At the skepticism on my face, Damien shrugs. “Fine, don’t believe me. But talk to Rosie before you convince yourself I’m wrong.”
I open my mouth to promise I will when voices stream in from the corridor.
The others are back.
Morgana, Sin, Rosie, Magnus and Arianna all file into the room. We’re still dressed to the nines, though Morgana looks uncharacteristically – happy?
But before I get a chance to unpack that sight, Arianna flings herself at me, crushing me against the couch with her tiny – but very sharp-edged body. “I’mso happy you’re okay. You scared the shit out of me, Viv. Don’t ever do that to me again.”
Sin hums in agreement, but I refuse to look at him. Instead, I turn to Rosie. “Rosie, I’m glad you’re okay. And Ari, you’re about to choke me to death.”
Arianna releases me, a sheepish grin on her face, before scooting over to the other side of the couch. She’s effectively blocked off any chance of Sin sitting beside me, and I’m grateful. After what Damien told me, I’m not ready to have Sin close to me just yet.
Of course, that’s when I feel a presence at my back, and without turning, I already know Sin is leaning against the back of the couch. Even if I didn’t know his scent, it’s almost like my body wants to lean back to be closer to him.
I sit up straighter.
Morgana doesn’t bother sitting but instead stands in front of her desk so she can see us all. “The party was a complete success. Anyone who may have doubted your relationship with Sin left completely convinced that you are both in love,” she notes, grinning.
Magnus winks at me. “Good job playing the damsel in distress, little enigma.”
I gasp. “I did not!”
Rosie elbows Magnus in the ribs, looking no worse for wear. “She was an absolute badass and saved me. That’s twice now. Thank you, Viv,” she says, hugging me before taking a seat next to Damien.
“Everyone did well tonight. We’ll be hearing from our allies over the next few days. In the meantime, get some rest. We will have a busy week ahead, preparingfor war,” Morgana orders before turning and leaving the room.
Her parting words instantly deflate the good mood, and everyone looks a little more sombre after she’s left.
Rosie is having none of it. “Unacceptable. I planned a huge party, and we were going to stay up all night.”
She stands, turning to the men with her hands on her hips. Her wings flit, and she floats a few inches off the ground. “Gentlemen, it’s been great. But we need a girl’s night.”
Damien looks like he’s about to argue when she chirps, “Goodnight then!” and grabs Arianna and me, apparating us out of the room.
We land in my room in a fit of giggles. Arianna is already pulling her hair out of her updo, and Rosie has removed her glamor. “Ladies, I’m going to get that expensive wine you worked so hard to fetch today and as many cupcakes as possible. I’m over all the doom and gloom. We need to unwind.”
With that, she disappears from the room. After the way tonight went and what I just learned from Damien, a night of drinking away my problems with some girlfriends sounds like just what the doctor ordered.
I grin at Arianna, only to find her digging through my drawers.
“What are you doing?” I ask, walking over to her.
“What kind of comfy clothes does the mortal world have? I only have nightgowns,” Arianna notes, rootingthrough my tops.
I laugh, pushing her hands away, before closing the drawer and opening the one with my pyjamas. I grab my comfy kitten shorts and then gesture to her to take her pick. “Raid away, Ari.”
The comfy kitten shorts are off-limits. Not because I associate them with Sin. That would be ridiculous. I just happen to like them a lot.
Arianna squeals and starts pulling out different sets of pyjamas until she settles on black silky pants and a matching tank top. I grab a pink tank for myself and head over to the bathroom to change.
Hours later, my head is spinning, and I’ve eaten at least seven cupcakes. We’ve migrated from my room to the stone balcony that looks out over the courtyard, and we’ve made a huge nest of pillows and blankets. Rosie thought to apparate over some enchanted floating flower lights, to give a warm ambience. Arianna is in a fit of giggles, and Rosie is fiddling with the tiny boombox she must have smuggled over from the mortal realm at some point.
“You’re telling me that this is music?” Arianna asks again, tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.
I nod solemnly, swearing on my life that, at one point, everyone was listening to this song.
Rosie adjusts the volume and jumps back onto our pillow nest. “Is it a common issue? Dogs being let out, and wondering who stole them?”
