Page 13 of Cruelly Fated
“Our families are invited to the annual Gala of Thrones,” Valor said.
My jaw locked. The fucking gargoyles were the reason I’d gotten thrown in here.
“And what’s that got to do with me?”
“The banquet? Nothing,” he said. “But the after-party? That’s where it gets interesting. Word is something big’s going down. I caught wind this morning and came straight here.”
“I can get us in,” Valor added. “No questions asked.”
“Aren’t those parties known for turning guests into glassy-eyed zombies by dawn?” The gargoyles had been smuggling a potent fae narcotic from across the sea—something that stripped inhibitions and blurred reality, usually ending in bloodshed or scandal.
“Exactly,” he said. “I mingle. Rhylan kills their security feed for five minutes. We snoop around.”
I shook my head. “It’s too risky.” Both of them already took enough flak for sticking by me. I knew Rhylan didn’t give a damn about how it affected his pushy father, but Valor… Valor was the face of his family empire. A single misstep and the media would feast on him.
“I knew he’d say no,” Rhylan drawled, rolling his eyes.
“It’s not like he can stop us,” Valor added, shooting the wolf a sly look.
Rhylan’s eyes lit up like a damn light bulb.
Idiots.
“Can’t you send one of your men instead?” I asked, already bracing for the excuse.
Valor shook his head. “Security’s tight. Word is they’ve upgraded to facial recognition. Anyone not on the guest list gets booted on sight.”
“What about dates?” I asked. “Can you bring one?”
“Well, yeah…but I don’t know a single woman we can trust—let alone one skilled enough to pull it off,” Valor said, his brows lifting in challenge. “Do you?”
Violet eyes. Hands on my shoulders. Her lips ghosting across mine.
A shiver rattled my spine.
“Can you get close to Draven?” The gargoyle’s heir was notorious for hosting wild after-parties.
Valor’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. What are you suggesting?”
I leaned in, resting my elbows on the table. “What if you didn’t need to search the place at all? What if someone could get the truth from Draven directly—while he’s under the influence? Through an illusion. No witnesses. No memory.”
Rhylan slapped the table. “Genius. Who do we know that can do that?”
Valor didn’t answer at first. His mouth tightened. “His new girl,”he said flatly.
Rhylan’s eyes went wide. “But can we trust her?”
“She’ll do anything to protect her grandfather,” I said. “And she’s low fae. No status. No connections. No reason to betray us.”
The words tasted like ash in my mouth. True—but bitter.
We lived on opposite sides of Avari, in every sense. She was part of this world because I needed her, but once I walked free, that thread would snap.
Wouldn’t it?
Still, I’d make sure her grandfather was protected. Maybe Aragon could take him in. After yesterday’s encounter, I had a feeling we could strike a deal.
Valor studied me, already slipping into strategist mode. “I’ll arrange for her to attend as my date. I’ll need her measurements, preferences. Where should I send the wardrobe?
