26. carousal

26

carousal

Rivian

October 29th

The day escapes us. The sun rises and moves throughout the sky. It pierces the clouds and projects its bright beams against what's left of the light layer of snow left behind. Then it dips below the horizon and allows for luminescence of the moon to make an appearance. It's full tonight, and as it hides behind some of the clouds that blanket the night sky, it creates a glow that is an undeniable comparison to the color of Lucynda's eyes.

I'm glad I have her back. We haven't left the room all day. We didn't need to.

The buzz of tonight's party is all the rage amongst the Nocturnes and I know everyone is waiting for the time to come. There's only an hour more before curfew ends and then we can all make our way to carouse.

I had the guards send out invites to random Outsiders as usual, there are accommodations being made at the club as we speak to make sure everything is good to go, and all that's left is our arrival.

"Do you really think this party will be a good form of distraction for the Society?" Lucynda asks as she slips on the dress she'll be wearing tonight, cloaking the bites and bruises I've left all over her body. I watch as the burnt orange colored silk covers her like a second skin, loving how easily she's readjusted after nearly succumbing to the curse that plagued her.

It did a number on her, but my sweet sin is stronger than anyone has ever given her credit for.

"Not only do I think this party could serve as a decent distraction, little one," I say to her as I approach her from behind, wrapping my hands around her waist and peppering kisses over her shoulder.

I reach for the zipper that sits at the small of her back and slowly pull it upward as I continue, "I think that someone in this Society might know more than they're letting on and might unintentionally lead us to some sort of…"

"Clue?" she asks. She shivers as I finish zipping up her dress and then she turns to look at me.

"Yes, little one. A clue ." I pull her into me, gripping her by her waist as she brings her arms up around my neck.

I smile against her lips, loving how it fucking feels to let go of the bitter dissension my own personal issues have caused me. I'm knowledgeable of the fact that there is still work to be done where my resurrection is involved and a trauma I've instilled in my wife to eradicate. But right now, I soak in what I have and allow myself to savor these small moments before the unknown of tonight's events threaten to take all of that away.

Lucynda presses her lips to mine before pushing off me, playfully swatting at me to go get dressed.

"What is your plan for whomever might lead you to said clue?" she questions as I turn to the closet to find my suit.

"Follow them," I respond simply. I step into my pants and tuck in my white button-up before slipping my suit jacket over it.

" Okay… " she trails off sarcastically. "Then what?" I hear the gaiety in her tone and I smirk at the sound of her pretty voice.

I swoop my tie around my neck and start to tighten it up.

"The hope is that they'll lead us to the person responsible for all of this or that maybe they are the betrayer," I start, turning to exit the closet and facing her as she pins her curled, snowy strands up into a bun.

"So you think that the perpetrator actually does come from within Hollows Trace?" I find her reflection in the vanity mirror; her eyes focused on what she's doing.

"I don't know if there is any other explanation," I respond.

Last night as I held my wife's body against mine—tangled legs and her hair a mess as she closed her eyes for sleep—I couldn't stop wondering about who or what could be behind all of this. Nothing I came up with made sense, and I berated myself for not being able to find a solution easily.

"We know that someone could have been scheming with Viktrum and unfortunately, he's dead so we can't ask him." I shoot her a little devious grin at my sarcastic jab.

She dips her head in shame and turns from the mirror to look at me. "I really am so sorry for that. For all of that, I-"

I pin her up against the vanity while gripping her hip and throat simultaneously.

"What the fuck did I say about the word sorry , Lucynda?"

She gasps at my words and I can feel her pulse quicken as her face heats up in a brazen flush.

I let her go before I can't, feeling the absolute need to lock us away and just forget about all the chaos.

She rubs her neck and smirks to herself, knowing damn well what she's doing. Little Vixen.

"You were under a spell, Cyn. You don't owe anyone anything for that. All that matters is that you're back now." I swipe my thumb across the curve of her bottom lip and watch her look back and forth between my mouth and my eyes.

She nods and I step back, allowing her to finish readying herself.

"And if it's any consolation, no one will miss Viktrum. He treated his wife like trash and his erasure does not diminish what we're doing tonight. He wasn't working alone and while the motive remains unknown, we have to put a stop to whomever is doing this."

"Maybe Viktrum was the one compelling Travois after all," she adds. "Seeing as only a Royal could do that. Which means hopefully he's safe tonight."

"Hopefully," I agree with her as I pick her up by her arms and seat her on top of the vanity.

I lean down for her shoes and lift one foot at a time to my chest. She watches me with lust in her eyes and bated breath as I lace up her gold heels.

"Do you really think Ameliana is dead? I mean…" She pauses to chew on her bottom lip, most likely thinking about the brief memory of her mom.

She blows out a deep exhale before finishing, "She felt and sounded so real. How could someone fake that?"

"That's an answer that hopefully awaits us at the end of whatever mystery we're going to solve tonight," I speak to her as I grab her other foot.

"You sound optimistic," she implies.

I drop her feet, shoes ready to go, and help her back up. She grips onto my shoulders for support and we both let the tension between us settle for a moment. There's still so much left to say. But the only thing worth saying is the notion that curls deep into my soul.

"You've awakened me, Lucynda," I confess. Her lips part, and I can tell she also has a confession. She might feel like the pressure is on her to repeat the words I spoke to her yesterday, but I am not pressured for her to say them. I know how she feels. And she knows how I feel. And it's unfeigned.

Understanding flits between us and I hold out my hand for hers. "Are you ready?" I ask her.

She takes my hand and smiles at me, the twinkle in her eye never losing its sparkle.

"Only if you are."

And with that, we head for the Gilded Hollow.

Everything seems to be going according to plan. Kacian made sure that we got as many Nocturnes as possible to the party while we left a few guards back to keep watch on the rest of those who didn't come out.

Everyone is adorned in their masks, and Outsiders and Nocturnes mingle while they dance and drink their night away.

The focus rooms on the second floor are occupied and voyeurs crowd the hallway. The bar is stocked full of whatever anyone might need for their enjoyment, and everyone seems to be having a good time.

Lucynda and I are separated, not that anyone won't know who we are, masked or not, but we split up in hopes to have better coverage on the place. The plan is to listen for any whispers and keep our eyes open to any strange behaviors. We're two hours in and so far, nothing has been out of the ordinary.

I look up at the deck to lay eyes on my wife. She looks stunning in her autumn-colored dress, hitting just above her knees. The blood diamond on her ring fingers glistens against the club lighting and it makes me feel territorial at how ravishing she looks adorned by the promise of our marriage.

She looks around the space below her as she grips the railing. She doesn't spot me like I hope she does, eager for her eyes on mine, before someone approaches her side.

Travois.

She doesn't cower from his presence or seem too bothered by it, and before I can let my mind wander too much about what he's attempting to talk to her about, I pull my attention elsewhere.

Troian seems to be holding off on her flirtatious adventures for the night, focusing on anyone who is acting suspiciously instead. She's dodging the likes of seedy Outsiders whom we only invite as a gift to our thirsty vampires. Once we're done with them, we compel them to forget, throw them out, just to invite them again for the next one.

Troy moves about, making sure her eyes are open through the slits of her black matte mask, but then, a female with a yellow glittered mask approaches her. Tapping her on the shoulder, she gets Troy's attention. She turns to face the partygoer and seems friendly with her.

I don't want to pry too much, seeing as this could be a personal connection, but I can't help but let my curiosity bloom. My sister doesn't seem to have many secrets I fancy knowing. Though I'd say one of her hobbies in particular does scream questionable morals, she's only helping the world with her self-appointed vigilantism.

I zero in on this specific interaction, seeing the two exchange some kind of flirty chatter before the mask of the woman in yellow comes off.

It's Birdania.

Fury swarms me, and I nearly crush the glass in my hand at the sight.

What the fuck is my sister doing with my ex-fiancé? Surely, she wouldn't willingly fraternize with someone so vile.

I feel the sudden heat of a glare wash over me and I trace the feeling back over to where my wife now looks down on me.

She looks over to the pair I'd been staring at, seeing what I'm seeing and she simply shakes her head gently at me. A warning not to interfere. Does she know something I don’t know?

I can't hide my irritation. Are they a thing? Or maybe she's doing it to see if she has intel. Whatever the circumstance, I don't like the dynamic but I heed my wife's wishes and step away letting whatever is transpiring between them continue.

I decide to head over to the bar and grab a refill on my Bloody David to quell my anger.

An hour later I find myself up on the second floor and in the hallway of focus rooms. I'm not here for my own perusal. I followed my wife in about ten minutes ago. She slowly walked from room to room, surveying each individual show for a few beats, then traveling to the next room.

She fascinates me. Always has. I've been drawn to her curiosity and I’ve obsessed over her ability to see the purpose of everything presented to her, almost like she's addicted to life and now in death, she'll have an eternity of it.

I clear my throat before making a calm but stern demand. "The room." My voice carries to everyone in the hallway, not a question from anyone as they turn to look at me before silently exiting the area.

My wife, however, remains unbothered as she watches the two in the throne room; a room that I know she fancies most.

"She must feel like a queen in that chair," she quips as I approach her. The view of the couple coming into sight.

Their show consists of nearly the same thing I performed for Lucynda the first time she ever stepped foot in this hallway.

"She'll never know the true feeling," I say to her as I bow my head before her.

We both look into the room before us, not saying much else as the minutes tick by. This could be our life. The moments of pleasure and the little segments of normalcy. The respect that is natural to us, because of who we are. A lifetime over and over again of anything we could ever ask for in this world . . . anything. I will give it to her.

This will all be over and I will still hold the reign as king. She will forever reside as my queen in or out of Royalty. But this, this is all ours.

Silence caresses the air around us as we continue watching the way the couple before us bonds intimately with one another. It's dirty, but passionate.

But before I can slip my hand up my wife's dress—my fingers trailing the soft skin of her thigh—something steals both of our attention.

"Your Highnesses." Kacian comes plowing through the thick red curtain. "We have movement."

Lucynda looks at me with wide eyes before responding to her guard.

"Who?" she asks him and he makes eye contact with me for a moment before revealing the truth.

"She left the party, she snuck past the guard and-"

"Kacian," I shout, holding my wife tightly at my side. "Who?"

He swallows before answering.

"It's Birdania."