“Maverick brought something,” she stated simply, placing a tiny blue box in my palm with the same care one might use for something fragile. Did she know what was inside?
“I have to help with the dinner preparations,” she added, already turning toward the door. “If you need anything, I’ll be in the kitchen.”
And then I was alone.
My gaze dropped toward the box again, its soft velvet sheen catching the last light of dusk filtering through the window. A strange flutter stirred in my chest. Was this a gift from Xavier?
I turned it slowly between my fingers, opening the wrapping slowly. Inside the box were earrings, delicately crafted with intricate embroidery featuring shimmering glass beads resembling the pins in my hair. They were the most beautiful pieces of jewelry I had ever seen and would probably ever own. I was so caught up in admiring the earrings that I barely noticed the small letter inside the box.
“Wear these when we dance. I want everyone to know that you belong to me tonight.”
I couldn’t believe Xavier gifted me these… I slowly put them on my ears, my trembling, too afraid to touch something so luxurious.
Patiently, I waited for him, sitting in silence, my eyes drifting to the door again and again—I couldn’t wait for him to appear.When did I start to want him so much?
After half an hour had passed and he still hadn’t come, something in me shifted. I wondered why he hadn’t shown up. Did he forget me, or had I misinterpreted his feelings?
I hated being alone. The thought of wandering the unfamiliar halls without him made me anxious. But tonight, my curiosity outweighed my hesitation.
I rose from the edge of the bed and stepped to the mirror. It had never been kind to me, never quite reflected back the girl I wanted to see. But this night was going to be different. The dress clung to me like a second skin, whispering elegance with every soft shimmer of the fabric. For once, I felt very beautiful. Unapologetically so.
I let the feeling carry me as I took a final glance at my reflection, lifted my chin, and walked out the door. I wasn’t going to wait anymore, so I walked down the steps to the hall.
The long hallway was decorated with starlight’s, igniting a feeling of being stranded in the night sky. I could already hear music, as if there was an orchestra somewhere nearby. Following the melody, I came across a huge, ornate door. On each side stood a man in jester clothing, one of them dressed in green, the other in red.
“Excuse me my lady, our master has permitted us to let you enter only with his accompaniment,” the red-clothed jester said to me.
Did Xavier really forbid me to enter alone? He was the one that hadn’t picked me up, what was I supposed to do?
“Bored?” I turned to find Sparrow leaning against the wall. Despite him wearing a purple masquerade mask embroidered with silver lace, I recognized his face immediately. He was standing there dressed in deep blue silk, completely unbotheredby all the admiring looks he got from both men and women. Silver embroidery traced delicate patterns along the edges of his sleeves.
“Maybe…”
“Don’t tell me you’re dressed like this… and coming to the ball alone?” he asked, almost amused. I could swear he already knew where Xavier was but had no intention of saying so.
Sparrow took a step closer to me, his eyes sweeping over me through the mask.
“The dress is breathtaking,” he voiced. “But not quite as breathtaking as you.” He pressed a kiss on my hand, his gaze traveling upward to meet mine. “My brother has exceptional taste in women.” His lips curved into a smirk before he pulled me gently toward the entrance of the ball.
We passed through the towering glass door, the jesters on either side bowing. They both looked like they were part of some whimsical painting that had come to life for the evening. Their clothes were made of shimmering silk, paired with striped trousers, sequins next to velvet, and one even wore different-colored shoes.
I caught a flicker of movement from the corner of my eye. One of the jesters was casting a lingering, almost flirtatious glance toward Sparrow. “I think someone just proposed to you,” I whispered over to him.
“Poor thing,” he murmured. “He had no idea how much energy he’d need to keep up with a siren man.”
And then we were inside, swallowed up by candlelight, music, and magic.
The room was occupied by so many people dressed in fancy gowns and suits—although none of them looked as opulent as mine. I felt out of place, just like I had at the vampire ball. It didn’t help that most of the guests were wearing masquerade masks. Couples glided across the polished floor, the soft glow ofthe chandeliers casting a warm light across the hall as the string orchestra played soft, sonorous music.
I had unconsciously been looking for Xavier. Would he search for me if he found his bedroom empty? Would he join the Masquerade Midsummer Ball with a mask or without? Would I even recognize him? Although, looking at the men surrounding me, Xavier’s beauty definitely would stand out. None had long, raven-black hair or wore red bows.
Some women dressed in white, flowy gowns danced beside me, their hair decorated with seashells and pearls. Many of them were dancing barefoot, and some of them were hanging around one man in particular. A man I had never seen before in my entire life, I was pretty sure. He sat with crossed legs on a chair that almost resembled a throne. His chin was perched in his hand, like this entire ball bored him to death. A golden mask covered half of the man’s face, and although he was not the only man that wore one, he was the only one that stood out from the crowd. His presence lingered on me, and I couldn’t describe why. He had just an unforgettable aura, much like Xavier. They were the type of people that, whenever they entered the room, theycommandedit.
Who was this man? Why had Xavier never mentioned him?
“Who is he?” I asked, my eyes drifting to Sparrow, who was staring at him just like I was.
“I’d say by looking at him, that he wants to ask you the same thing,” he replied, amused.
