Chapter 210

The night of the event, I could barely contain my nerves as Charlotte helped me into my golden dress. It turned out beautifully, each layer complimenting the next. Pastel yellow, then warm creamy orange, and finally a shimmering golden that sparkled when I shifted my skirts.

Charlotte nodded, pleased. But then she said, “Don’t forget the gloves.”

The gloves were the same shimmery gold. They matched the dress and the ribbons threaded through my hair, holding it up and like a crown around the top of my head.

I slipped the gloves onto my hands. I was trembling. Charlotte didn’t comment on it, she simply helped me pull the lengthy gloves up my biceps.

Then Charlotte reached for Veronica’s box. She brought it closer to me, then opened the lid. I swallowed hard as I lifted the cuff from the box. In my hands, if felt like any other kind of leather cuff bracelet. But then, without a wolf, I was likely unable to detect the magic upon it.

“Where should I put it?” I asked. My dress didn’t have pockets.

“Couldn’t you just wear it yourself?” Charlotte asked. “Since it doesn’t affect you?” I trusted Charlotte with my life, and kept her appraised on everything going on. She’d been sworn to secrecy.

I considered her suggestion, but then I shook my head. “I don’t know how well it can be detected. I don’t want to dance with someone and for them to feel it if it brushes them or something.”

Charlotte nodded. “Well…” She cleared her throat. There is one spot someone shouldn’t brush against.

I blinked at her, confused.

She lifted a finger and then motioned down between her breasts.

My eyes went wide. Here I was, thinking I could hide it in my hair, or in a purse? And Charlotte was providing an entirely different, slightly scandalous, but entirely genius plan.

The bracelet cuff was malleable. I easily shoved it down flat. Then I stuffed it down my bosom. I righted my breasts, pushing them up a bit more, to further hide the cuff.

“Is it hidden?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Do my breasts look normal?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I sighed in relief. It wasn’t terribly comfortable. The leather of the cuff was jabbing the underside of my breast in an uncomfortable way. But I could live.

Besides, the dull press of the cuff was a relief. If I felt it, I could remind myself that it was there. I liked having that reassurance.

When I was finally ready, it was time to say goodnight to Elva. Elva had her back to me this entire time, despite the nanny’s gentle coaxing. Her little arms were crossed. She was still upset about being excluded.

“Elva…” I came around to see her face. There were no tears, but she was wearing a tier-one pout. It broke my entire heart and made me want to forget the entire event tonight.

But that wouldn’t help her. Or us.

I needed the points from attending tonight’s event. And I needed to catch Jane once and for all.

Staying here would only hinder both of those objectives.

“After tonight,” I said, kneeling before her, “Everything will be different. It will be safe for you again, and we can get out of this room.”

Elva looked down sadly.

I didn’t dare hug her, afraid the cuff might affect her even from under my clothing. But I did lean forward and kiss her forehead.

“Have some fun, then get some sleep,” I said. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

She didn’t respond. She just keep looking sad.

“I love you, Elva.”

She sniffled. “I love you, too, Mommy.”

With those words in my heart, I knew I would have the courage to do what needed doing tonight. For Elva. For me. For all of us.

Jane would never be able to hurt us again.

A soft knock sounded on the door. Then the guard calls through, “It’s Prince Julian.”

“Let him in,” I call back. I brushed a few hairs back from Elva’s face, gave her another quick kiss, then went to face my destiny.

Maybe that was too dramatic. For now, I was only facing Julian.

Even I could admit he looked handsome in his dark tuxedo. His bowtie was the same pastel yellow that made up the majority of my dress. This was part of our ploy as a couple – matching outfits.

“You look beautiful,” he said as I came close.

“The dress is gorgeous,” I agreed.

“I’m not just talking about the dress,” Julian said.

I rolled my eyes because he had to be kidding me.

“Though…” he said, then trailed off.

“What?”

He had a puzzled expression on his face. He held my gaze for a long moment, then his eyes started drifting down.

“Did you put the cuff in your bra?” he asked.

I smacked him playfully on the shoulder. He laughed.

But then I looked down, suddenly nervous. “Is it obvious? How could you tell?”

“I guessed,” he said.

I wasn’t entirely sure I believed that, but it also seemed unlikely that Julian would attempt to foil our mission. If the cuff was obvious, he would let me know.

Maybe he really did guess.

“Where else would you put it?” he asked, then waggled his eyebrows.

I gave him another playful smack, and he laughed again.

“Come on, lovely. Our ball awaits!”

He led me out into the hallway. I expected his charm to dim, now that we were getting closer. Things should be getting more serious now, after all. But Julian seemed bound and determined to keep the mood light.

“You didn’t tell me how great I look in my tuxedo,” Julian said.

“You look fine,” I said. It was an obvious lie. We both knew it.

“It’s okay,” Julian said. “I don’t need validation. I know I look good enough to eat.”

I knew what he was doing: attempting to distract me from my own fears with light-hearted flirtation and humor. It was ridiculous. But also… incredibly helpful. Despite myself, I couldn’t help but feel grateful.

I was still scared, my heart racing, but at least my hands weren’t shaking anymore.

“We look like quite the pair together,” Julian said. “We’ll be the talk of the event for sure. Romeo and his golden sunshine personified.”

“You mean Romeo and Juliet,” I said.

“Nah,” he replied. “That story is much too sad. I prefer a version where Romeo falls for the morning light instead. It’s much easier than loving a woman.”

“If you look at the sun, you’ll go blind,” I said.

“So he loves something he can’t have,” Julian said. “That’s not so uncommon.”

This was a ridiculous conversation. It made me wonder if Julian had even read Shakespeare.

But then, as we neared the ballroom, I saw Nicholas.

He was standing alone. He wore a similar suit to Julian, but on Nicholas, stretched across his muscles, he looked devastatingly handsome. My mouth watered on instinct.

If we were together, I would have pulled him away just to admire that suit privately. And then take it off of him.

But we weren’t together.

And more, we were here tonight for a purpose.

Nicholas looked up and saw me. His eyes went a little wide as he took me in. When his gaze met mine, and mine his, we stared at each other for a long moment.

My heart raced.

The admiration was so clear in his eyes, it was nearly overwhelming.

Finally, I had to lower my gaze for fear I would go blind.