I meandered through the room, careful not to trip and die in these shoes. Looking for Saryna and Caelan, I wondered where Blake had gone when something shimmering caught my eye. The white gossamer curtains rippled, though the doors to the veranda were closed. Feeling spooked, I slipped out. The cold wind was jarring amidst such a gorgeous landscape. The snow-covered grounds were lit by the glowing lanterns that made the snow appear to be glittering. Such a brittle, harsh beauty.
A soft sobbing pulled my attention, and I found Isabella at the end of the railing, hidden in shadow. “Bella?” I called.
She didn’t answer me, and I went to her. She was staring out at the grounds. Touching her arm, I snapped my hand back. She was so cold.
“Hey,” I said, my concern growing by the second. “How long have you been out here?”
She didn’t respond. I panicked for a moment, trying to figure out what to do when she spoke.
“Have you ever wondered why we desire the love of others?”
She didn’t move or acknowledge me, and her voice was odd—fragile almost.
“Isabella?” I said. “Look at me.”
“What does love do for us?” she continued. “Why should we seek such transient things when there are permanent things in this world? Like the darkness in the sky. It is permanent, there every night, reliable and consistent.”
A chill made me shiver, and I looked upon her delicate features, seeing only the terrified face of a young woman struggling to hang onto my hand on the side of a cliff.
I grabbed her chin and jerked.
“Snap out of it, Bella! Tell me what happened,” I said firmly.
Her eyes slowly shifted to me, and she looked confused. “Sorry, Anna. I guess I lost interest in the ball.”
“Why?” I asked. “What happened to your mystery date? It’s that guard, isn’t it?”
She shifted away from me and held her arms to her body as if suddenly realizing how cold it was. “Oh, no, but I still see him sometimes. Apparently, I got stood up tonight. He showed up with Saryna.”
Malakai?Panic flooded my veins.Her date was Malakai? Drug her until she nearly passes out, may or may not be drinking blood-laced wine in the dungeons, MALAKAI?
But Isabella didn’t look like she could handle the onslaught of reprimands screaming in my head. Her skin was pale, and her usually vibrant brown eyes sullen and dull.
“Bella, I’m sorry,” I mustered, barely keeping the ire out of my voice
“Yeah. It’s whatever. He’s a real jerk,” she said, completely missing my total lack of composure. “It’s freezing out here. I’m going back in.”
She turned to leave, and I followed her. “I’ll come with you.”
She paused and smiled at me with a tight, forced curve of her lips. “I’m fine, Anna. I just want to find a drink and some hot Initiate to take my mind off it.”
I faltered, unsure if I should push or respect her boundaries, but she was gone before I’d made up my mind. I tipped my head back and sighed, trying to piece together what had just happened. Feeling the chill, I held my arms close to my chest. I probably deserved it. Isabella was the first of our group to make it to Adept. She was insanely clever, despite her inane chatter and obsession with clothes and make-up. But still—I knew what her weakness was. For all her strengths, she was gullible to someone playing on her crushing need for acceptance. Malakai would’ve seen that in an instant. The susceptibility she had to Malakai was unreal, leaving me aghast and unsure of what to do.
It was well past time for me to say something about Malakai. Roslyn was the only person I trusted at this point. I wanted to trust Blake but he was too close to him. It compromised him.
A few moments later, the door opened. My heart skipped a beat when Blake stepped outside. He spotted me, pausing momentarily. He was dressed like a prince, the light of the lanterns glistening in the polished black of his coat. Deep crimson and gold embroidery was sewn expertly on his sleeves, curling and twisting in elegant designs. His waistcoat fit him perfectly, its cut and shape altered with delicate precision. His collared ivory shirt was sleek and pristine, pressed until no unintended crease was visible.
A cold wind caught the long edges of his coat as he stepped forward. He watched me like a silent guardian, his presence alone enough to stave off the cold chill in the air.
He rested his hand on the iron rail of the balcony’s edge but kept space between us.
“Is your friend alright?” he asked.
Still flustered over her odd behavior, I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
“What about you?” he asked, his voice lowering an octave.
The events of the last few weeks ran through my head like an uncut movie filled with unfinished scenes. The pulse I often associated with Blake’s presence hummed through my body.
