Chapter Twenty-Seven

Maureen

I 've been defiled in the mud, forced not to shower, locked in a coffin, and bitten by a poisonous snake. I've been pulled and pushed and dominated in the most depraved ways. I should be disgusted. But as I stand here looking in the mirror, dressed in the exquisite black gown they picked out for me, I am willing to do it all again. I crave each of them in a different way. And I will walk through the fires of hell if it means that I end up right back here in Raven's Gate with my three deranged psychos.

The bustier is covered in lace with ribbon strings holding it together. I slip into a pair of black satin heels and twirl for them. The tulle skirt billows down to the floor but the two slits up the sides show off my tattooed legs. Libra and Villette both let out an excited squeal.

"You look stunning," Villette says.

Libra hands me an ornate mask. "Yeah, you look hot as fuck."

"What's this?" I ask as I take the mask from her.

"The Winter Solstice is a masquerade ball. So we got you a mask. Those are real raven feathers."

I smooth my hands over it before tying it around my face. I look back in the mirror and my stomach does a little flip. "It's perfect."

"Where are they? I thought you were going together." Villette can't hide the concern in her voice.

That eerie feeling snakes up my neck again. "I'm meeting them there. They have some Nocturnus business they need to handle."

Libra snorts. "I'm surprised they let you off your leash."

I chuckle. Nothing is going to ruin tonight for me. Not the promise of murder, or even Libra's snarky comments. "Maybe I like my leash." I press my lips together after applying another coat of lip gloss.

Villette chokes on a sip of champagne. "Damn, Maur. You've been hanging out with them too much."

I smile and take another look in the mirror. Butterflies dance in my stomach. My first ball, and I get to go on the arms of Riot, Atlas, and Valentin. I'm their pretty little psycho, and they're my nightmare. The dark spark that ignites my fire. They are the nocturnal haze I exist in. The tangled web I don't ever want to be free from.

We clank our glasses together in a toast. "Cheers to a wicked night, ladies. May we all find what we're looking for," I say.

"Yeah, let's hope the rest of us get fucked as hard as you tonight," Libra drawls. "I've been bored out of my mind."

Villette flinches as if her words physically assaulted her. "Calm down, Lib. It's a Tenebrose ball, not a sex club."

Libra shrugs. "That's a matter of perspective."

I burst out laughing. "You're growing on me too, Thorn," I tease.

The three of us finish getting ready and head downstairs.

Fireflies flicker past us as we cross the lawn to the path that leads to the Erebus Ballroom. Paper lanterns light the way as far as the eye can see. It's like a page out of a fantasy novel. Others gather in groups and join us in their tuxedos and gowns on the walk down.

The night is beautiful. Magical. The moon is bright and full, illuminating us like ethereal goddesses. Libra wears a baby pink satin dress that invokes old Hollywood vibes. And Villette is the picture of class and elegance in her emerald-green silk gown, the skirt covered in sparkly beads. The three of us look unstoppable tonight. A trio of devious vixens stalking through the woods like night sirens.

"I bet those boys just needed extra time to get ready. I swear they are more high-maintenance than any girl I know. Including myself," Libra jokes.

That was part of it. But I didn't have the nerve to tell them that they were lagging behind because Atlas was using his raven sight to track down Zeke. Villette and Libra aren't na?ve to what Nocturnus is or does. They knew before I did. But they are just as excited as I am to drink and dance the night away. I don't want to spoil the mood with talk of murder and betrayal. Not yet. That will come later…

I laugh as the two of them go on and on about how boys are secretly more obsessed with their looks than girls are. "Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen a single hair on Atlas's head out of place. And don't even get me started on Riot and his perfectly pressed black T-shirts."

Villette snorts. "Don't forget about Valentin's obsession with suits. I swear he's been wearing them since we were kids."

I'd forgotten how long they've all known each other. I should have been picking their brains about my guys from the start. "What were they like as kids?" I ask. "Were they always so…"

"Depraved and disturbed?" Libra pipes in, laughing. "Yep. Atlas and my brother, Aries, started playing with poison in junior high."

Villette giggles. "Yeah, pretty sure Valentin was the reason all the graves in Raven's Gate Mortuary were dug up that summer. He watched a bunch of George Romero zombie movies and was convinced that the dead were going to reanimate."

A warm nostalgia sweeps over me even though these aren't my memories. I feel closer to all of them at this moment. "What about Riot? Was he always so… angry?"

Libra and Villette exchange a look before my beautiful, yet snarky friend opens her mouth to speak. "His house was not fun. The Graves family is fucking intense. This curse as they call it, consumes them constantly."

I almost trip as the path gets rockier. I stumble and catch myself. "You don't think it's really a curse?" I'm confused by her nonchalance.

She shakes her head. "No, it's not that. They really did get banished from Ever Graves. If Riot leaves Raven's Gate, he will age quickly, and then die. His power, his lifeblood, is forever tied to this place now. To the ravens. I can understand why his family is angry, but it's all they ever think about. Like fuck, accept it and move on."

"Riot never had a childhood, Maur. He has been on a mission since the day he was born to consume as much power as he can," Villette adds. "That's his family's legacy."

It suddenly hits me. "Because he wants to be able to go back to Ever Graves?"

Libra and Villette exchange another look that makes my skin crawl.

"What?" I ask, unsure if I really want to know.

Libra slows to a stop and turns toward me. "Because he wants to take back the power your family stole… and then destroy them."

Riot's made it no secret that he hates the Blackwells. I don't know how I feel about him wanting to murder all of them. I don't even know any of them and they shunned me since birth. But do I want them all dead? No. I don't think so …

I take a deep breath and keep walking. "Thank you for telling me."

Villette grabs my hand. "Maur, Riot has hurt every living thing that's ever crossed his path. Except you. I'm not his biggest fan, but I see how he looks at you. He's obsessed. He cares for you more than anyone thought he was capable of."

Libra nods in agreement. "He's a bastard. All of them are. But yeah, she's right. It doesn't matter what your last name is. I think they're all in love with you."

A tiny flutter of nerves swirls in my stomach. Love? Obsessed, yes. In lust, absolutely. But love just doesn't seem like something any of them are capable of. Especially Riot. From what they've just told me and from what I've seen myself, love isn't something that was shown to Riot, Atlas, or Valentin.

But then again, what the fuck do I know about love? My mother ignored me, and my father was too drunk to care. The only one who's ever loved me is Bailey. But she has her guys now. I shiver as I stifle a sob.

Villette squeezes my hand. "We got you, girl."

Libra rolls her eyes and grabs my other hand. "You're all right, Blackwell. Don't start getting mushy on me now."

On the verge of tears, the absurdity of my life makes me laugh instead. "We are the most ridiculous fucking freaks that Tenebrose has ever seen, aren't we?"

We all burst out laughing. "Pretty much," Libra says.

By the time we approach the ballroom, our mood has lifted. We take turns sipping on the flask of whiskey Libra smuggled in her purse. The stars glitter the whole sky, invoking something out of a fairytale.

We lock arms and strut inside like the badass bitches we are. I glance around at the spectacle that surrounds us. The ballroom is glowing with fairy lights, swinging chandeliers, and drippy candles. White-gloved servers float around the room carrying trays of frosted cakes and bubbly elixirs. But underneath this sparkly dream, lies a winter nightmare. A sinister energy that permeates every hushed whisper and masked face.

I feel them before I see them.

A draft blows a chill across my back. I spin around and look toward the entrance. Wearing tailored black suits, and ski masks, Riot, Atlas, and Valentin command the room. All eyes are on them. But their eyes are only on me.

I lose my breath as I meet each of their violent gazes.

They are mine.

" The devils of Raven's Gate are here ," someone whispers. I spin around but can't tell who's talking through the masks.

"Ignore them," Libra groans. "They're just jealous."

I look back at my guys. They don't take their eyes off me. "I thought you hated them, Lib. After what they did to you…"

She scoffs. "Hate is a fragile concept, Maur. This is my world. I've been living in it my whole life. Our families do things differently than everyone else. You're lucky you didn't grow up with us."

Am I though? My whole life I've wanted to belong to something greater. They all grew up with darkness and hate, but I was raised in a blur of booze and adultery. Was I really that much better off?

I hold my breath as my three psychos stalk toward me. "They're coming over," I whisper.

Libra nods. "They're coming for you."

Villette sighs. "Well, that's my cue. I'm going to find something to drink. Meet up with you in a bit?"

"Hell yeah, bitch. We're going to get Libra to do a jello shot later," I snort.

Libra shrieks, her face twisting in horror. "I will do no such thing."

I giggle. "I love that your entire family drinks poison but it's jello shots that freak you out."

She flips her hair off her shoulder. "Is that a rhetorical question?"

"I didn't ask you a question." Villette and I burst out laughing.

"Whatever. Sorry, I'm classy," she mumbles as she walks away.

Villette shrugs and laughs again before following her.

I smile after them. They are so different and yet they tolerate each other in a way that truly impresses me. And they actually like me . I never thought I'd make friends here. No one can ever replace my bestie, Bailey, but these two are definitely starting to fill the void.

Riot offers me his hand. "Ready to dance the night away, Firecracker?"

My belly flutters. "You dance?"

"Don't look so surprised. I'm classically trained." He winks.

"We'll keep watch until it's our turn," Valentin adds.

They look so out of place with their ski masks and yet they are the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

The crowd parts for us, and all eyes are on me—the outsider girl with the three deadliest men in Raven's Gate.

Riot spins me around and dips me as the music slows. The lights dim, and it's like we're the only two people in the room. He places his hand on my lower back and pulls me in close. "You look stunning. Fucking perfect."

The heat in my body rises. "Well, I had a little help," I tease.

His breath quickens in my ear. "It's not the dress. It's you. You're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen. You took my breath away from the first time I saw you."

I press my cheek to his, and I can feel the heat from his skin through the ski mask. "Riot… I dreamed about you ever since that night. You've been haunting me…"

He twirls me around again and pulls me back hard against his chest. "You'll never be free of me, Maureen. I will haunt you forever."

A breath lodges in my throat. "I don't want you to hate me anymore."

He pulls me to a stop as he lifts the bottom of his mask. I watch his jaw twitch as he gazes down at me. "Firecracker… fuck . I've never hated you. I've hated myself for not being good enough to love you."

My eyes dart back and forth between his ethereal blue eyes and his full lips. A sense of urgency comes over me. A feeling I've felt since that night in the bathroom. I slide my hand up his chest and wrap it around his throat. His eyes widen as his throat bobs in my grip. "You're good enough, Riot." I tilt my head up and inch my mouth closer to his. " And you're mine ."

His lips quiver right before he kisses me and when our tongues meet, it feels like an explosion of fire and sin.