In truly artful form, Milo dragged me easily away from Juniper, who simply shrugged and moved on to her next unsuspecting victim.
I breathed a sigh of relief the moment we were out of earshot.
“Thank you,” I whispered as he led me from the living room. “I’m forever in your debt.”
“Remember you said that.” Milo winked. “By the way, I’m to inform you that your presence has been requested at the eighth tunnel this evening.”
His bright eyes shone with mischief as he grinned at me.
“Really?” I asked, surprised.
“A young woman dropped in earlier. She said her name was Sophie. She passed the information along to everyone here under thirty, claiming that the real party would begin at the eighth after your mother has been satisfied. She asked me to tell you that your friends are only missing this stuffy affair to set up a party much more suitable for a twenty-two year old woman at the top of her game.”
I smiled back at him.
“I see,” I replied as we continued walking. “Tell me you’re planning on attending.”
“I wouldn’t miss an illegal soiree held in a friend’s honor if my life depended on it,” he mused. Milo released me as we entered the hall, just mere feet away from where my mother stood, engaged in conversation with Cyrus’s mother. It appeared the two of them had become fast friends in the past month. Milo nudged me forward.
“I’m glad you came,” I called back to him over my shoulder. Milo raised his glass in mock salute and downed the entire thing, then turned back to the living room. I chuckled and closed the distance to my mother.
We both startled when the door burst open and Harrison, Felix, and Noah entered, broad grins on their faces as they prowled into the foyer.
“Impressive new digs, roomie,” he called out with a whistle as he approached and wrapped his arms around me. “Does this mean you’re moving out?”
“Not a chance,” I replied, and he chuckled as he stepped away. “Please tell me you aren’t performing.”
“You wound me, Adrian.” Harrison slapped a hand against his chest as if injured. “Unfortunately Momma Bexley didn’t see fit to hire us this evening. We’re here as friends. And to make sure you got Sophie’s message. First Ringers can’t be trusted and all that.”
“Well,friends,” I started, my gaze sliding to the bulk of the party taking place in the living room, “think you could use all that oozing charm to blur the lines between classes around here?”
His gaze shot to the awkward pockets of conversation.
“I’ve always wanted to hit up a First Ring chick,” Felix said, moving forward. He nodded toward Bria. “That one available?”
I barked a laugh. “You’re welcome to try.”
Felix gave me a glittering smirk as if to saychallenge acceptedand moved toward the quiet acolyte.
“Adrian.” Dante stood in the foyer, dressed head to toe in a perfectly tailored black suit. I blinked, hardly recognizing him, then broke out into a grin as I approached.
“Well, well, well, who are you trying to impress?” I quirked a brow. “Some Third Ring girl caught your eye?”
“Maybe,” he answered in a growl that had my heart beating faster. I ignored it.
“What did Cosmo have for you?”
“Olympia failed the fourth Trial.”
My lips parted and my face fell. I reached out and took Dante’s hand, leading him through the party toward the back porch where we could be alone.
“How is she?” I asked once we were seated on the deck.
His brows creased. “You hate her.”
“In all fairness, she hated me first,” I replied and, in spite of himself, he smirked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen or heard from her since. I had to learn about it from my grandfather, just tonight, but she failed over a week ago. Has Milo said anything?”
