Page 118 of His Two Hidden Masks

An enormous bear of a man walked in the room. He wore a silver tunic, heavy black boots and carried a shield. His tattooed muscles looked even better than I remembered.

“He does look delicious,” I said. “Is that Ari?”

“That is Ari,” Leo said, shaking his head. “He is so rugged. I have never been with a man that I think could keep me alive during a blizzard. He spends half the year on a boat. He knows how to build a fire, and chop wood and make syrup out of sap. You know, manly stuff.”

“I bet he does,” I said. “Um, Leo. Do you think that Ari might be the long red-headed lover of the sea that Auntie Aurora predicted?” I smacked his arm recalling Auntie Aurora’s prediction.

“I don’t know. Maybe the cards don’t understand gender?” He seemed excited about my theory. “We did agree that we are only going to pay attention to the predictions we like.”

“Right,” I said. “Only the ones we like. I am just saying, he is a lover of the sea.”

“That he is. I hope I get to fuck my heartbreak away tonight.”

“Go get him,” I said. “I’ll meet you inside. Find me so you can be close to the stage.”

“I’m going to catch myself a manly Icelandic fish.” Leo glanced back at me. “It sounded better in my head.”

Leo made a beeline for Ari, who lifted him in the air in a hug that looked adorable and a little scary. I was almost at the ballroom doors when I saw Shea and Odessa, standing side-by-side in the crowd. They were dressed like Greek goddesses.

Shea’s long strawberry blond hair was plaited and she wore a white dress accented with gold ribbons. Odessa was her opposite in a gold dress with white ribbons. Her wavy black hair was piled high on her head in a majestic bun. They both held beautiful crystal glasses filled with light purple drinks.

Shea looked as though she were dancing on pins and needles. Her hands clasped beneath her chin, she jumped with energy. “Bella, you look so bella,” she said, clapping her hands when she saw me.

“You two are so lovely,” I said. “I love the matching dresses.”

“Thank you,” Odessa said, curtsying. Her lips curled into a gorgeous smile. “We had so much fun with you and Leo. I’m so glad we ran into you tonight. Shea and I were talking and we agreed you must come visit us in Seattle.”

“Oh yes. You must,” Shea said. “You name the date.”

Leo joined us, Ari at his side. Roberto and Lissa were right behind them. Roberto held Lissa’s hand. He made eye contact with me and smiled. We would talk, but not tonight.

“Hi. Hi. Hi,” Leo said, clapping his hands. “Oh, all my favorite girls are here too.”

“Girls, this is Ari. Ari, these are the girls.”

“And I’m Lissa, and this is Roberto,” Lissa said. Leaning forward she shook hands with the girls. “We know Leo and we just met Ari.”

“Hello,” Ari said, his voice low.

Odessa and Shea both looked up soaking in Ari’s enormous frame.

A woman dressed in black asked to see my ticket. I handed her the silver ticket that Dylan gave me. “They are all with me,” I said, pointing to my friends. “The whole group.”

She nodded and raised a lantern high. It cast a golden circle on the ground all around us.

“Follow me,” she said, and she motioned for us to follow her into the dark.

28

The hostess led us to tall white tables close to the stage. We sat nestled behind a wall that looked as if it were made of roses. The entire ballroom was transformed into a garden.

Instead of a series of round tables, different green spaces were arranged throughout the room. Every seat focused on the stage. As the crowd filed in, staff dressed like faeries circulated, offering appetizers and drinks.

The Egyptian Queen walked centerstage. Her golden companions placed the tam-tam beside her. With a dramatic swing, she rang the gong.

“Lovers and dreamers welcome,” she said. “Tonight, you will be seduced by music, song, movement and words. I invite you to expect magic. I will do no introductions. Our artists will speak for themselves. Open your heart, let Eros guide you and enjoy this magical night.”

She bowed and with another gong she exited.

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