“An icebreaker? You mean you were going to come talk to me?”
Viktor rolls his eyes. “Obviously.”
And just like that, some of my nerves melt away.
Chapter Four
Viktor
“This is gonna be great,” Brock says, adjusting my tie for me while Avery fixes my hair. “You look hot as fuck, you’ve got your invite, and your mask is gorgeous. We’re going to be here, making sure you have a safe space if you need it. But you’ll also have your own room if you meet someone.”
“Jesus, Brock. Quit mother-henning the poor man,” Ellie says from the bed.
“I promise I’ll be safe,” I say with a chuckle, warmed by the concern from my closest friends. We booked a hotel across from the recreational hall. They drove me here and are going to stay in this room for the night just in case I need them or need backup. I doubt anything bad will happen but it’s nice knowing they’re here, just in case.
“Don’tjustbe safe,” Avery says, finally stepping away from my hair. “Have some fun as well.”
“Yeah!” Ellie jumps in. “It’s about time you went back to slutting it up! Get some ass tonight, bestie.”
I sputter at how excited she is. “Don’t be weird about it,” I say as everyone laughs.
“Only slut it up if things feel right. From what I can tell, this seems like a paranormal event so you won’t have to hide yourself. Who knows, maybe you’ll even findthe one.”
For some reason, my stomach swoops at that. Could my mate be here at this ball? I don’t know but there’s only one way to find out.
As I make my way out of the hotel and towards the hall where the ball is being held, I can’t help but touch my mask. I ordered it from an online maker. It looks similar to a peacock, the feathers starting on either side of my mouth, my eyes the round part at the tip of a peacock feather. It shimmers and sparkles with an iridescent green. I’ve lined my eyes with black kohl, my lids covered with more shimmering green.
My mask is the staple of my outfit, the rest of it put together from clothes people have lent me. These black slacks are my own along with my Converse. The jacket is Mr. Truffle’s and the bow tie belongs to Ellie. I’m also wearing a pair of suspenders I borrowed from Avery. It feels kinda nice, having pieces of them all on me. It gives me just a little bit more confidence, knowing I’m bringing them with me.
Somehow, everything goes together despite it being a mismatch of items.
As I step inside the recreational hall, I’m transported into a winter wonderland that steals my breath. The sight is absolutely marvelous but there’s more than that, there’s also magic in the air. This entire place is enchanted, quite literally.
“Good evening,” a woman says with a grin, looking up at me from a desk at the front of the hall. The name plate on the table reads Bex. “Do you have your invitation?”
“I do,” I say, pulling it out of my pocket. This woman has an aura to her that leaves me feeling at home. She’s not just fae-like, I’m fairly certain she’s an actual pixie. That explains the magic in the invites. It still doesn’t answer the question ofwhy me?
“Perfect,” she says, holding out her hand. I place the invite in her palm. She waves her other hand over it.
My invitation is consumed with magic, puffing out into an array of bright sparkles that flitter through the air. I watch, transfixed, as it floats towards me, colliding with my mask. I feel the warmth of it, the way it means me no harm. The magic attaches itself to my mask.
I touch my mask, sensing what sort of spell this magic is associated with. Ah, okay, I think I understand. Bex is watching me, waiting to see if I figure it out on my own. Somehow, she knows I’m a mage, just like her.
“No getting drunk tonight,” I say with a grin. “My identity is safe. Oh, and the equivalent of a magical Xanax?”
“Pretty much,” she says, delight written in her features. “I’m glad you came tonight, Viktor. I think there’s something very special in store for you.”
“How can you know?”
Bex shrugs. “I don’t know anything for certain. But let’s call it a matchmaker’s sixth sense.”
“Not a school of magic I’m familiar with.”
“We all have our specialties,” she says in response. Then she reaches up and pats my arm. “Don’t forget what your invite told you. Enter with an open heart and who knows what or who will be waiting for you.”
With that, she sends me on my way. As I walk deeper into the hall, I keep getting whiffs of a delightful cinnamon scent, onethat leaves me smiling from ear to ear. I’m not someone who goes to fancy events like this, but I’m glad I came. This truly feels like a once in a lifetime event.
Going through the doors into the main part of the ball, I’m struck all over again by how beautiful everything is. It’s clear that Bex, or whoever runs this ball, took a lot of time to design everything themselves. There’s fake snow and twinkling lights and live, soft music playing. There are tables for people to sit at and an open area for dancing. Across the room, there’s also a full bar.
