“You dumped me,” I say cheerfully as if my crushed heart isn’t a bleeding, pulpy mess. “Isn’t that what you did?”
People are staring now. My body burns with anger. Or is that embarrassment? It’s embarrassing to cause a scene, but more embarrassing to let Edward woo my sister.
He chuckles as his gaze zips around nervously. When it swivels back to me, his eyes are hard as flint.
He drops his mouth to my ear and whispers so that only I can hear. “We both know that no man here, no wizard worth his salt would marry a witch without power.” Then he pulls back and adds loudly, so that noweveryonecan hear, “No man would marry you, even if you are a Thornrose.”
A fire erupts in my belly, fanning inside me like an inferno. I don’t know what causes the next words to spill from my mouth. Maybe it’s the crowd. Maybe it’s how my family’s gaping at me for causing a scene. Maybe, just maybe, and most likely, it’s the superior smirk that’s slapped across Edward’s face.
No matter what it is, nothing can stop me from saying loud enough for witches three towns over to hear, “I’ve got news for you—it just so happens that I’ve already been picked.”
His brows lift as he chuckles in disbelief. “Is that so? And who, here in this crowd, would propose to someone asunmarriableas you?”
Oh crap. He’s called my bluff. But since I’ve come this far up shinola creek, I better keep right on paddling. “In fact, the man who wants to marry me is?—”
My eyes rip from Edward and rove over the room until they land onArrogant.
No no no no no no.
Not him. Anyone but him.
But before I can protest, Arrogant steps up and slinks his hand around my waist, sending a shudder raging down my spine.
“To me,” he tells Edward. “She’s engaged to me.”
9
As soon as the words leap from his mouth, magic unfurls. It’s hot, dangerous power, coiling around me like a snake. It sears into my flesh and spears my stomach, sending a tremor through my limbs.
The power moves through me, and as it leaves, my spine snaps, pressing me against the near stranger at my side. I try to break away, but the magic holds me fast.
Then just as quickly as it all started, light bursts from my skin and the magic melts away, soaking into the floor as the marble drinks it up.
The crowd has taken a step back. Even they can feel that this magic is different, stronger, more potent and, yes, dangerous.
My gaze snaps to Ovie, and her mouth is wide, her eyes filled with an emotion that I can’t place. Maybe it’s fear. Oh yeah. That’s what it is. This can’t be good.
After the magic vanishes, Edward eyes me coolly. “Then let me be the first to congratulate you both.”
He stalks off and I gaze up, seeing only jawline untilArrogantlooks down.
“What was that?” I ask.
Ovie storms over. “Come with me. Now.”
She claps her hands and the ballroom vanishes. I’m standing in the den, where my grandmother’s body had been just the day before. But now it’s been moved to the funeral home as she prepares for her final walk.
Arrogantstands beside me, his hand still on my hip. My mother’s here. Her blonde hair hangs softly around her face, and her dark blue gown shimmers like satin.
Where did she come from, and why does she look so worried? My father’s here as well, and he’s doing that thing with his lower jaw that he does when he’s thinking. His sandy hair’s graying but still has a lot of its natural color. He’s wearing a tuxedo with a white bow tie, and the pair make a striking couple.
My mother sighs and that’s when I remember what just happened. I really don’t see what the big deal is. I shy away fromArrogant’sgrasp, and this time I’m able to. Words rush from my mouth like a geyser.
“I only said what I did so that Edward would leave me alone, y’all. I’m sorry,” I apologize to everyone. “We were dating up until yesterday when he very suddenly dumped me, so I guess I was looking for revenge. Oops.”
An embarrassed—and if I’m being honest, shameful—giggle bubbles from my throat. No one looks amused. My aunt and parents are giving me excruciatingly sad looks that I don’t quite understand. But that’s okay. We can fix this!
“It’s fine. No big deal.” I turn toArrogant,and even though I can’t stand him, he did me a solid and deserves thanks. “I appreciate you coming to my rescue. You didn’t have to do that. But now that you have, it’s done and over with and we can go about our lives. And Edward’s probably gone now. He can’t stand being shown up, and in an hour everyone at the ball will forget about me and focus on Blair.”I dismiss this whole crazy fiasco with a wave of my hand. “No biggie.”
