Page 94 of To No End

When I heard the wheels of the carriage transition from the sound of the beaten dirt to that of stone, I knew we had likely reached the premises of the estate. I felt the coachman bring us to a halt, and I looked at Gia with nervous trepidation. My confidence wavered briefly. Were we ready? Were we going to pull this off as a team? Was the plan the right one? Gia reached across and grabbed my hand tightly, looked me square in the eye, and said, “No mistakes, no mercy.”

Her words were electric, bringing my focus back with a jolt. I nodded at her. As we both made our way out of the carriage, I looked up at the massive stone building, firelight beaming fromevery window. The escorts each took our hands with their crisp white gloves and ushered us to the entry line.

The circle drive was filled with countless carriages dropping off guests, one after another. Each person attending was dressed more elaborately than the last. The ladies were draped in jewels, from diadems to necklaces—the real stars of the evening. The males were merely more accessories.

I did not see the rest of our team as we continued to step forward in line, preparing to give our false names at the door. The wait felt like both an eternity and a single moment. I tried to calm my breathing and think back on everything Saryn and Theory had taught us. Mental shields up at all times. See beyond distractions. Listen to what is not being said. Always be aware of the exits. Anything out of the ordinary is not a coincidence.

So many lessons, wise words, and instructions swirled through me that I initially hadn’t even heard the greeter ask for my name. The insistence in his voice interrupted my distraction and told me that this was not the first time he had asked. I said the name I had been given, and Gia squeezed my hand as he nodded and let us pass. I let out a small sigh of relief. We were in.

The giant rectangle room was two stories, with us having entered at ground level—which was also the top floor. The clean white marble covered every inch of this place. Floors, pillars, walls, it was all stone of the highest quality, and it was clear that their wealth far exceeded that of even my own family. It was possible that someday the king would have made them Honored Fae if it weren’t for their son’s criminal dealings.

I had a suspicion that Gia’s family had this kind of wealth, if not more. She didn’t seem to balk in the way I did, which made me remember that someone who belonged here wouldn’t be gaping at the scene. I composed myself and continued to assess the room, trying to remember the layout from the drawings and orient myself.

The distractions were plenty. Bright yellow flowers filled the room with a thick floral scent at every turn. They adorned every inch of the room. Wrapped around stairwells, covering long banquet tables. They paired perfectly with the white stone and the golden filigree throughout. This home was more than lavish; it was borderline gaudy.

Gia and I stood at the top of the wide stone staircase that led down one level into the open ballroom. On the opposite side was another staircase. This gave those on the main level the ability to look down and admire the dancing from above. Multiple golden crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings overhead, canvasing the dance floor in abundant light. Since this floor was underground, there were no windows, but the walls were lined with wall-to-wall mirrors, making the space look even larger and more mazelike.

There was no hiding in here. Everything was bright. Too bright. I had hoped for dim lighting, dark corners, a way to become one with the shadows, but that would not be the case this evening. We started to make our way slowly and carefully down the staircase.

Across the dance floor, I was relieved to spot more of our team. I made sure not to stare at them and scanned my eyes across the dance floor with delicate ease and confidence. As my gaze moved back across the ballroom, I could see the expression on Trace’s face as clear as day. He was staring at me with molten hot intensity.

Gia whispered to me, “Next time you can design my dress.”

His eyes widened almost imperceptibly, and I had to admit I did take the smallest bit of pleasure in knowing that I could still get his attention. It was then that I realized it was likely I had gained the notice of more than just him.

Suddenly, all eyes were on me and people were clearly whispering, some even going so far as to point. As we arrived atthe bottom of the stairs, I found myself face to face with a very handsome male, but there was something sinister in the way he looked at me.

His eyes quickly roamed the length of my body, drinking me in. My back was completely exposed, and the bottom of the dress was a shiny, milky white satin that hugged my hips and flared and flowed behind me. In front, my hip bones protruded from above the waistline, exposing my navel.

But the bodice of the dress was what made it truly unique. Two giant feathers, dyed canary yellow, hugged the sensuous curves of my figure, beginning at the waist of the skirt and continuing up my chest. They splayed out across my breasts, covering me but leaving little to the imagination.

They had said this party would be ostentatious and debaucherous. I was fitting right in, and now I was regretting it. This wolf of a male had a feral intensity about his appraising gaze. He grabbed my hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a soft kiss atop it.

“My name is Fenix, but you may call me Nix.”

A small gasp escaped my lips. He probably thought I was just nervous about the kiss, but Gia’s eyes flared at me and I could see her begin to shift nervously. This was our target. The host’s son had already intercepted us, and it was all my fault. Why did I wear this stupid dress?

“And what shall I call this exotic bird before me?”

Flustered by the unplanned encounter and misdirected attention, I fumbled, trying to remember the name I was supposed to say. Suddenly, Gia interrupted and put her hand out for him, expecting a similar treatment. He turned his head in surprise and kissed her hand as well.

“My name is Lorne and this lovely specimen is my dear friend Astrid.”

A sly smile spread across his face.

“Well ladies, welcome to my family’s estate. Good of you to join us for this evening’s celebration.”

I remained speechless because I could feel his desire towards me and that was most certainly not the plan.

Gia continued, “We’re delighted to be here. Your home is just as stunning as I had heard. Would you be so kind as to grab my friend and me a drink?”

Nix nodded and began to step away to fulfill Gia’s request. Once he left, I let out an enormous, panicked breath.

“Cress, listen to me, we have to pivot. I’ve been inside his head this whole time, and there isn’t a single female I can shift into that is going to lure him more than what you just presented him with. He’s enamored, and we’re fucked. You better be ready for this impromptu change in plans. You’re the bait now!”

My palms began to sweat. I had not ever accounted for a scenario where I was the bait. That was the shifter’s job. Get in his head, find out what he likes, transform and distract him.

Just as Nix arrived back with our drinks, Trace approached us, bowed, and put out his hand to offer me a dance. I grabbed it, not knowing what else to do, but welcomed the quick exit from Nix to buy myself some time to figure out how we were going to pull this off now.

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