“Let’s go show them how proper warriors clean up,” I say finally, the ghost of a challenge in my tone as I meet each of their gazes.
“Lead the way, General,” Khol chuckles, and with one last look in the mirror, I steel myself for the evening ahead.
“Revelin, where are your cuffs?” Dezi asks with a frown, glancing at the spot on his wrists where the new accessories should be.
“Shit,” Revelin curses. “Must’ve left them on the counter.”
The room erupts into a cacophony of movement and mutterings; everyone is aware that without all of us wearing the protection items, this whole evening could be dangerous. I look around at the guys, counting them to make sure everyone else has theirs. Once I see they do, I sigh in relief.
“Everyone, calm down,” I snap, more out of annoyance than any real authority. With a dramatic roll of my eyes, I flick my wrist,murmuring a spell under my breath that I pray works. Moments later, the cuffs materialize in my palm, still warm from their last contact with skin. “There. Crisis averted.”
And the fucking spell worked! My average in Faerie is four to zero in my favor.
“Remind me again why we don’t use magic for everything?” Khol quips, but there’s a hint of genuine curiosity beneath his sarcasm.
“Because then we’d have no excuse to watch Rev panic,” I retort, tossing him the leather bands, which he snatches out of the air with a grin.
“Ha. Ha,” Revelin deadpans, securing the cuffs on his wrists carefully. The silver and red gem gleam against his tattooed arms, suddenly making him look completely put together. “You realize that stuff doesn’t always work as intended, right? Fi’s getting better, but if you want to trust ordering hot coffee that could land in your lap…”
I growl at him with narrowed eyes when Khol flinches at the image.
“Can we go now? Before another catastrophe strikes?” Tiernan suggests, ushering us towards the door with a gentle nudge.
“Lead the way, fluffy butt,” I reply, following him with a mock bow as we file out the door. That earns me a sharp look from him and a round of snorts from the others.
Can I help it if his tail is so cute and poofy as a snow leopard?
Once we’re piled into the car, the tension from earlier breaks like a snapped guitar string. Dezi lounges back, every inch the aristocrat, even when confined to a vehicle seat. “I give it fifteen minutes before Rev gets glitter on someone important.”
“Only if they’re lucky,” Revelin shoots back, his public persona slipping back like a well-worn mask.
“Twenty bucks says Fiadh insults at least three donors withoutmeaning to,” Khol adds, winking at me. “Or punches someone Rev gets glitter on.”
“Only three? You wound me with your lack of faith,” I scoff, crossing my arms. But despite my words, warmth blooms in my chest. They get me, and none of them wants to change me. It’s terrifying.
“Remember, we need these people to like us,” Tiernan reminds us, though his lips twitch as if he’s fighting back a smile.
“Tiernan, darling, when have I ever cared about being liked?” I ask, meeting his gaze in the rearview mirror.
“Touché,” he concedes.
As the city lights streak past the car windows, something shifts inside me—a flutter of excitement, a spark of anticipation. Tonight could be a disaster or it could be a triumph. With us, it’s always a gamble.
“Who knows, maybe tonight will be boring, and no one will earn a knuckle sandwich,” I muse out loud, already knowing how unlikely that is.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Khol chuckles, leaning forward between the seats.
“Exactly.” My reflection grins back at me from the window, all dark hair and shimmering dress. Feray would indeed laugh her ass off at this spectacle. But somehow, that thought doesn’t sting as much as it did earlier.
“Tonight, we take the stage not as rock stars or misfits, but as champions of charity,” I declare melodramatically.
“Here’s to hoping we don’t end up brawling in a viral video,” Tiernan adds dryly. “Looking at you, Khol. Don’t help her get arrested again.”
“Or help me and we’ll have a lot more fun,” I counter, and laughter fills the car, drowning out the hum of the engine.
“Either way, it’ll be a night to remember,” Revelin says, and as we pull up to the venue, I can’t help but agree.
Who knows, maybe I’ll get to deck a smug asshole after all.
