Nadi allowed herself to be drawn into the chaos, noting the unfamiliar faces among the usual staff. Caterers, florists, musicians—all vetted by family security, no doubt, but still potential vulnerabilities in the Nostrom defenses.
“The flowers alone are driving me to distraction,” Lana continued, leading her through rooms filled with white roses, midnight-black orchids, and arrangements that probably cost more than most people earned in adecade. “Zabriel insists on incorporating Rosov family traditions, but I refuse to have anything that clashes with Mother’s interminably specific demands. Everything with her has to becrimson.Ugh!”
They paused before an elaborate display of crimson roses interwoven with white jasmine. The symbolism wasn’t lost on Nadi—blood and innocence, vampire and human, predator and prey.
“It’s beautiful.” Diplomacy first. Always. “Very…meaningful.”
“Oh, you understand!” Lana clapped her hands together. “That’s exactly what I was hoping for. Zabriel sees only the practical considerations—security, political implications, guest accommodations. But a wedding should be about more than mere alliance-building, don’t you think?”
The genuine happiness in Lana’s voice caught Nadi off guard. This wasn’t the calculating Sweetheart Mistress she’d come to know. There was…real excitementin her voice. She studied Lana for a moment and there was actual—oh.
Oh.
“How long have you and Zabriel been together, Lana?” She had to tread carefully.
Lana’s smile turned secretive, and she stepped in close to Nadi to lower her voice. “Longer than anyone suspects. Three years ago, at a gathering in the neutral territories, we got into a major row. He was supposed to be negotiating a trade agreement, and I was there representing Mother’s interests in the textile markets.”
Lana laughed, the sound perfectly girlish. “First, we were screaming at each other. Then, we nearly killed each other. Of course,then,we ended up having the most amazing sex of our lives. But what followed? It was amazing, Monica—we ended up talking until dawn, about everything exceptbusiness.” That time, her laugh was one of disbelief. As if the conversation was the truly unbelievable part. For her, it obviously was.
“And you’ve been seeing each other in secret since then?”
“Whenever we could manage it.” Lana’s expression grew wistful. “Stolen moments, clandestine meetings, coded letters. Terribly romantic, actually, though I wouldn’t recommend conducting a courtship under such circumstances.”
Oh, honey, if you only knew.Nadi figured she and Raziel probably had Lana and Zabriel beat. But she didn’t offer that information.
As they moved through the estate, Nadi made mental notes of the security preparations. Guards at every entrance, additional patrols in the gardens, and what appeared to be new magical wards inscribed along the doorframes. The Nostromswere taking no chances with the most politically significant wedding in recent memory.
“Tell me honestly,” Lana said as they entered what would serve as the bridal preparation chamber, “what do you think of the dress?”
The gown hanging from an ornate stand was a masterpiece of vampire craftsmanship. Layers of ivory silk and black lace created a dramatic silhouette, while tiny garnets sewn throughout the bodice caught the light like drops of blood. It was beautiful and sinister in equal measure.
Nadi studied it for a long moment. “It’s perfect for you.” And it really was. “Zabriel won’t be able to look away. Nor will anyone else, I imagine.”
“That’s rather the point.” Lana’s grin was predatory. “I intend to beutterlyunforgettable.”
A soft knock at the door interrupted them. “Come,” Lana called.
A young woman entered, and Nadi almost instinctively froze. It was a seamstress. But Nadi recognized her…it was the woman from Braen’s club. There was no mistaking her. The same woman with the nondescript appearance, dark hair, and same downcast eyes. Only this time, she was wearing a measuring tape draped around her neck and her smock had a sea of pins tucked into it.
“Begging your pardon, my lady,” the seamstress said, her accent marking her as from the outer cities. “I need to make final adjustments to the bodice.”
It took everything that Nadi had not to stare at the woman in wide-eyed shock. She had to turn her head to cough into her arm. Her whole body shook with adrenaline.
The fae were here.
The fae werehere.At the wedding.
Fuck. Fuck!No, no, no. Notnow.Notnow.
“Of course,” Lana gestured to the dress, then turned to Nadi with a thoughtful expression. “Monica, dear, would you mind helping me with something else first? I have a concern about tomorrow that requires your…unique perspective.”
“Hm? Of course. Not at all.” Nadi smiled, hoping she hid the panic well enough. But there was no telling if she was successful.
Lana led her from the preparation chamber to a smaller, more intimate sitting room. The walls were lined with portraits of Nostrom ancestors, their painted eyes seeming to follow their movements. “Please, sit.” She gestured to an ornate settee.
“What can I help you with?” Nadi settled into the plush velvet cushions, her whole body on high alert.
“Well.” Lana moved to a sideboard where crystal decanters caught the afternoon light. “I’ve been thinking about tomorrow’s reception. There will be so many guests, so many…opportunities for things to go wrong.” She lifted one of the decanters, the liquid inside dark and viscous. “I want to ensure that everyone in the family is at absolute peak performance.Includingyou.”
