I tapped my foot as the line slowly inched forward. This was so stupid. Why on earth did so many people care about Laurel? It’s not like she’d actually done anything. Yet I’d had to wait almost an hour in this line to take a picture with her while she sat on the Crimson Palace’s famous thrones.
Her contact was going to be in this line and drop off my documents. When my turn came, she’d slip them to me. By the time she’d texted me the plan, and I’d snuck out of her villa, the line had already stretched around the block.
And twenty dollars? For apicture?
I was close enough to see her now, her hair twisted in a shimmering updo, a sparkling crown resting on her head. She wore a blood-red princess ballgown and shiny, elbow-length gloves. Duchesses didn’t even wear crowns, or hold sceptres, but there she was. The thrones were on a raised dais, so she could look down on all of us peasants as we waited our turn to brush shoulders with fake royalty.
She looked the part. Large eyes with dark lashes,delicately flushed cheeks, and perfect posture. Like she’d stepped out of a fairy tale.
Too bad it wasn’t enough to make me believe she was a damsel in distress instead of the evil witch.
Finally, it was my turn. A bored-looking beta waved me forward, and I climbed up the steps of the dais. Laurel’s eyes met mine, and the world seemed to slow, narrowing to just me and her as I slowly ascended to her level.
“My, my, no fancy clothes?” she said, looking me up and down. “It’d be such a shame to ruin the picture with that outfit. Bellamy, would you kindly grab the robe for this gentleman? And some props as well.”
I ground my teeth as I sat down on the throne next to her. It was made from marble, cold and unyielding. “Props?”
She dropped her sceptre, and we both went to pick it up. I snatched it up, causing our fingers to brush momentarily. Her dress had poofed out around her, and she used it as cover to pass me a plain-looking envelope.
“Yes, props,” she muttered as she straightened. “Had to make sure Bellamy didn’t see.”
I sat back on my throne and passed her the sceptre. Her assistant returned, carrying a heavy-looking robe with fur trim and a solid-looking crown inset with glittering red gems. I grudgingly allowed him to wrap me in the robe and set the crown on my head.
The robe let me slip the envelope safely into my jacket.
I guess I had to give her a bit of credit. This was a good cover.
“Besides,” she said as Bellamy stepped away, “I figured someone should suffer like I am today.”
She straightened her back and clasped my hand in hers while she looked at the camera in front of us. There was aflash, and then she let my hand go. “Thank you so much for coming today,” she said, smiling up at me.
“My pleasure,” I said, pressing a kiss to her hand.
Her flinch was barely noticeable but still brought a smirk to my face as I walked away.
I smiled and dismissed the bellhop, who’d insisted on taking my suitcase to the villa. It was one right next to Laurel’s, though that didn’t matter much, as the cameras outside could see if I visited. There were a couple of blind spots I could make use of if I really needed to, but that would be risky.
Laurel had texted me, letting me know that Ocean was okay. She’d arranged some training for him and had managed to take charge of his care.
I hadn’t ordered her to do any of it, and honestly, I was surprised by her initiative. Maybe she figured the faster she got him out, the faster she’d be rid of us.
The faster, the better. Because leaving Kaos and Laurel in her place together was not going to be fun.
THIRTY-SIX
LAUREL
“See ya,” Jade said, waving as she pulled away to try and find a parking spot nearby.
Now that we were on good terms, I could actually escape from the casino with her driving me around.
Finch followed me in silence as I opened the door and stepped inside Cascades. Quiet jazz music played as a silver-haired tailor walked over to greet us.
Her eyebrows raised as she saw what Finch was wearing. I rolled my eyes at her as she turned to me, and she relaxed slightly. At least I dressed like I belonged here. Usually, Prince’s mom, Angela, and my airhead second cousin Vivienne were glued to my side when I shopped, and it was nice to not have to pretend to enjoy their company.
Finch was scowling at my side, but the fact of the matter was, he needed new clothes. After a very frustrating conversation, he’d eventually gritted out that they were from out of town and he’d lost his luggage.
I wasn’t very impressed. I mean, they come into town tochallenge my dad, and Finch doesn’t even seem worried about not having a wardrobe? I guess Ocean was the social one out of all of them, but even he hadn’t worn anything nice.
