They had the rest of the day to think about it—to plan an escape if something went wrong.
But Tavia wouldn’t let it come to that.
Her time on the streets had taught her how to sense when things were about to turn. If she felt any sign of danger, she’d make sure Lucius got out, even if it meant putting herself at risk.
No one would capture him again.
No matter the cost.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Lucius paced back and forth, the anticipation of the night fraying on his nerves.
Tavia was getting dressed, and the longer she took to get ready, the more he questioned going through with this plan.
“Do you need some help in there?” Lucius called from the living room, his voice calm but tinged with impatience.
“I'm fine. Just give me a few more minutes,” Tavia replied from inside the bedroom.
The faint creak of the newly fixed hinges as the door swung shut earlier reminded him of his work that day. He had replaced the old, rusted ones, ensuring the door’s safety.
They had meticulously reviewed the plan, dissecting every possible outcome. Both were confident that if anything happened, they would escape swiftly, leaving nothing but a whisper of their presence.
Lucius paced the living room, his boots making faint clicks against the wooden floor, his anticipation building. He couldn’t wait to see his pretty dove in the outfit he had chosen for her. The soft rustle of his own cloak accompanied him as he moved, the fabric whispering against his legs. He had already adorned his silver fox mask, its cool metal grazing his cheek, and his formal clothes felt almost foreign after so long away from high society.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting deep indigos and purples across the sky. A faint chill seeped into the room despite the crackling hearth. The two golden tickets lay on the table, their embossed designs gleaming faintly in the firelight. In his pocket were the potions, two glass vials, cool and smooth against his fingers, along with the transporter rod, its metallic surface humming faintly with latent magic.
“All right,” she called out. “I think I have everything.”
Lucius smiled, rocking back on his heels, his heartquickening.
The bedroom door opened, and she stepped out.
His breath caught in his throat, an unnecessary action, and yet the sensation burned as if his lungs suddenly demanded air.
The floor-length gown hugged her waist, the sweetheart neckline drawing his attention to the delicate curve of her collarbones. The sparkling fabric shimmered like starlight with every step, the soft, pale green bringing out the faint gold flecks in her turquoise eyes.
The translucent, glittering sleeves hung loosely past her hands, each movement casting subtle, speckled reflections on the walls. At the back of the gown, two delicate butterfly-shaped wings shimmered with an almost ethereal glow. They weren’t too large, but they framed her shoulders perfectly, creating the illusion of otherworldly grace.
Her hair tumbled freely to her shoulders, catching the light as if strands of silk had been woven into it. Her lips were painted a striking red, the color standing out vibrantly against her skin. The butterfly mask she wore, a mix of gold and green, hugged her cheekbones and highlighted her wide, curious eyes.
Lucius didn’t know what to say. She was more beautiful than he could have imagined.
She walked forward, gripping the front of her dress. The faint rustle of fabric and the soft glint of her silver slippers peeking out from beneath the hem caught his eye.
“Is it too much?” she asked, looking up at him. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.
He shook his head.
“It’s breathtaking,” he said, his voice low and reverent. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her, and suddenly, the whole heist seemed irrelevant.
He stepped forward, his hand reaching for hers. “Maybe we should forget the heist,” he said, tilting her chin gently with his fingers.
“But we’re so magnificently dressed,” she teased, her lips curving into a small smile.
“Exactly.”
His voice had deepened, the rich tone betraying his unease at the thought of her surrounded by other males. Their plan required him to feign cruelty toward her, even allowing another man to comfort her.
