Page 92 of Forever Touched

I started to protest again, but the basement door suddenly rattled as someone turned the lock. I shot off my bed and quickly smoothed my skirt, hoping I hadn’t wrinkled it. The blue satin fabric was thin and delicate, yet surprisingly strong. It had a high slit in front, allowing the light fabric to billow behind me in waves. The top was simple, held up by thin straps that criss-crossed behind, the back solow that my entire spine was on display.

A dancer’s dream dress. It allowed for free movement, the only adornment a simple bow tied around my waist. The dress had arrived several hours ago, along with a silver mask and simple note.

“For Star.”

I immediately knew who had sent it and so had Mistress.

“Be ready promptly at ten,” was all she’d said, then shoved the box into my arms and ordered me down to the basement.

I’d decided to keep my hair down for the occasion, the silvery strands falling neatly to my waist. Most of my makeup and accessories were in my room at Dreamscape, but I’d managed to find a pair of silver stilettos and do a decent job on my face. Fake sapphire earrings and sapphire-studded cuff bracelets completed the ensemble. My silver mask was already in place, transforming me into the person Mistress wanted me to be.

Mysterious. Charming. Alluring.

Star.

I waited for her to call me up, but as the basement door swung open, I heard the sound of high-heeled shoes on the stairs. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Shenevercame down here. To say I was freaking out would be an understatement.

When she reached the bottom and turned to face me, I forced myself to hold still. Had she changed her mind? Had she decided that killing me was the best solution? Despite how terrified I was, I lifted my chin as she inspected me from head to toe. She was wearing a black dress that hugged her curves and showed off ample cleavage. Diamonds dripped from her neck, wrists, and fingers. They were even woven into her elaborate updo. Her mask was black shot through with gold, making her look mysterious, but in a creepy villain sort of way.

She took a few more steps and thrust something at me. “Put this on.”

I reached out with trembling fingers as if the object was a venomous snake. It might as well be. The second it was in my hand, I realized what it was.

My knife.

I almost dropped it. Almosthurledit across the room.

This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t—

“Doit, Adalyn,” Mistress snapped.

Trembling even harder, I slipped the garter onto my right leg and made sure the attached knife was situated on my outer thigh. The dress barely managed to conceal it, but the high slit made it all too easy for me to reach down and pull the weapon free.

Unable to keep silent a moment longer, I blurted, “Why?”

“Because you’re going to start a revolution tonight,” she replied, stepping back to eye me with a satisfied smile. “You’ll call on the blood bonds you’ve nurtured over the past few years, telling every single noble, drothen, and council member that the time has come to rise up. When the battle is imminent, you will then turn to the crown prince and stab him in the heart.”

Dread sucked all the air from my lungs. “No,” I whispered, my heart starting to break.

“Yes,” she said, piercing me with her eyes. “When the clock strikes midnight, Prince Everett will be dead and the revolution will be reborn. A Masquerade Ball at the castle is the perfect opportunity to make our move. The Venturi will start eliminating each other, and in the chaos, the royals won’t realize that rogues have invaded their precious island and joined the fight until it’s too late. With the help of our weak-minded Venturi clients, we’ll finally be able to seek change. No more begging the royal family to hear us. Toseeus. Once they’vebeen overthrown, we’ll create a new government for this kingdom, one where Feltore have the same privileges as the Venturi.”

Even though I’d known about her plan for years, my mind reeled at the news. When I’d first agreed to help her ensnare clients by planting false dreams inside their minds, I’d only wanted two things. To pay off my father’s debt as quickly as possible, and to seek revenge on the vampires who’d killed him. Helping my enemies go to war with each other was just icing on the cake. Both sides would suffer losses, and that was fine by me.

Wasfine by me. But not anymore. Not since I’d met Everett. He was heavily flawed, but he was everything I needed. Everything I craved. My heartdancedwhen he was near. He made me feel alive and safe, and the thought of hurting him was more than I could bear.

“I can’t kill Everett.”

The words were out before I could stop them. Mistress didn’t react for a painfully long moment. Then, she threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, you stupid,stupidgirl. You’ve fallen inlovewith the brute.”

My mouth fell open, but nothing came out.

Seeing the shock on my face, she stopped laughing to cluck her tongue disapprovingly. “Oh, Adalyn, you disappoint me. I thought you were smarter than this. It doesn’t matter that he saved you a time or two. It doesn’t even matter that fate mistakenly made him your soulmate. He’s theenemy. You’ve always known this. You should have gotten inside his head when you had the chance. Instead, you allowed him to get inside yours. Pathetic.”

Recovering from my shock, I shook my head and repeated, “I can’t kill him. I’ll call on the blood bonds. I’ll become your blood whore again. I’ll do anything you want me to do. Butplease, Mistress. Don’t ask me to kill Everett.”

Her expression flattened. In a blur, she was in my face, viciously gripping my chin. “I wasn’t asking, Adalyn,” she hissed. “I wastellingyou. Who do you think you are makingdemandswhen you’re completely at my mercy? Did you think I wouldsympathizewith you? Well, guess again. Everett D’angelo needs to die for this revolution to begin, and you’re the perfect person to kill him. The bastard trusts you and won’t expect your treachery until it’s too late.

“But I’m not completely heartless,” she continued, her sneering mouth inches from mine. “Once you’ve completed this task, your blood debt to the Faircroft family will be forgiven. I’ll release you from our pactum, and you and yourmousecan go free. How is that for sympathy? Pretend one last time for me, Star. Put on your greatest performance, and your reward will be your freedom. Promise me you will do this.Promise.”

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