“Xavier said he doesn’t want me to go.”
“Why?” they both ask in unison.
“I have no idea.”
June is the first to recover from the shock. “Are you guys fighting?”
“Not really. Do you think it’s because he…” I gnaw the inside of my cheek, finding the courage to finish my question. “Is it because I’m not classy?” I throw up my hands. “Forget I said anything. Even if I wanted to go, I don’t have anything to wear.”
Raven pushes from her bed, her boots landing with a thud. “Never fear, Watson. Sherlock is on the case. You’re going, and that’s final.”
I smile at my friend. “It’s okay. Seriously. If he doesn’t want me there, then I don’t want to go.”
My roommate grabs her purse from the dresser and slings it over her shoulder. Then she claps her hands, the loud and succinct noise making me jump. “Get up. We’re going shopping, bitches.”
I spendthe afternoon trying on ball gowns and a few masquerade masks—so I can “spy on X like every girlfriend should.” Raven, ever the fashion enthusiast, leads the charge, her gaze scanning store windows with the precision of a professional shopper. Unrelenting and stubborn as hell, she doesn’t allow us to return to the dorms until I find the perfect dress. Thankfully, June told me it has to be red in order to represent the Blood Moon.
By the time the sun sets, I’m sitting in a chair while June curls my hair and Raven applies my makeup. The laughter and chatter floats around me, and I’m swept up in the joy of it all. Is this what it’s like to have girl friends? It’s a breath of fresh air, brushing away the dust covering my soul, a brief reprieve from the constant danger of the Order.
“Behold!” Raven says, extending her arms toward me. “Now you can look.”
Standing up, I turn to face the mirror, taking in their work. The woman staring back at me is everything I ever wished to be. Stunning. Classy. Beautiful. The crimson dress hugs my figure in just the right way, enhancing my curves and showing enough skin to entice. My hair and makeup have been done to perfection.
“Thank you so much,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I’ve never felt so pretty.”
“One, if you cry and ruin my makeup, I’m going to smack you,” Raven says, planting her hands on her hips. “Two, you look fan-fucking-tastic. Three, every guy there is going to get a boner just looking at you.”
When I scrunch my face and June makes a disgruntled noise, Raven’s expression turns flippant. “Sorry, not sorry. Where is this ball again?”
“At the fraternity.”
“Of course, it is.” Raven rolls her eyes. “It’s a castle, so why wouldn’t it have a ballroom?”
June sighs. “Speaking of, we should probably head that way.”
“Right.” I take a step and then pivot, throwing my arms around Raven. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, Watson. I told you I’d handle it.”
“What about me?” June asks with a playful smile.
I release Raven to embrace her. “Thank you so much.”
June and I separate. “Don’t thank me yet,” she says. “This event could be boring as hell, and I don’t want you blaming me for your suffering.”
“I won’t.”
After putting on my mask, and one final check in the mirror, I follow after June with a wave at Raven.
A strange nervousness fills me as we walk through the halls and step outside. Am I worried about Xavier’s reaction if he catches me at the ball? Or is my intuition trying to warn me about something else entirely?
“Delilah, I know this afternoon was fun, but please be careful tonight. I’m not just talking about the friction between you and X. The Order isn’t trustworthy, so when they say this is a celebration for the Trials, it doesn’t quite pass my bullshit detector. You know what I mean?”
I look at June and nod. Her words give voice to the apprehension I’ve been feeling. “I do.”
“It makes me wonder if X told you not to come because he’s trying to protect you.”
“I didn’t even consider that.”
