“They’re mesmerizing,” she said at last, her voice barely audible. “Terrifyingly beautiful, I can’t look away.”
“You look ethereal.” The words tumbled from my mouth before I could think better.
“Thanks. The dress has pockets,” she said, shoving her hands into them to demonstrate how they worked. I couldn’t help but grin at her inability to accept a compliment. Lyra’s cheeks were flushed and I could see the slight spatter of freckles over her nose and cheeks.
“The book?” I took pity on her and changed the subject.
“Oh, yeah, the book. It should be in his study on the desk. Just down the hallway and the last door on the left.” She pointed in that general direction. “And Grey, don’t get caught.”
“Is that worry for me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I worry about everything.” She stepped from the shadows, but said over her shoulder, “be careful.”
Lyra effortlessly fell into conversation with the group of people nearby. Thankful for the distraction, I kept my head down and made my way through the crowd. Careful to keep off Devin’s radar.
The doors of the study were locked, but my clawed fingers made quick work of it. I pushed open the doors. Anticipation hummed over my skin. There was no lingering scent of Devin’s magic, so I took a tentative step inside, praying the book was there. I leaned forward, placing both hands on the desk to get a better look.
The gold initials on the cover were unmistakable.
A flicker of hope ignited in my gut. With the book, there was a real chance I could finally remove the collar. I reached for it, but my hands wouldn’t move. It was like they were frozen, held in place by some invisible force.
Shit. The desk was spelled. No matter how hard I yanked, neither hand budged. No wonder Devin had so recklessly left the spellbook out in the open.
I was a fucking idiot. I walked right into his trap, and Devin had known just what bait to use.
I looked around for anything useful. There was a stack of books, papers, and a few framed photos but nothing to help me escape.
My chest tightened at the photo of a familiar blonde girl hugging Devin. Lyra’s best friend was Devin’s daughter.
Lyra had wanted me to come here to steal the book. The witch had set me up.
CHAPTER 16
LYRA
Iweaved through the crowd, stumbling over my floor-length gown. The silky fabric snagged, and I kicked my heel free from the tangled mess. I bunched the material in my clammy hands, lifting the hem off the floor to keep others and myself from stepping on it. I continued on, desperate to avoid awkward small talk with people whose names I couldn’t remember or didn’t care to know.
My stomach growled at the sight of a young girl stuffing a bacon-wrapped scallop into her mouth. Just then, a bulky-framed male knocked into me, but a steady grip on my elbow righted me.
“Careful,” Eli said, gruffly. Two nights in a row of dealing with his father had put him in a foul mood.
“It’s these damn heels,” I hissed. My sweat-slicked feet slammed forward, cramming my toes into the narrow points of my shoes. I shifted my weight from foot to foot, trying to alleviate some of the pressure, but it was all in vain. My toes were already numb.
A server whisked past, and Eli swiped two flutes of champagne from the silver platter.
“Thanks,” I said, reaching for one.
“Oh, these are both for me.” He tilted his head back, and his throat bobbed as he chugged the bubbly liquid.
“Way to keep it classy.”
Eli wiped his mouth on his sleeve and discarded the glasses on a crab cake platter.
“Hey, I don’t think those go—” I started, but Eli tugged on my arm, cutting me off.
He led the way toward the others gathered in the grand room, waiting for Mr. Whitethorn to give his speech full of empty promises and pretty lies. Surprisingly, he didn’t stop. He continued past our friends, giving me the side-eye and urging me to pick up the pace. I gave a polite smile to everyone we passed as he dragged me toward the back door. Voices and noises faded into the background as the door shut behind us.
Eli fidgeted with his cigarettes, placing one between his lips, ready to light it the moment we stepped outside.
