“Exclusive,” I blurt. “Extremely. We are as serious about each other as two people can be.”
“Hmm. A sad day for me then. One less beautiful fish in the sea.”
Stars and lightning, he did not just say that. I stop myself short of rolling my eyes. I focus on Seven and the death glare he’s giving the back of Graceling’s head.
“Anyway, there’s something else I wanted to discuss with you, and it has to do with your dear Arden.”
“Oh?” Now he has my full and complete attention.
“I wanted to give you the unofficial news that I approved Arden’s admission to our premed program just today. She should receive a letter of acceptance this week.”
I grip his shoulder excitedly. “That is wonderful news. Thank you, Fredrick.”
“My pleasure. She’s a wonderful candidate, and I know we won’t be disappointed in the decision.”
“Do you mind if I go tell her?” I slow my feet, and we grind to a stop.
“Are you sure your mind is settled on Delaney?”
I slant him a consoling smile. “Forever and always.”
He gives a disgruntled huff. “Well then, please.” He removes his hands from me and wanders off toward a group of women dressed as muses in the corner of the room. I whirl around, searching for Arden. This is shaping up to be one hell of a night. She’s going to flip when she learns she’s in!
I cross the room to the drink table where I last saw her talking to Edmund and his mother, but she’s not there anymore. I whirl and scan the dance floor. Not there either. Nor do I see either of the Fausts.
Seven is still staring at me like he wants to tattooMineacross my chest, so I put him out of his misery and join him again.
“Does it bother you that I danced with another man?” I trace my fingers along the edge of his velvet jacket, my knuckles brushing his abs through his shirt.
There’s heat in his eyes when he looks at me. “Yes. If he wasn’t a leprechaun and we weren’t in polite company, he’d have had a very hard time of it. One blast of luck and he’d have fallen on that pointy hat of his.”
“Oh, you are grouchy tonight. He was a very nice man—”
“He touched your back.”
“He told me Arden has been admitted to Elderflame.”
“He did?” Seven’s lips twitch upward.
“That was what he wanted to tell me and to welcome me to the gala. Apparently he’s an advocate.”
“Hmm. A good thing I didn’t shove his hat up his ass then.”
“Where’s Arden? I want to tell her the good news.”
“She was right—” Seven’s head snaps around to where we both saw her last, but she still isn’t there.
“I looked there and the dance floor. I can’t find her or Edmund. I can’t find Alicia either.” I dig my phone out of my purse and text her. “She’s not answering my texts.”
I feel his luck rise around us.
He takes my hand and leads me toward the back of the room. “Come on.”
“Let’s not get too worried. She’s probably just in some corner somewhere, making out with Edmund.”
Seven flashes an annoyed look in my direction and tugs me behind him. We circle the first floor and then the second. I start to worry when I feel Seven’s luck burn hotter against my skin. “I can’t sense her, Sophia.”
“Wait, I just remembered something.” I pull out my phone again and navigate to the Find Phone app. We set it up a while back in case one of us forgot their phone somewhere. I locate Arden’s. “Seven? This doesn’t make sense. It says she’s at the casino, but isn’t it closed tonight because of the gala?”
