CHAPTER1
Agala invitation should have been thrilling, but the immortals in our social circle didn’t throw raucous celebrations with rock music, cheap beer, and delicious barbecue. It was pomp and circumstance all the way, which has never been my cup of tea. A few weeks ago, Viktor accepted an invitation to a December winter ball hosted by Lenore Parrish. Costumes that fit the theme were required, so we had all purchased new outfits and spent the entire day getting ready.
Tiny lights inside Gem’s white dress illuminated the interior of the extra-large Jeep Shepherd rented.
I chuckled softly. “At least we won’t have trouble finding you.”
She beamed, the glitter encircling her eyes and face in a dramatic makeover, sparkling when the light hit it. “Don’t you adore costume balls? It took me ages to figure out how to get lights inside my dress. Wyatt helped me.”
Christian twisted around from the passenger seat in front of us. “Is that so? If that be the case, you might want to locate the nearest fire extinguisher, lass.”
“He promised it wouldn’t catch fire.” She lifted a sheer layer of tulle. “All the lights in the store had these bulky battery cases. I don’t know how he did it, but all I have to do is push this little button and”—the lights switched off—“voilà!” When she clicked them back on, she sparkled like a fairy. Her whimsical white dress fell past her knees with an uneven hemline. The asymmetrical neckline complemented the aesthetic. Claude had frosted her hair but left the tips lavender so it didn’t look washed out. In fact, he had given us all a spa day at the salon to prepare us for the big event.
She touched the silky fabric of my bloodred gown. “Why didn’t you wear white? I love that color on you, but everyone else will be wearing white, silver, or blue.”
“I’m sure I’ll blend in with the poinsettias.”
Christian glanced back and gave me a warm smile. “I think she looks ravishing.”
“Like a tall glass of wine you’d like to drink?” I quipped.
As we turned up the massive driveway, I saw guests walking up the sidewalk toward the house. Gem was right about the colors.
Why the hell was this necessary? Fancy attire made me uncomfortable. Leather pants and a reindeer hat would have suited me just fine, but Viktor wanted to impress Lenore, and we were a reflection of him. So, inspired by a painting that hung in my bedroom, I’d ordered a sleeveless, gothic-style red dress. The sumptuous gown reached my ankles, and the plunging neckline showed off my beloved Burmese-ruby necklace. The slit in the dress went all the way to my upper thigh, showing off my legs, which were my best asset and weapon. Since we had to leave weapons behind, I instinctively planned for the unexpected. I couldn’t asphyxiate a man in a scissors hold if my legs were encased like sausages. Claude had styled my black hair in lustrous waves, but I refused to put any glitter or frost in it. Nor did I wear it up, which would reveal the Creator’s mark behind my ear. I liked keeping my Breed to myself in a crowd. Especially since Mage men were nothing but light perverts.
Viktor, who sat behind us, looked dashing in his full-length black coat with a saucy fur collar. Beneath that, he wore a Victorian-style silver-and-blue vest over a white dress shirt. While the furry ushanka hat was nothing new, I’d never seen him wear sapphire cuff links before. His cologne wafted from the back seat where Blue kept him company in the third row.
Viktor didn’t think rolling up in our black van would make a good impression, so we’d opted for a rental. Unlike Shepherd’s special-edition hardtop, this luxury Commander had all the bells and whistles. It comfortably fit six adults, and the center row had a small child seat in the middle. Wyatt and Claude rode in the Porsche ahead of us.
“You should have brought Hunter along.” Gem pressed her cheek against the glass as she gaped at the icicle lights hanging from the trees.
Shepherd steered the Jeep toward the valets. “These parties aren’t for kids—especially Sensors. Remember what happened at Patrick Bane’s party?”
A cold chill swept over me when I remembered Hunter flying over the railing. I wondered if he’d remember all that when he grew up and if parties would trigger him. It had taken him time to get comfortable not wearing a mask around us to cover his scars, and he still shied away from people in public. No, a party like this was no place for a kid.
Christian gave a throaty chuckle. “You know who we should have invited?” He peered over his shoulder at me. “Your da.”
“He doesn’t go anywhere without Harley, and he would have put reindeer antlers on that mutt.” I looked back at Viktor. “Is Lenore a dog person?”
Shepherd barked out a laugh, and it dawned on me why.
“Sorry,” I said, wanting to smack myself in the head. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
The wolf in the back seat blushed.
When we pulled up to the mansion, Wyatt and Claude were waiting. Claude looked ready to disco in his white suit and silver tie. In addition to his tall stature, his large, messy curls made women melt. Claude hid his piercing gaze behind a silver mask, which only drew attention to his sensual mouth. If the Breed world had models, Claude Valentine would be a superstar.
Women in stunning dresses tipped their heads at Claude as they walked past him. One lady in particular caught my attention. She dressed and walked like royalty.
“Look at the crown on her head.” I stared at the jewels between each spike. Their dates wore top hats and white tailcoats.
“Those are real,” Blue said.
I snorted. “They look fake to me.”
“I meant the jewels, not her disproportionately large breasts. People like to break out the expensive stuff at these parties since they can’t wear them anywhere else.”
Wyatt, dressed like Santa’s elf, did a curtsy.
