phone.
I turned the screen to him. “Dominic, this is my cousin Royce. Royce, meet Dominic.”
Dominic waved into the phone. “Hello! Good evening.”
“Hi.” Royce snapped his fingers. “Listen, Dominic…we’re looking for an Idris Elba in Givenchy at the Met Gala kind of get up, you feel me?”
Dominic lit up. “OH. Yes. Perfect. Be right back.”
And then he was gone as fast as he came.
“Okay, problem solved. You’re welcome.” Royce wagged his eyebrows. “Boss man, just put it on and shut up. Now, can I bring a date tonight?”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Deacon
It was Yule Ball night.
Everything was ready to go.
I knew it was, even before I left my apartment after assuring Emersyn I would go make sure. My mother was overseeing everything. My mother. The same woman who ran all of New York. She was a machine. I had zero doubts or concerns about this event, especially with Emersyn co-running it with her.
But my soulmate was freaking out, so I volunteered to come take one final look. It wasn’t just average nerves, either. Tennessee had already told her how happy he was with the job we’d done. There was nothing left to be nervous about – Tenn’s words, not mine. But Em kept telling me she had this feeling that something bad was coming, that something was going to happen. I didn’t know what that could be. I didn’t see the future. Bentley did, but when I c
alled to ask if we needed to be worried he – in his roundabout, vague, Tegan-style way – told me no.
Kind of.
I really had no idea what he meant, but his demeanor was calm so that was what I took from it.
So, I went to the school for a final run through, and as expected, everything looked normal and ready. The Knights of New York were in place and ready to swap shifts. The kitchen staff were lined up like marines and the food was on schedule. Literally everyone was in place. I walked up to the doors for the ballroom, the location for the event itself, and the last place for me to check on.
I pushed the doors open…and my jaw dropped. I hadn’t seen the finished décor yet, but damn did they do an impeccable job. It was a winter wonderland to rival the one outside right now. Everywhere I looked was silver, gold, and white. It was chic and elegant, just like New York was.
The ground was white and shimmering like fresh fallen snow in an open field. Claudia had put a spell on the ceiling for fake snow inside, at Emersyn’s insistence. It looked real as it drifted down, too. The little snowflakes fell in blankets and then drifted off several feet above our head.
I spun in a slow circle, taking it all in. All around the room were these tiny sparkling lights and they reminded me of Saffie’s fireflies. I smiled and rocked back on my heels. The room was magical. It felt like a fairy tale. Emersyn had told me she wanted us to capture the feeling of Yule and the winter solstice and I was positive we nailed it.
I pulled out my phone and checked the time. We had thirty minutes before the official start time but about fifteen before Tegan would start portaling in important people – like the DJ and photographer. But it was time for Emersyn to get over here. One, because she needed to see for herself that we were ready. But two, because I just wanted a moment alone with her before the chaos began.
Just then my phone vibrated in my hand, and when I glanced down I saw Emersyn’s pretty face filling my screen. I smiled and answered, “I was just about to call you.”
There was a beat of silence, and then, “What, why? Is something wrong? What’s wrong—"
“Nothing, love,” I kept my voice calm and steady. “I was calling to let you know everything is ready and I think it’s time for you to come over here.”
“You’re saying that just so I’ll get over there to see what’s wrong—"
“Emersyn, nothing is wrong.” I gestured around like she could see me. “I want you here to calm your worries. Just trust me, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Good. Now, ask your sister to portal you over here right now. In the ballroom. Just you.”
“All right,” she whispered reluctantly. Then I heard the click-clack of heels on hardwood floors and she yelled, “Tegan?”
“Hey! Almost ready!” Tegan shouted from somewhere in the distance.
“Can you just portal me to Deacon? He’s in the ballroom.”
There was a flash of white light in front of me …and then Emersyn appeared out of thin air. My eyes widened and my breath left me in a rush. Heat filled my chest, the way it always did when she was near. My heart pounded in my chest. The heavy thumping sounded like a jackhammer in the quiet ballroom.
She stood there five feet in front of me looking like an angel. The golden lights all around us made her pale blonde hair glow like she had a halo. Her silver dress sparkled and twinkled, and her eyes looked like liquid gold.
A million compliments ran through my mind — all words she more than deserved, but I couldn’t even manage to pull my cellphone away from my face. I just stared at this stunning beauty and wondered how the hell I got her.
Her cheeks flushed. She looked down and tried to hide the smile spreading across her face by tucking her long blonde waves behind her ears. Then she ran her hands over the silver sequins of her dress. “What do you think?”
“You’re perfect.”
She grinned so hard it dimpled her cheeks. “Oh, Deacon,” she whispered and shook her head.
“Shakespeare would’ve written sonnets for your beauty, rivaled only by Michelangelo’s paintings of your face.” I closed the distance between us, stopping right in front of her. I ducked down and met her eyes, then whispered, “that better?”
She snorted and her cheeks were bright red. “You’re just biased.”
“Nah, I’m lucky.”
“Stop, you’re gonna make me cry, and I have to have my game face on tonight.” Her golden eyes glistened. She reached up and tugged on the lapels of my tux. “White velvet…only you could pull this off and look so dangerously handsome.”
“Dangerously handsome. You know, I’ll take that.” I chuckled. “I love those boots on you.”
She looked down at her feet, at the crystal covered cowgirl boots I’d given her last month, and grinned. “I love you.”
I threw my head back and groaned. “Now who’s trying to make who cry?”
She giggled. “Right. Truce on the mushy gushy for a while?”
“Hmmm…”
I tipped her chin up then pressed my lips to hers. She sighed and leaned into me. All of the emotions I’d been holding inside for her came rushing to the surface. I took her face in my hands and tilted her head back to deepen our kiss. For a few moments, I let myself get lost in her. When I pulled back, she gasped for air.
“Okay, now a truce.”
She laughed and leaned into my chest. “Stop melting my brain. I need it right now.”
“You really don’t, actually.” I ran my fingers through her long blonde hair. “Everything is exactly how it needs to be. We are ready to party.”
She peeked up at me without moving off my chest. “That’s what I’m worried about.”
“I know. I get it —we’re used to things going wrong but that doesn’t mean things going right is a bad omen.” I rubbed her arms and electricity shot through my body. “And IF something goes down, we will handle it. Together. Plus, our entire Coven is going to be here within minutes. Just breathe and shake it off.”
“You’re right. I know you — ouch,” she hissed and jumped back from me, shaking her hand out.
I frowned and reached for her – and my eyes widened.
She froze. Her face paled. “What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…” I grinned and pulled her hand up between our faces. “Look.”
She frowned then looked down at her hand – and gasped. I chuckled and lifted my right hand up, then took hers in mine.
“Deacon…”
“I know.”
I was smiling so wide my face burned, but I didn’t care. This was the moment I’d been waiting for…our soulmate glyphs were finished. Complete. The black lines now stretched down to cover our right hands and coil around our fingers.
She sighed and shook her head. Tears pooled in her eyes. “Finally.”
A strangled kind of noise I’d never made in my entire life came out of me. I pulled her back into my chest and wrapped my arms tight around her. In my mind over the last few months, I’d gone through what I thought she’d say when our glyphs were completed…of what her reaction would be…but never had I ever expected her to say finally.
Like she’d been waiting for it as much as I had.
Incoming in five…four…three… Tegan said in my mind.
I chuckled and dropped my arms.
Em beamed up at me. “We have to do our ceremony.”
I nodded and tangled my fingers with hers. “And I can’t wait. But not tonight, not here. Not with everyone around.”
“But soon.”
“Very soon.”
There was a familiar flash of white light, and then, “Ready or not, here we come!” Tegan shouted.
I glanced over at her – then did a double take. My jaw dropped. Tegan strolled toward us wearing a…dress. Of sorts. It was black lace, mostly, but the rest was sheer. The dress was long and dragged the ground. It was probably the sexiest mermaid gown I’d ever seen – but that plunging neckline was…scandalous. And s
he was grinning. It sent chills down my spine.
Emersyn mumbled something, but I didn’t hear it.
I looked beside her to Tenn and my thoughts must have been written on my face because he sighed and shook his head.
“Tenn…I’m…I’m sorry?”
Tenn grinned and looked down at Tegan’s body in her sheer dress. “I’m not.”
I scoffed. Emersyn snorted.
Tegan wagged her eyebrows. “I can’t wait for Cooper to get here.”
“You’re terrible,” I said with a laugh.
Emersyn sighed. “Shouldn’t you be more concerned with what mom and dad will think?”
Tegan shrugged. “Mom respects my decisions, especially all of them that are vindictive, spiteful, or aimed to make a male uncomfortable.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Thank Goddess she didn’t raise you.”
“And Dad…well…well, he probably won’t look at me all night. And I already know the exact face he’s gonna make when he sees me.” She brushed imaginary lint off her dress. “If I were single, or just dating Tenn, then this would be a different story—”
“One where you’d be wearing even less clothing?” I grinned.
“You are dating Tenn…” Em frowned.
“Yes to less, and I’m not just dating him.” She tapped on the pink crystal heart of her soulmate glyph on the center of her chest. “Dad understands what this means. He knows what we mean to each other. This isn’t dating. Therefore, the rules of dating do not apply.”
“Rules never apply to you, babe,” Tenn said and rolled his mismatched eyes.
“Also, I think dad is secretly enjoying watching Cooper squirm.”
I shook my head and turned to Tenn.
He shrugged. “I also called Hunter the second I recovered from seeing this dress and warned him of his daughter’s evil plans. It’s important that he knows this isn’t for me.”
“Well at least not for now.”
Tenn closed his eyes and hung his head. “This is why I had to call him.”
“By the way, thanks for wearing the dress shoes tonight.” I arched one eyebrow at him and pointed to his busted combat boots.
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