Chapter 24

“Oh, come on, I seriously doubt that I’m even Nic’s type,” I murmur, pulling off my gloves before reaching up and tugging at my crown, lifting it free of my hair and moving to my vanity to set it down.

I reach up to start pulling out some pins that are sticking into my scalp when suddenly I gasp, icy cold rushing through me as blue flashes across my vision.

“That was so awesome, June!” Anton shouts, and I jump to the side, laughing when I realize that he just tried to tackle me, or wrap me in a hug, or something. He comes skittering to a stop on my other side, grinning wildly at me and coming back for more.

I burst out laughing, reaching for him, wanting a hug too. He’s more careful this time, wrapping his arms around me, and even though I can’t really feel him or rest my weight against him or anything, my face bursts into a ridiculous smile.

“I’m so proud of you, Junie,” he murmurs, the tingling touch of him echoing all down my front where my body presses against him. “I mean, you’re probably going to get killed for that. But. I’m proud as hell nonetheless.”

I sigh, letting my eyes drift shut because I’m not sure it’s ever meant so much to me for someone to tell me they’re proud.

“You really think he’s going to eliminate me?” I ask, my voice small. Because, I mean, Anton and I discussed this whole plan before I did it. But…I played down the vivid language I planned to use just a little bit.

Anton steps away from me and I look up at him as I continue my work pulling the pins out of my hair.

“The practical part of me thinks you should have stuck to our script,” he says, tilting his head consideringly as he studies me. But then a little smirk comes to his lips. “But…another part wouldn’t give up the memory of you calling him pathetic and telling him he’s not worth begging for. Not for all the gold in the world.”

I grin, unable to help it. “Yeah. Those were good lines, weren’t they?”

“You’ve got moxy, kid,” he murmurs, raising a hand and pretending to give me a little punch on the chin. I snap my head to the side, pursing my lips and pretending it hurt, making him laugh.

“Yeah, well,” I sigh, turning to the vanity and starting at the buttons at the back of my skirt, which is indeed very tight. “This was all according to your plan, if you’ll remember. Be mean and make my point tonight, then spend the rest of the week buttering him up and hope that we can convince him not to rip my soul from my body.”

“A calculated risk,” he murmurs. “Hey, do you think you could just like…vanish your clothes off?”

“What?” I gasp, spinning towards him with wide eyes.

He grins at me, clearly having predicted that reaction. “No, I mean, like to get changed. You called up all these clothes, surely you can send them away again and just wish on a pair of pajamas, telling the magic that you just want it to appear on your body.”

I glare at Anton for his little prank, but then I look consideringly down at my body.

“Try it,” he urges.

“Eyes. Hands. Cover,” I mutter, pointing at him even as I look down at myself.

He laughs and does as I bid, covering his eyes.

I purse my lips and un-call the garments I’m wearing. There’s a moment’s pause and then I suddenly gasp when cold air hits my skin all at once.

“Wait,” Anton says, his grin deepening. “Did it work? Are you naked?”

“Yes!” I squeak, horrified, trying to cover myself with my hands. He laughs but doesn’t peek. I bite my lip, concentrating for a second, but then a wooshing breath of relief crosses my lips and I stand up straight. “Okay, you can look now.”

He drops his hands and looks down at me, that smile still on his face. “Donut-print pajamas?”

“Yeah,” I say, putting my hands on my hips, grinning down at them, quite proud. “What, you don’t think I look delicious?”

“Oh, what I think doesn’t really matter, does it?” Anton says, his voice dropping low in a way that makes me look up at him in surprise. But then he clears his throat, looking away from me. “You gonna call up some dinner? You haven’t eaten all day except that croissant.”

“Good idea,” I say, turning back towards the bed and striding over to it as finish pulling the pins out of my hair and shake it down around my shoulders. “What are you in the mood for?”

“Oh, anything you want, kid,” he says, dry. “I’m not feeling particularly peckish tonight.”

“If you don’t eat you’ll starve away to nothing,” I say, grinning at him as I flop down on the bed and call up a tabloid magazine from home – my favorite addiction.

“Are you kidding?” he says, flopping down next to me. “I just reached my goal weight of zero pounds. I’m not giving that up by eating junk.”

I just snarl passively at him and conjure up a slice of pizza covered in pepperoni and hot peppers. Anton gags, pretending to be revolted, and I just kick at him, leaning over the flimsy magazine.

“Let me see that,” he murmurs, reaching for the magazine. “Share!”

“No!” I growl, pulling it further in front of me, selfish and possessive. “The tabloid is mine and mine alone, because I love it the most.”

Anton’s grin deepens. “Is that all it takes in Juniper’s world to own something? Loving in the most?”

“Do you know of any better claim?” I ask, taking a bite of my pizza and looking up at him dubiously.

To my surprise, Anton doesn’t say anything, just smiles a little and tries to peer at the gossip column in front of me.

“Oh fine,” I sigh, pushing it between us. “Let’s see if there’s anything dirt in here about Luca Grant the boxer, my sister’s mate. I hate that guy.”

Anton gasps with delight, pressing a hand to his heart. “I hate him too!”

“Knew you had good taste,” I murmur, taking another bite of my pizza and looking back at the magazine, cozy and pleased, my impending death about as far from my mind in this moment as it can be.

When my eyes open in the morning I frown, bleary, shaken out of sleep by something.

But honestly, I have no idea what until it comes again.

Three sharp knocks.

I gasp, sitting up rigid in my bed, my eyes darting to Anton, who lays asleep on his stomach, his limbs sprawled out around him in every direction.

“You are the worst guard dog,” I growl, trying to shove at him and falling over when I forget, again, that he’s insubstantial.

“Leave me alone,” he groans, frowning and turning away from me.

“You need to shift!” I hiss, jumping when the knock comes again. Anton finally gasps awake when I grab a pillow and smack it, hard, into his head.

“You’re such a rat,” he growls, glaring at me.

“Be! A! Wolf!” I growl, pointing at the door where someone knocks again, louder this time.

Anton, finally getting it, gasps and shifts before jumping to his feet.

I just roll my eyes at him and scurry across the room, grabbing the handle to the door, wondering why the hell Nic didn’t just vanish into the room like he usually does –

But my mouth falls open in shock when I open the door and find not Nic’s hooded form on the other side.

But Orion’s handsome face, smirking down at me.

“So,” he says, tilting his head and taking in my dishevelment. “I guess you like to sleep in?”