“Aye. But should you have any trouble finding me, just look for a bevy of females. I’m going to make Beatlemania look like child’s play.”
“Don’t make me laugh. This corset will explode. Can’t I just leave it off? The dress covers me just fine.”
“Don’t be childish. This is what a woman wears to enhance her God-given figure.”
“If you tighten it any more, I’ll be able to rest my chin on my breasts.”
“Don’t you have a necklace to create a distraction?”
I had a long necklace with a spike that was really a weapon, but no one was going to let me in the party wearing that.
Christian turned away and lifted something sparkly off the doorknob. “Don’t get all excited. When we were picking up the costumes, the man had a box full of trinkets he was trying to sell us and… Well, I thought it looked like you.”
A silver chain swung from his index finger. I reached out and cupped the pendant—a multifaceted ruby-colored heart with a crown on top.
“The Queen of Hearts,” he said, releasing the chain and letting it fall into the palm of my hand.
I chuckled at theAlice in Wonderlandreference. Especially after the tattoo I’d put on his neck, which was now gone. “But it doesn’t match.”
“Neither do you,” he said, pointing between my mismatched eyes. Christian turned to leave. “Anyhow, it’s nothing fancy. Just a trinket. We’d better get our arses downstairs before Viktor sends up a search party.”
“Christian,” I called out as he opened the door. I closed my fingers around the necklace, the words caught in my throat.
He glanced over his shoulder. “No need to show gratitude. Get your mask, and let’s show these plonkers how Keystone likes to party.”
Chapter 27
We droveto the masquerade ball in separate cars, Gem and I hitching a ride with Shepherd. He had a metallic-grey Jeep Wrangler with black interior, and it was a lot roomier in the backseat than Wyatt’s Mini Cooper. Christian changed his mind about riding with us, though the visual of his kilt flapping in the wind made me wish he hadn’t. He’d been staring out the window for most of the drive.
Meanwhile, I was having a bit of fun with Shepherd. He’d created a stir when he wanted to go shirtless, but Viktor forced him to put something on. His tattoos made him easily identifiable, as did the scars that looked as though someone had cut him with a knife many times over. The man liked to intimidate, and I could respect that.
Wyatt wasn’t going to be difficult to spot in a crowd. He would be the only one at the party wearing black cowboy boots and a shirt that said KILTED FOR HER PLEASURE. We weren’t certain that Viktor noticed it since the font was Celtic and it surrounded an infinity knot. The men’s masks were slightly different—a metallic silver that covered both eyes and the forehead with intricate designs.
I had to admit the guys looked sexy as hell, but I kept that little detail to myself. Viktor was the only one dressed to the nines like a true Scotsman, even though he was actually Russian.
Blue, well, Blue was astonishing. Her wig looked completely real—gentle waves of flaxen hair that almost reached her waist. Her blue gown was a lush satin with white stones scattered across the dress like glittering stars. Blue-and-white flowers were pinned on her mask, and Gem had given her a pale-blue crystal necklace. Even her nails were painted blue, and not one of the men made a joke when they saw her graceful transformation.
I anxiously peered between the front seats as we neared the valet parking in front of Patrick Bane’s mansion.
“Looks like we got here just in time,” I said with a chuckle.
Claude poured out of Wyatt’s car and began kicking it, giving every woman within a ten-foot radius a good view of his strong legs and God knows what else. He hated riding in that thing, but he’d been the last one out of the house and lost his choice. Meanwhile, Wyatt was still sitting in the car, arguing with the valet through the open window. It didn’t look like he wanted anyone parking his baby, and the valet looked determined to get him out of that car.
Claude swaggered up to the Jeep and opened Gem’s door. “Stay with me, beautiful female,” he said, offering his arm as an escort.
“Why don’t you two get out,” Shepherd grumbled, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. “My date’s about to get into a fistfight.” He was staring at his partner, who was wrestling through the open window with the valet.
When I opened my door, Christian snatched my wrist.
“Now what kind of dolt would I look like if you fell and ripped your dress while getting out? Stay there.”
A few seconds after getting out, he opened my door. I bunched up the layers of my dress and searched for the side step.
Christian reached out and grabbed my waist with both hands before setting me on the driveway as softly as a feather landing. When he flashed a smile with fangs, I stepped back. He took pleasure in reminding me that I hated Vampires.
We took a brisk walk toward the doors, keeping our voices low. The light from inside and classical music gave the illusion I was about to step inside a magical music box.
“Don’t lose sight of me,” he said. “If you run into trouble, just say my name and where you are. I’ll keep an ear out for you.”
