“It’s not me you need to worry about. Romeo is a smooth talker, and I’m afraid if he tries anything with Blue, she won’t see it coming. We really pissed him off last night. Maybe we drove him over the edge.”
“What good is an edge if you can’t push someone over it?” Christian adjusted his mask. “Don’t wander off.”
When we arrived at the door, a man took our names and reviewed the guest list before granting us access.
I shivered as I stepped into the foyer, my heels clicking against the marble floor. Guests masqueraded in elaborate costumes with no faces. Some had masks attached to a handle, while others had ostentatious pieces that covered their entire head. One young man glided past me in a white wig, stockings, green breeches, and a mask that was nothing more than a slim ribbon with two holes cut for the eyes. He even had white powder on his face, and I turned to watch his regal demeanor.
I knew better than to say anything confidential in public since Vampire ears could be listening. Gem also advised against making remarks that could be perceived as insulting. That kind of behavior was fine in a bar, but these events were high-class.
And boy, did I want to make a remark about the lady wearing a thick ruffle encircling her neck that made it look like her head was on a platter.
I lifted a champagne flute, and it clicked against my mask as I tilted the glass for a sip. I needed something to smooth out the rough edges.
The inside of the mansion twinkled like gold. The crystals on the chandelier were polished, and unlike Viktor’s gothic style, Patrick embraced electricity. Why shouldn’t he? A man who worked for the higher authority probably had truckloads of money and plenty of people to impress. I noticed a table that held a four-tier tray of chocolate-covered strawberries, each lower platter even bigger than the one above. Costumes glided and danced before me. Pockets of laughter were at every turn, and gentlemen bowed as I passed by them.
I kept beside Christian but didn’t take his arm. Once I caught sight of Viktor at the far end of the room, I slowed down in search of Niko. He would be high up since that would give him a better vantage point of everyone’s energy. Toward the center of the massive room were two curved staircases on either side that led to a second-floor landing with a balustrade running across. I could see all the way up to the third level in the house.
I spotted Niko’s plaid kilt straight away, even though he was wearing a thin black coat with a hood pulled over his head. It was the only way he could get his katanas inside. He gripped the banister and watched us from above.
The surrounding rooms were open and therefore safe for Blue to travel in. Our primary concern was locating the exits and private areas.
Christian branched away and lifted a champagne glass before taking a position at the base of a staircase.
“Reminds me of my homeland,” a Scottish man said, admiring my outfit. “What city are you from?”
“I’m not actually Scottish,” I said, gulping down my drink.
He looked disappointed and turned away.
I didn’t have time to feel guilty about being rude. Viktor had given us orders not to mingle. I had to admit, this was an interesting event. Without being able to see faces, it was impossible to tell what Breed everyone was, which was the one thing that created division among our kind. Perhaps the mystery was the allure.
Viktor jerked his head, gesturing to an area on my right. I scanned the array of elegant costumes until I found our Cinderella in an adjoining room.
Two men flanked her, but neither was Glass. He was taller. When one of them kissed her hand, I thought she might pull out a tomahawk from beneath her dress, but instead, she smiled coquettishly and cracked open her handheld fan.
Blue agreed to remain visible until Romeo arrived. Wyatt had sent him a description of the outfit so she wouldn’t be difficult to spot.
I drifted into the room, which was a little less chaotic than the main one. Some guests were sitting on upholstered benches along the walls, others were dancing in the center of the ballroom, and some gathered in pockets near the hearth. Four musicians played stringed instruments from their chairs on the far right of the room.
There was a whole lot of schmoozing going on.
I parked my butt by the door so I could text everyone if Romeo appeared. We didn’t have a clue what he’d be wearing. He’d been quite elusive about it in his conversations with Wyatt, more concerned about Blue’s costume. Viktor was right. He probably wanted to creep on her for a while and see if she was his type.
A servant presented a platter of cheese, and I shook my head.
Thirty minutes flew by, and I began to notice patterns in the flow of traffic. People came in alone in search of acquaintances or new companions and often left in groups. Blue held her position in the center of the room within view, still entertaining two suitors who were clearly posturing in hopes of winning her approval. Blue tolerated them to avoid standing alone, and she needed to stay visible. I avoided direct eye contact with everyone so no one would recognize my mismatched eyes. I assessed each new guest who entered the room. His walk, his body type, height, and hair color. There were quite a few Chitahs, but none of them was our detective.
Assuming Glass was Romeo.
The jury was still out.
My legs grew restless, so I went into the main room to stretch them for a few minutes. Some of the costumes I recognized, so it was easier to scan the room for unfamiliar ones. I inched closer to Viktor, who held Patrick Bane’s rapt attention. Patrick was easy to identify. Instead of a heavy mask, he’d tied a wide ribbon around his eyes with two eyeholes. Aside from that, not many men in the Breed world that I’d ever met had faded red hair and an Irish accent. He looked like a man who’d acquired immortality in his early fifties.
“We are businessmen,” Viktor said to Patrick. “This world has changed so much from the old ways.”
“Agreed,” Patrick replied, a melodic lilt to his voice. “It was an embarrassment, but we must serve the law first and foremost. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. There’s no reason to hold any grudges. You were only doing your job.” He waved his champagne flute at the open room. “We’realldoing our jobs.”
A little boy with a black cape and Zorro mask shadowed behind him, peering at all the giants who were moving about the room. His blue eyes sparkled with curiosity, even more noticeable with the black mask surrounding them. A toy sword was affixed to his hip, and he wore a wide-brimmed hat that kept sliding off to one side. He finally flung it next to a plate of grapes and giggled.
