Page 25 of Devious Knight

I’ve attracted his wrath and he’s not giving me the option to fix whatever I must have done to him. So there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do but wait it out.

Once I’m gone I won’t have to see Kade ever again.

The door opens and Mackenzie comes through looking flustered. No one complained about tonight more than the two of us but I can see that being here has taken its toll on her because Levi is here.

His father is on the college board so his family is always present at events like this. Tonight Mackenzie’s parents are here, too, no doubt because of the marriage agreement in the works.

“God, I can’t take this anymore.” She raises a hand to her head and her chest caves. “Now my mom’s talking about babies. Can you imagine me having children with that neanderthal?”

“Oh my God.” I straighten and regard her with sympathy as she marches over and slumps against the wall next to me.

This is the worst state I’ve ever seen her in. She usually enjoys these events because they're filled with rich hot men, but she genuinely looks like she won’t last another minute.

“I keep wondering how we got here. And I have no idea how to get myself out of this sham.”

“Your father hasn’t agreed to anything yet. So maybe you don’t have to worry.”

Mackenzie sighs and looks like she might wither away. “If he and my mother are here with the Sluskias that contract is as good as signed and my life is over.”

“Don’t say that, and don’t give up either. I know you, you’ll think of something.” I don’t know what that something is and I have no idea what the hell she could do, but I do know her. “You’re like the female version of MacGyver or Indiana Jones. But instead of figuring out technical ways to escape bad guys, you do it with life.”

She presses her lips into a thin line of displeasure and shakes her head. “I’m not so sure I can figure my way out this time. The only option I seem to have is running away. I don’t want to do that.”

“No, you mustn’t. You’d have too much to lose.”

“I know. And I like my life here.” Her reflective tone holds the same sentiment as a person thinking about a happy home where they built treasured memories. “I love being at Raventhorn, and I want to dance. I can’t run away from that.”

Her words feel like a jab to my heart. Maybe because it feels like I’m running away to England to escape Kade’s mind games. I keep asking myself if I am.

I’ve been obsessed with Christian Degas for as long as I can remember, and I know the opportunity to work and study under him is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

But I can’t help but wonder, if I were truly happy would I have even applied for his scholarship program? The week I applied I’d just found out Kade was screwing with my life, and I was depressed.

My goal was to get on Christian Degas’ internship program in a few years, after I graduate. Moving things up in the timeline has left me feeling a little displaced and questioning myself.

I suppose none of that matters now. I’m not about to pass up an opportunity to work with Christian Degas, whether I feel like I’m running away or not.

I switch my focus back to Mackenzie and rest my hand on her shoulder. “Hang in there.”

“I’m trying.”

The door bursts open again, cutting into my next words. This time an angry-looking Tiffany marches in with her hands on her hips and her nostrils flared.

She’s a dead ringer for Megan Fox but when she’s angry she looks like a troll.

“What the hell are you two doing in here?” Her eyes blaze. “We have over three hundred guests to serve and you’re taking a break?”

“We’re sorry,” I apologize quickly. I’ve learned from the past that if I don’t want to fight with her it’s best to appease her in whatever possible way that shuts her down.

“Get back out there.” She points to the door. “And switch it up. Mackenzie, you’re on the buffet. Isabelle, you can serve drinks for the rest of the night. The elite just arrived. Go to them first.”

Oh. Shit. They’re here. He’s here. And Tiffany wants me to serve them? Fuck.

“I don’t mind staying on drink duty,” Mackenzie speaks up, glancing from me to Tiffany. She knows that me serving drinks to Kade and his friends is the worst possible news I could hear tonight.

I was already dreading having direct contact with Kade, but I thought I’d be on the buffet. I only felt that I could handle it because the buffet table will be closing in an hour, then I’d be on clean-up duty in the kitchen.

Serving drinks means I’ll have to be on the floor until the end of the night and be at everyone’s beck and call.

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