Chapter 20
“First,” Anton says, holding up a finger as he begins to name his terms, going slow enough that I almost snarl alongside my wolf. “You get to make this request about one girl – just one. The rest are fair game. I’m not going to have you controlling my heart at every turn, Princess.”
“Fine,” I snap. “I pick Laila.”
“Okay, but you only get to pick one girl, so maybe give it some thought –“
“Laila,” I snap, glaring at his reflection. He grins and shrugs, accepting it.
“Sure – a little impulsive, but whatever. Then the second part,” Anton says, “is that I want the same power in return.”
I turn to him, surprised. “What?”
“I want to do the same. We’re equals, aren’t we? If you get to veto one girl for a crush, then I get to veto one guy.”
I lean back against the vanity, looking him up and down. “Fine,” I say, quite easily, mostly to appease my wolf, who is scratching and nipping at my soul, urging me to say whatever it takes to get him to agree. God, she’s such a menace sometimes when she wants to get her way.
“Good,” Anton says, smiling softly as he stares at me. “I’ll let you know when I want to call that in. In the meantime, Laila is off limits in my heart as well as my actions.”
“Good,” I say in return, quite pleased and ready to return to the other matter at hand – which is, as Anton suggested, my survival and that of all of the souls in the underworld, as well as my continued dignity. I take a deep and satisfied breath, reaching for a pot of blush.
“No blush,” Anton murmurs, reaching out to block my hand. My mouth pops open as I turn to stare up at him. He smirks down at me. “You’re scarier without it. And tonight, I think you need to be downright terrifying.”
“How did you know that?” I ask, my voice no more than a murmur as I peer at him, trying to figure out how he read my mind – because that was exactly the vibe I was going for.
“Oh, I’m starting to figure you out, Juniper Sinclair,” he says, letting his eyes move over my face, my hair.
I gulp as I stare up at my ghost boy, wondering if he’s truly the most terrifying part of this evening. Because no one has ever, ever been close enough to me to truly figure me out. And in two days Anton has gotten…pretty far.
“Hey,” he says, leaning down to peer over my shoulder at my reflection in the mirror. I turn too, looking at both of us, his reflecting hovering over mine. “Do you think you can conjure up a crown?”
And I scowl because…damn it, that’s a really good idea.
When Nic vanishes us away to the location of the Trial, he looks askance at Anton, who has adopted a size quite a bit bigger than his usual one, his head even with my shoulder. “You should really think about leaving that in your room.”
“Again,” I say, turning my narrowed eyes on Nic while I reach for Anton, letting my fingertips brush his translucent shoulder. “It’s a him, not a that. And no.”
Nic sighs and turns towards us. “My Master is not going to like having a Goddess-blessed being constantly in his presence. I mean, is he spying for her? Is he –“
“He’s mine and that’s the end of it,” I snap, lifting my chin to glare at my Herald. “He’s saying.”
Nic sighs and Anton gives a supportive little growl. Then Nic bows and gestures up the path. “Your fate awaits. Please try to do well and don’t spill anything on anyone’s shoes, accidentally or on purpose.”
I smirk a little as I move forward on the path, Anton moving with me. To my surprise it’s very beautiful here. We’re outside, on some kind of expansive rooftop with ornate paths and staircases winding every which way about it. The whole place is lit a soft blue light from a great number of strange glowing orbs scattered around the landscaping around us.
Honestly, while the Underworld has so far been desolate and brutally impressive, here it’s…quite pretty.
Anton gives a little growl that draws my eyes to him and he bumps himself into my side, letting his tongue loll a little as he looks at me.
I laugh, shaking my head at him and giving him a little shove in return, because I know he’s trying to chuff me up and give me courage. That’s what he did for the last twenty minutes, anyway – telling me how gorgeous and imposing I look, and how nicely the rose-gold crown looks on my black hair, which is pinned neatly in an ornate bun at the back of my head, my hair swept elegantly away from my face.
He even complimented the black velvet robe, which hangs heavy around my body, clasped high around my neck and falling to my feet. It’s got enough folded layers that nobody can see what lays beneath. “Enigmatic and elegant,” Anton had concluded finally a few moments before Nic appeared, studying me with a finger curled around his chin like a painter looking at his masterpiece.
And I had laughed, because I know it’s all flattery – but honestly, it did give me courage.
“Here we go,” I murmur when the lights brighten before us and we can start to hear the murmured sound of conversation.
Anton gives an excited, vicious little yip that can only mean “give ‘em hell, Princess,” and I grin at him just once before setting my face and striding forward, no sign of hesitation in my step.
My eyes widen when I see how many people are gathered here – dozens, really, and all dressed quite spectacularly in elaborate gowns and tuxedos as they sip from crystal goblets. I spot Orion the jackass and his jerk father standing together in a stone gazebo at the peak of a set of stairs, chatting casually with some of their guests.
I give them a scowl for good measure before looking around for a friendly face. Luckily, the elaborate dresses of all the guests makes the other Contestants easy to spot, since we’re all in the same black robes.
And Laila’s beautiful sea-blue hair makes her easy to find.
I stride immediately in her directly, glancing down at Anton. “Remember the deal.”
He gives me a wolfish grin, showing all of his teeth, and I ignore him.
“Hi!” I say, soft, stepping close to Laila and giving her a big smile.
“Oh, Juniper,” she says, giving me a wavering one in return, her big brown eyes shining with worry. “I’m so glad you’re here!”
“Why?” I ask, my face falling to see her in such a state. I look around with a frown. “Did someone do something to you? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, hello, Wolfie,” Laila says, smiling at Anton and reaching a hand out from the slit in the side of her cloak to give him a pat on the head. He gives a warm yip of greeting before she turns her eyes back to me. “Nothing’s wrong I just – I hate this, Juniper.” She shakes her head. “And I’m very cold under here.”
I frown at my friend, feeling so sorry for her as I take a deep breath. “We’re going to get through it, Laila,” I promise, nodding eagerly.
“Did you come up with a plan?” she asks, looking at me like I’m her last hope.
I shrug. “Kind of. I don’t know what will do, but –“
We’re interrupted by the sound of footsteps, and Laila and I both turn to see two Contestants approaching, the blonde and the stunning brunette who teased me in the bathroom last night. Anton growls and steps close to my side as I let my canines grow, just a little, to two tiny sharp points.
Because I am a wolf, and there’s nothing cute about it. About time they knew it, too.
“Hey Laila, Juniper,” the stunning one says, giving us a sultry grin. I tilt my head, wondering if she knows how to grin any other way, and also how she learned my name. “Looking forward to the Trial? I know I am.”
Laila’s slim shoulders begin to shake as she looks down at the ground.
“Are you like…seriously afraid?” the blonde asks, crossing her arms and not caring at all that it makes her velvet cloak part in the center, revealing her naked body beneath. “God, what prudes. Do you honestly think that Prince Orion is going to pick a girl who’s ashamed of her body?”
Laila’s mouth turns down into a desperate frown and she shuts her eyes, ashamed.
