Page 67 of Midnight Whispers

Twenty-Eight

NERO

The theme for tonight’s Ritual Room is rock star, so I’m wearing leather pants with no shirt and a studded belt. Cinder just about blew me away when she arrived in my room wearing an early days Pamela-Anderson-inspired short black skirt with matching halter vest. Her cleavage is on full display, as are her shapely legs. She was made for the part.

“I like that you’re not wearing a shirt.” She traces her hand down my chest.

“You do, do you? What about you? You look like a wet dream tonight, princess.” My dick twitches when I think of everyone looking at her and knowing she’s mine.

I’ve already planned who will join us and our activities in my private room tonight, and I’m anxious to get there. But first, there’s something else we have to do.

“May I put your mask on you for the first time?” I ask.

“Yes, of course.” She’s clearly excited by the prospect.

I walk to the table where she set it when she arrived and move behind her, I gently place it over her eyes and secure it in back.

When she turns around to face me, I can’t help the word that slips out of my mouth. “Perfect.”

She smiles when I slide on my own mask.

“Ready to do this?” I hold out my hand, and she accepts it.

“Yup. Though I’m wondering how things will go tonight now that I’m not being initiated.”

We head out of my room into the hallway, where the sconces flicker on the wall.

“It’ll start the same way most parties do. People will mingle, some will have a few drinks. From there, people will either wander off to the different rooms to start the fun, or they’ll begin in the main room.”

She licks her lips. “Is it weird that I feel more nervous about tonight than I did the night of initiation?”

My forehead wrinkles. “Why are you nervous about tonight?”

She shrugs. “I guess it’s the idea of standing around and talking to all these people after what they saw last month.”

I squeeze her hand as we enter the communal part of the manor. “Cinder, no one is judging you down there, believe me. They’re all there for the same reason we are.”

She nods, but my words haven’t calmed her. I make a mental note to find Anabelle or Rapsody as soon as we get downstairs. She’ll probably feel better around them.

When we reach the basement door, I take the key out of my pocket and unlock it to head downstairs. The bass of the music thrums as we make our way down the hall.

Unfortunately, it’s not Anabelle or Rapsody I see when we enter the main room, but Sid. I haven’t spoken to him since we got into it in Asher’s office. Have barely seen him around for some reason. I’m not sure if that’s by design or happenstance.

I’m still pissed off with him for what he said, but I’ll try to keep the peace tonight if he’s willing. You never know what mood he’ll be in.

I nod as he approaches us, dark eyes taking us in through his wolf mask.

“Here to put on another show this month, Cinder?” he says.

So he isn’t over our argument. I should be the one pissed off, not him.

Cinder doesn’t say anything. Instead, she looks at me.

“Haven’t seen you around the manor much. What have you been up to?” I ask, trying to get our conversation back on track.

Sid ignores me, sliding a hand around Cinder’s waist and stepping into her. “C’mon, Cinder. You know how Nero likes to share.”

Cinder draws back as much as she can, clearly uncomfortable with Sid.

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