"I think he's either genuinely trying to help or he's the best liar I've ever met." She keeps her voice low. "The messages looked real. The fear in his eyes looked real. But that doesn't mean it's not orchestrated."
"Agreed, but I don’t understand what the hustle would be of sending him to tell us this. We were already going to the gala anyway. Silas knows that.”
"Or Nico could be telling the truth." Peyton's eyes are sharp, calculating. “And now we know we’re walking into a much more dangerous situation than we realized.”
"If it's real, and we don't go, twelve people die. Including possibly Edmund, who's the only Kingsley left who may know something about your mother's murder,” I say carefully.
"And if it's a trap, we walk into an ambush designed specifically for us."
"Then we go prepared. Armed. With backup." I pull out my phone. "I'll call Talia. I also suggest you decide whether you’ll take Helena up on her offer. If so, we tell her what we know so we don't go in blind."
"We're really doing this."
"We don't have a choice. We need to deal with both of them. Silas is not going to stop, and Edmund’s thrown the gauntlet down at your new Kingsley feet.” I cup her face. "But Peyton, you stay with me tonight. You don't leave my sight. And if things go wrong?—"
"I know. I run. We've had this conversation." She covers my hands with hers. "But Blake, I’m not letting you die for me tonight. We both survive, or I’ll kill you myself.”
I forget that Nico is watching from a short distance and tug Peyton forward against my chest. “You’re cracking jokes at the most inappropriate time.”
“I’m not joking.”
My heart beats stronger when she’s this close, reminding me of the connection to her that is growing without my goddamn consent, so I kiss her. It’s a chaste one compared to what we did last night but it’s one of ownership all the same.
Peyton is mine.
Mine to kiss.
Mine to fuck.
And mine to protect.
I call Nico back over. "We'll be there, and we’ll be ready,” I tell him, being sure to keep an eye on his affect.
Nico checks his watch. "Gala starts at seven. Whatever Silas has planned happens between nine and midnight. That's our window."
"What about you? Where will you be?"
"Wherever Silas puts me. Probably close to him, following orders, pretending I don't know what's coming." Nico's jaw sets. "I'll try to signal you if I spot the threat. But Blake? Be careful. Silas is paranoid. If he suspects I've warned you, he'll move up the timeline or change the plan entirely."
"Understood. I have a very deep understanding of how Silas operates, especially under pressure.”
Nico starts to leave, then stops. "Thank you for trusting me enough to at least listen."
"I'm not trusting you yet, but I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself." I hold his gaze. "Don't make me regret it."
"I won't."
He leaves.
Peyton and I stand in the empty club, the weight of what we just agreed to settling over us.
“I’ll feel better about this once you loop in Talia,” Peyton says.
“You trust my sister, huh?”
“Yeah, and I like her too.”
Now that the club is empty, I pull Peyton into a nearby hallway, pushing her flush against a blank wall.
