Chapter 21

T rixie

"Do I have sex hair?" I whispered to Dom.

"You took a shower," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Your hair looks fine."

My cheeks flushed. Indeed, my shower hadn't been alone, and it hadn't been boring. It hadn't hurt that Dom's penthouse shower was like something one would find in a five-star resort, complete with fancy shampoos and conditioners and shower gels. A sprig of eucalyptus had hung from the beautifully tiled wall, an accent I knew Dom hadn't put there himself.

"You look ravishing," Dom whispered back to me. "We're supposed to look like we're falling in love, remember? Sex hair is a good thing."

"I thought you said I don't have sex hair."

"It doesn't matter either way," he said firmly. "I love you just the way you are."

I gave a little scoff, but his words warmed something in me. Our confessions of love to one another had felt right. Perfect, even. I would've preferred to bask quietly in that revelation this morning, instead of inviting a crew of cameras in to catch this moment on film, but alas. If it would protect our privacy in the longer run, it would be worth it.

Dom winked in my direction as Vix approached us with a set of well-dressed people flanking her sides.

"Just sit here," he promised me. "Hold my hand, smile. You don't have to say a word."

"That's true," Vix said, joining the conversation. "We just need a short statement that has viewers believing the two of you are smitten." Vix studied us closer, narrowed her eyes at Dom as if she could visually see the love radiating off of us. "Not that it'll require much in the way of acting."

I was sure my cheeks went from peony to peach to plum in about three seconds. Dom slid his hand into mine, gave my skin a reassuring rub with his thumb. I felt myself relax against him as we sat in his already-perfectly-staged living room while people fluttered around us to set up a camera and microphones and whatever else.

"Who's doing the interview?" I asked.

"Me." Merci entered the room at that moment, giving Dom and I a smile that didn't meet her eyes.

Vix glanced at us. "We figured it would have more weight as an official announcement if we brought in Merci herself to facilitate. All questions on her list have been pre-approved by me," Vix said sharply, with a warning nod at Merci. "I trust the process will be very smooth."

"Of course," Merci said, taking a seat in an armchair next to where Dom and I sat on a loveseat, squished too close together. "Everything about this election has gone so smoothly, after all."

Alarm bells rang in my head at the tone in Merci's voice, as if she were personally offended that I wasn't interested in participating in the campaign. As if I had purposefully made a mockery of something she cared deeply about.

"None of this is personal," I told Merci. "I never wanted to be a candidate. It has nothing to do with you, or The Circle, or anything else. I tried to excuse myself politely, but people didn't accept it."

"You tried to defy The Fates. They chose you," Merci said coolly. "It's your responsibility to participate to the full extent of your capability."

"Enough," Vix said. "It's a moot point because the fact of the matter is that these two are in-freaking-love, and if people can't see that, they're blind. So they're disqualified anyway per CCCC Clause 873."

Merci glanced between us, then shuffled some papers together on her lap in a little truce. "Let's get started then. The elections are rapidly approaching, and I have a lot to do before then."

The camera crew, Vix, and the rest of the people I presumed were part of some PR team hired by Dom, curved around us in a crescent moon shape.

"It's fine," Dom whispered. "It'll be over in a few minutes."

His soothing words were nice, but it was the feel of his hand in mine that anchored me. That kept my heart from racing so fast I'd pass out. That gave me the courage to make this leap publicly. Whatever was rapidly blooming between us, it was happening, and there was no turning back now.

"Rolling," the camera guy said.

A few silent looks and hand motions later, and Merci turned on a smile that was completely different than anything she'd shown us privately. She ran through a quick introduction, then turned to face me and Dominic .

"I'm here with Dominic Kent and Trixie Gardens, and in light of the wildcard elections approaching, these two have an announcement to make."

Dom held up his hand with mine still tucked inside. "You might have noticed that Trix and I were noticeably absent at the debate last night, and it was for a good reason. We are, indeed, a couple. Romantically linked. I'm not sure if it can be spelled out any clearer, but we are in love."

Merci nodded slowly. "How long has this been going on?"

"Just over a month."

"You were already together before The Fates drew your names?"

"Technically we met before the summit, and the connection was instant. We've been exploring what a relationship looks like over the last few weeks."

I glanced at the glimmer of humor in his eye. If by "instant connection" he meant me shooting a wine bottle cork at his eye, then I'd definitely agree.

"It didn't seem as if Trixie enjoyed your company all that much when she gave her speech," Merci pointed out. "I take it things have changed?"

"They say the line between love and hate is a fine one," Dom said easily. "We straddled that line for a while. Eventually, we realized that we'd had a misunderstanding off the bat. Once we cleared that up, it was obvious that the passion between us wasn't hate but instead immense adoration."

"What's next for the two of you?"

"I wasn't going to share this, but I was planning to ask Trixie to move in with me. "

Dom looked at me, and I couldn't tell if he meant it or not. My throat went dry.

Dom spared me from having to respond by turning back to Merci. "But that's for a more private conversation. The fact of the matter is that we both recused ourselves from the election because we knew we were breaking the rules."

"You understand after breaking CCCC Clause 873, neither of your names will appear on the ballot for the wildcard election."

"I don't need to win any elections." Dom put his arm nonchalantly around my back. "I've got everything I need right here."

"How sweet," Merci said, sounding positively saccharine. "That is real dedication to give up a potential seat in The Circle for a new relationship."

"Nothing's more important than finding your one true love," Dom said. "Trust me, I've been looking for 300 years. I'm not letting her slip by me now."

"Question for Trixie." Merci directed her gaze on me, her eyes sharp.

I glanced at Vix. Her head had snapped in the direction of Merci, and her eyes were downright predatory. Vix drew a line across her throat, gesturing for Merci to stop.

But Merci could smell blood, and she barreled on. "How do you feel knowing that while Levian is easily leading the race with a solid 50% of the votes, you came in second with a healthy 38%—even when you completely dismissed the campaign in its entirety?"

"38% of votes went to me?" I echoed, feeling pinned beneath Merci's gaze. "You're kidding. "

"Results came in this morning just as we were sitting down with the cameras," Merci said. "It's breaking news. People will hear it here first."

I didn't believe Merci. I believed she'd probably had the results hours ago and had just withheld them to blindside me on camera. Her aura flickered with a slight, cunning shade of lime green, a shade I often associated with manipulation. My gut, and my aura-reading, were telling me the same thing.

The realization that I was using auras to help me read people came as a surprise. Like a physical jolt, a throwback to a time when I used to do this naturally, back when I'd been a child doing it as easily as breathing.

I knew from experience that auras changed when people were lying. I'd just forgotten it, blocked it out, like everything else from my painful past. The fact that I'd done it without thinking made me slightly uncomfortable, but also invigorated. Like I'd unlocked a part of me that I'd been fighting for far too long.

"I don't feel anything about coming in second," I managed to say. "Except maybe shock. I told people not to vote for me."

"Why do you think—"

"We're done." Vix stepped in front of the camera. "Cut. Whatever. Take that last part out in edits."

The PR lady nodded, obviously terrified of Vix's wrath. She probably was. We all were. The camera guy backed off like he was being personally attacked.

"What the hell, Merci?" Vix said. "You weren't supposed to ask any questions directly to Trixie, and especially one that wasn't on your list. "

"I thought this interview was about the truth. I can see now it's not." Then Merci stood and swept out of the room, leaving us with a ticking bomb.

"38%?" Vix said looking at me. "That's not nothin'."

I cleared my throat, trying not to feel bothered by the unexpected popularity in the polls. "I didn't ask for it."

"Maybe that's the point." Vix eyed me critically. "Maybe that's exactly why people like you."

"Doesn't matter anyway," I said. "Not only is that not a majority, but I've broken all sorts of rules."

"Doesn't stop write-ins," Vix muttered. "Just saying."

I rolled my eyes. "Has anyone ever been elected by write-ins?"

"There's a first time for everything. Including skipping out on a debate and still coming in second place."

"Look, I've got to go back to my place," I said. "I need a nap. And coffee. Or wine. Or maybe spiked coffee."

"Trixie—" Dom pulled me against him, waiting while the camera crew got the idea and sidled out of the sitting room and back into the kitchen. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," I said. "It's just a lot."

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Honestly, I just want to talk to Emmy and drink coffee and watch Netflix for a couple of hours."

Dom laughed. "How very normal of you."

"That's all I've ever wanted. Normal. Plus, I want to break the news of what's happening between us to Emmy before she catches wind of it from a reporter or something. "

"I understand." Dom brushed a kiss against my forehead. "I'll be up here, dealing with the PR team. Reach out to me when you're ready for company?"

I kissed him gently on the lips. "Promise. Thanks for looking out for me. I appreciate it."

"Hey," he murmured in my ear. "I love you, Trixie. And if you do want to move in—"

I raised a finger and pressed it to his lips.

Dom smiled behind my finger. "Too soon?"

"Too soon," I said. "Let's get through the election, and your brother, and the apartment building sale first. Then we'll discuss."

"Deal."

One more kiss, and then we split ways. As I rode the elevator down, I breathed a sigh of relief. The morning—heck, the whole night—had been one insane whirlwind after another, but the one thing that was constant was my trust in Dom.

I trusted him to handle this. He'd take care of the election garbage and the publicity stunts. Then tomorrow, after the election, it would all be over. Next, we'd focus on his brother. The sale of the apartment building. When that was all said and done, then maybe we could finally focus on what life would look like together without any of the current distractions, what a normal life as a normal couple might become.

"Em, you're never going to believe what happened." I unlocked the door, used my foot to kick it open, and sidled inside. "Did you see the end of the debate last night when Levian— omigod , Emmy! "

I tilted my head up to find my cheerful roommate tied to a chair with a patch of duct tape slapped over her mouth. Her aura screamed fear at me in a way that shook me to my core.

"Emmy, are you okay?!" I rushed to her, ripped the tape off, sliced a kitchen knife through the rope on her hands. "What happened?"

"A couple of guys came through in masks. But sweetie..." Tears squeaked out of Emmy's eyes. "They were looking for you."