Chapter Twenty-Six

Maureen

My palms sweat as I linger in front of the door. I think I'm going to be sick. I hesitate before putting my proverbial big girl panties on and knocking. My heart races as I listen for the sound of footsteps.

I take a step back as the door jerks open violently. Villette's eyes light up briefly as if she forgets all my transgressions for a split second. But then the hurt floods back in.

"What do you want, Maureen?"

I wince at her sour tone. "I was hoping we could talk. Can I come in?"

She glares back at me.

I thrust a pink box out into the space between us. "I brought macarons."

She snickers. "You're trying to bribe me with French pastries?"

"And champagne!" I reach into my bag and pull out a bottle. "Please, Villette."

She rolls her eyes but stands aside and gestures for me to enter.

Hope. I'll take all that I can get.

I stand in the middle of her room, afraid to make a wrong move and have her change her mind about letting me in.

She snatches the champagne from my hand, pops the cork, and takes a swig straight from the bottle. Well, fuck. She is pissed. I open the box and cautiously offer her a macaron. She grabs the whole box and sets it on the nightstand before plopping down on the bed and shoving one in her mouth.

"Okay, talk," she mumbles between bites.

I rub my sweaty palms over my tweed skirt. Well, here goes nothing. An impulsive gesture to say the least. "First of all, I'm not here to apologize."

Her eyes widen as she almost chokes on a pink macaron.

Oh, fuck. I'm losing her.

"Not for feeling the way I do about your brother. I am not sorry for that. What I came to apologize for is how I've treated you." I sit down on a chair and lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "I shouldn't have kept you in the dark. Friendship is about trust. I didn't give that to you, and it was wrong. So I'm going to tell you everything now."

She takes another swig of champagne and wipes her mouth on her sleeve. "Go on."

I tap my foot on the floor as the knots in my stomach twist. "The guys didn't stab Zeke to death. I did. He was trying to hurt me."

Her mouth drops open. "Maur…"

I shake my head. "I'm dealing with it… During the break, we visited Riot's father, and he did… unspeakable things to me. Punished me. Humiliated me." My voice cracks, and I almost don't continue.

She sets the champagne down. "You're safe with me, Maur. It's okay."

I breathe in a deep breath. "When we got back to Tenebrose, I started getting disgusting texts from an unknown number. Atlas tracked the stalker down. It turns out he was hired by Atlas's father."

Villette hands me the champagne. "I think you need this more than I do."

I chuckle and happily take it from her. "The stalker, Barnaby Withers… I killed him too."

She moves to the edge of the bed, closer to where I'm sitting.

I take a swig. The champagne fizzes on my tongue, coating my throat with liquid courage. "I've been getting more sigils, growing my power. My connection to the guys. But with that comes consequences. Nothing in this life is free. There's been a dark energy growing in me… Until I met Felix."

She covers my hand with hers and gently squeezes. "Tell me how you feel about him."

I sigh as tears stream down my cheeks. "He has a light in him. Being with him is like taking a hot shower after you've been caught in a snowstorm without food or water for days. The guys want him because he has power. Because the five of us together will have more than a fighting chance against the elders. But it's more than that for me. Felix and I… we're poetry. Like lighting in a bottle. He makes me feel like I can do anything. Be anything."

Villette nods. "I understand. Felix has been troubled for a very long time. He's battled bouts of depression. There were times that I thought I'd lost him forever. But he's been different since he got here. There's a light in him that he's never had. Maybe it's because of you. Or because he isn't stifling his power anymore."

I choke back another sob, washing it down with another gulp of champagne. "I'm sorry, Villette. I know how much you hate Nocturnus. I wish it wasn't your brother. For your sake and for our friendship, I'd give anything to have it be different."

She holds tighter to my hand. "I've been so blind. I should have made you feel comfortable telling me these things. Through my selfish need to have my brother back and the ingrained hatred I have for Nocturnus, I've neglected you. My best friend. That's on me, Maur. I'm sorry."

I shake my head. "No. I ruin everything. You were right to be angry."

She leaps up and cups my face in her hands. "Maur, listen to me. I love my brother. But I also love you. If Felix can help keep you safe, then I demand that you stay with him. If Nocturnus is the reason he's no longer walking around like a zombie, then I will back him. I will back all of you."

I throw my arms around her and sob into her neck. "I love you too, Villette. The past few weeks have been agony without you. I've missed you so much."

She rubs my back. "From now on, no more secrets. No more holding back. We tell each other everything. Well, leave out the dirty stuff with my brother, please."

I snort through a half-sob, half-laugh. "Deal."

"What are you going to do about the elders?"

I like this new openness between us. It feels like a thousand weights have been lifted off my chest. "Nothing until we find out when they're meeting. We need them to be at the same place at the same time."

She nods. "I know I don't have powers, but let me know if I can do anything."

I hug her again. "You can come and get really drunk with me at the Spring Equinox Ball tonight."

She squeals in delight. "Yes. I hated dress shopping without you…"

My heart fills with so much love for this girl. "Well, then you're definitely getting ready with me tonight so I can gush over how gorgeous you look before anyone else gets to."

As we say goodbye and plan to see each other upstairs in my dorm apartment later, I feel like the broken cells in my body are starting to heal. Felix isn't the only Crane with a light in him. Villette is like liquid sunshine. Just being around her eases my anxiety and calms my nerves. I've never met anyone like her. I'm so fucking grateful we're back to being friends.

I find Atlas on the couch in my dorm apartment wearing navy-blue slacks and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top. His blond hair is unkempt and falling over his eyes instead of slicked back like it usually is. "Hey there, pretty girl."

I cross the room and stand over him. "Hi, handsome. Everything all right?"

He squeezes my thighs. "I've been up for days making vials…"

I caress his cheek. "You should take a nap before the ball."

He shrugs. "Nah, I'm good. I just came by to tell you that I'm not going to let what happened at the last ball happen at this one. We're not letting you out of our sight this time."

I shudder as I try to block out the memory of Jessamine luring me into the woods. "I know… Villette and I made up. She's going to get ready here with me in a few hours."

He flashes me a toothy grin. "Good. I knew she'd come around. No one can resist you, love."

I bend down and plant a soft kiss on his lips. "I think you're a bit biased."

Fuck knows there are plenty of people who want nothing to do with me. Like half of my family, for starters.

He pulls me down onto his lap. "I also wanted to tell you that I don't need a sigil to want to protect you. Back at the Graves Estate… I acted like an asshole that night. I've followed those men blindly for so long that I didn't think you needed protecting from them. But I shouldn't have let you go down to that ritual room. That will never happen again."

"Shhh, it's okay. We're past that now." I kiss his cheeks.

He presses his forehead to mine. "I'm going to murder every single initiate who defiled you."

Sweat beads on our skin. "The vials?"

He nods. "Death by poison is slow and painful. It's what they deserve."

When I think back to when I first met this man till now, it's almost like he's a different person. Still deviant and unhinged as fuck, but there's a selflessness there now that wasn't before. An empathy that didn't exist until recently.

He's strong and magnetic and strikingly gorgeous. But on the inside, he's so much more. He's bittersweet melancholy mixed with mischief and mayhem.

I spin around, lifting my leg to straddle him. To look him deep in the eyes. "I love you, Atlas."

He pulls me to him and covers my mouth with his, kissing me soft and sweet. "I love you so fucking much, baby. My pretty girl."

I pull down his zipper and free his cock from his pants. "I'm such a slut for you," I coo in his ear.

He chuckles as he lifts my skirt and pulls my panties to the side. "Mmm, show me."

I sit on his cock and slide all the way down. We both let out a gasp. "I'm going to wrinkle your suit."

He grabs my hips and thrusts into me. "Fuck this suit. I don't even like it that much."

My laugh is cut off by a moan as his cock swells inside me, stuffing me to the brim. "Well, in that case," I breathe. I rip his shirt open, sending buttons flying across the hardwood floors. I drag my nails down his chiseled chest, admiring every curve and line of his muscles. I bite my lip as I ride him.

He grabs my throat and yanks me forward until our lips meet. He crushes them, bruising them with his hunger for my mouth. Our tongues swirl together feverishly, greedily.

I rock my hips back and forth, desperate for release. My sigils burn, crackling as they come alive on my skin.

He lets out a loud moan as I bounce up and down. "Don't stop. Fuck. Just like that."

My clit spasms before spreading down my slit and then deep inside my core. I throw my head back and scream as my orgasm consumes me. "Uhhh. Oh, my fucking… Atlas."

"That's it. Cum for me, pretty girl. Fuck, let me fill you." He yanks my hips down hard. I feel his cock swell and throb against my core. "Mmm. Oh, shit. Here it comes."

A deep guttural growl escapes his throat. I grind in circles around his cock as his thick milky cum rushes into me, hot and fast. "Yeah… Good boy, Atlas."

He squeezes my throat, his eyes glowing. "Pretty girl…You and your magical fucking pussy."

Our chests heave as we attempt to catch our breaths. With our sweaty foreheads pressed together, his cock twitches inside me as the last of his cum trickles out.

"Happy spring equinox," I exhale. "We're going to have fun tonight. I can feel it."

He nods, still catching his breath. "I'll make sure it's the best night of your life."

I lean on his hand as I reluctantly slide off his cock and stand up. "I gotta jump in the shower before Villette gets here. You sticking around?"

"Nah. Imma get out of your hair and let you girls do your thing." He zips up his pants and stands, laughing as he sees all his shirt buttons on the floor. "I'll be back to collect those later."

He kisses me again before getting into the elevator. And I don't take my eyes off him until the sliding doors close. A grin plays at the corner of my lips as his sticky cum rubs against my thighs on the way to the shower.

I wonder which one of them is standing guard now that Atlas has to go back home and change. I chuckle to myself.

My phone buzzes, and I get my answer. I look down to see a text from Riot. What the fuck happened to Atlas's shirt?

I laugh so hard I snort.

Fuck, I love them.

Villette and I clasp hands as we strut down to meet the guys. Felix leans up against a black limousine. His eyes light up when he sees us. He picks up his sister and twirls her around. "Mi hermosa hermana." My beautiful sister.

She giggles as he sets her down. "Felix! You're going to wrinkle my dress." She looks stunning in an emerald-green, flower-print, floor-length gown. It bustles in the back, accentuating the curve of her hips and slender waist. The straps are thick and hug the middle of her shoulders.

His gaze flits over to me, and that rumble in my chest kicks in. "Fuck." He saunters over to me and takes my hands in his. "Damn… Helen of Troy's got nothing on you, Little Raven. Your face could launch a million ships."

I knew this dress was the one as soon as I put it on. With a neckline that dips down all the way to my waist, the pink and black striped satin hugs my body like a glove. The skirt splits in the front and flares out, revealing my tattooed legs.

I stalk forward, careful not to trip in my new, black, strappy stilettos. "Always the poet."

Catching movement in the corner of my eye, I hold my hand over my face to shield the glare of the sun. Through the rays, I spot them, and my heart gallops.

Riot, Atlas, and Valentin amble across the parking lot, a vision in all black.

I glance between them and Felix, overcome with emotion. They are all here for me.

Villette squeezes my hand. "Let's go have some fun."

We pile into the limousine in a sea of laughter, followed by champagne bottles popping.

Riot leans across the leather seats and whispers in my ear, "You're so beautiful, it hurts."

I kiss him on the cheek. "We've come a long way from that day you cornered me in the bathroom, haven't we?"

He nods, a smirk on his lips. "This is just the beginning, Firecracker."

When we pull up to the ballroom, all eyes are on us, their gazes glued to us as we climb out of the limousine. The snickers and gaping mouths don't bother me tonight. I have my good friend and my guys with me. We look hot as hell and about to burn off some much-needed steam.

Felix offers Villette his arm while Atlas and Val sandwich me in between them. Riot leads the charge with the air of a king. A dark king with energy so sinister, the shadows part for him.

I gasp in awe when we step inside. The ballroom is unrecognizable. Like a fairy wonderland with its twinkling lights, glittered-covered floor, and smoke machines. Pink and purple roses cover the tables while blue hydrangeas and green ivy climb the walls.

I lose count of all the tables stacked with mini fondant cakes and rows of pink champagne. White-gloved servers carry silver trays, offering whiskey in teacups and powdered-sugar-dusted truffles.

A string quartet strums in the corner, gracing our ears with the sounds of Bach and Tchaikovsky. "Look at all this." I twirl around, soaking it all in.

"Look at you," Atlas coos. "You're in heaven."

Villette chuckles. "This is Tenebrose. We go all out."

I grab a pink flowery teacup off a tray with more excitement than necessary. I take a sip and almost orgasm. "Why does whiskey taste better in this?"

Val snorts. "Did you just curtsy?"

"Maybe I did." I smile coyly.

Felix drapes his arm around my neck. "And here I thought you were opposed to polite society."

"Are you calling me a heathen, Professor?" I tease.

"You are the company you keep." He sneaks a playful jab at Riot who always manages to look relaxed and on edge at the same time.

Despite my state of bliss, his apprehension hasn't gone unnoticed. I watch the way he scans the room, taking note of every single person here.

Val and Atlas are on high alert as well; they're just better at hiding it. But Riot is always one step closer to turning feral. And he doesn't give a fuck who sees. Sometimes, I think that smiling causes him actual physical pain. But it's my favorite thing about him.

Villette loops her arm through mine. "Dance with me?"

She shrieks as I drag her to the dancefloor in response. We laugh. We twirl each other. We make a spectacle of ourselves.

I grab a glass of champagne this time as she spins me out and back, giggling like a teenager as I almost spill half of it.

We dance and drink like this for hours, oblivious to the haters who gawk at us. Felix was right, they're all just jealous. I pay them no mind as I continue to make a fool of myself with Villette.

When the music shifts tempo, I pause our dance to catch my breath and grab another whiskey. Over the rim of my purple teacup, I catch sight of the guys over by the bathroom. Riot, Atlas, and Felix surround the door, their shoulders squared and stances wide, jaws clenched. They look like fucking guard dogs.

My stomach knots.

"What is it?" Villette asks.

I shake my head. "Maybe nothing. But let's go find out."

She trails after me as I dash toward them. "What's going on? Where's Val?"

Riot puts his hands up to block me from charging into the men's bathroom. "He's fine, Maur. He's just having a little chat with his uncle."

Fuck.

My heart hammers in my chest. I look back and forth between them, the looks on their faces telling me everything I need to know. The room starts to spin as panic grips me, sucking all the joy from my lungs like a vacuum from hell.

I clutch my chest. "It's tonight, isn't it? The meeting of the elders."

Riot's eyes darken. His fingers tremble around my wrists. "Yes."