Page 72 of Mardi Gras Murders & Midnight Masquerades
"Bound by blood, bound by choice. Armand Delacroix, we bind you. Your power, your essence, your endlessschemes. Trapped forever in endless dreams," we chanted in perfect harmony. Our voices merged into a single resonance that shook the chamber.
The mask on the floor began to glow with our unified magic rather than his. It was a perfect blend of our individual powers functioning as one. Delacroix's golden essence was drawn inexorably toward it. His soul was compacted and compressed as it was forced into the prepared prison.
With a final, silent scream that probably broke every window in the house, Delacroix's soul was sucked into the mask. The artifact flared brilliantly before settling into a subdued violet glow. It was done. After centuries of manipulation, murder, and dark magic, Armand Delacroix was imprisoned.
I rushed to Lucas's side while my sisters secured the mask. His breathing was labored, and the magical burn was spreading across his chest. "Stay with me," I whispered.
Dre joined us immediately. "I’ve got him," she said quietly. Her healing magic flowed through him, countering Delacroix's final curse.
Slowly, the burn receded, and Lucas's breathing eased. His eyes fluttered open, finding mine. "Did we get him?" he asked weakly.
"We got him," I confirmed, relief washing through me. "He's never getting out."
Around us, Noah, Kaveh, and Marie were freeing the captives. Kenneth's body lay empty and still. The councilor had been dead long before we arrived. His body was merely a puppet for Delacroix's essence.
Dani carefully placed the mask in the containment box and sealed it with Kaitlyn's help. "What do we do with it now?" she asked.
"We take it somewhere it can never be found," Kaitlyn replied. "Somewhere not even the Society can reach."
I helped Lucas to his feet, supporting him as we surveyed the aftermath of our final confrontation. The chamber was a mess of broken stone and magical residue, but the atmosphere had already begun to change. The oppressive weight of centuries of dark magic was lifting.
"We will leave that task to you and Kaveh,” Dani replied. “We’ve got a midnight masquerade to prepare for.”
CHAPTER 20
Danielle
Moonlight streamed through the tall windows as we rushed through our final preparations. The grand ballroom clock showed just past eleven—less than an hour before our guests would arrive. It had been mere hours since we'd imprisoned Delacroix, and my body still ached from the battle. Adrenaline was an amazing thing and kept me moving. Well, that and the caffeine from the Tall Boy I’d consumed.
"Can you believe we're actually pulling this off?" I asked as Dre adjusted a crystal chandelier with a flick of her fingers. My witch fire danced along the prisms, multiplying the glow a hundredfold. "This morning, we were fighting for our lives, and at midnight, we're hosting the supernatural social event of the season."
Dre looked over. The dark circles under her eyes were partially hidden by her half-finished makeup. A rare smile softened her features. "It's what we do. Save the world, then throw a party before the dust even settles."
"It's a little more than a party," Phi corrected as she moveddelicate glass orbs filled with enchanted lights to their positions around the ballroom. Despite the exhaustion etched on her face, her magic flowed seamlessly. "This is our chance to truly unite the supernatural community while Delacroix's absence leaves a power vacuum."
“I hadn’t thought about it that way,” Lia replied from the drink table across the room.
The masquerade that Delacroix had intended as our trap would instead be the celebration Keryth had hoped for. Although, it had evolved into a celebration of unity after facing a common enemy. The Aegis Council's founding vision was holding steady. The factions in the city had been at odds for centuries when ruled by Marie. Now they all sat at the same table and fought battles together.
"Dani, what do you think?" Kota called from across the room, gesturing toward the entrance where my oldest daughter and Lia’s were hanging elaborate fabric panels in swirls of midnight blue and silver. "Too much?"
I tilted my head, considering. "It's perfect. The colors resonate with the season, and it’s festive yet upscale."
Years of party planning had made us experts at these subtle touches. The symbolism embedded in every design choice was an important issue to consider. As was the careful consideration of supernatural sensitivities. Tonight's masquerade would be a masterpiece.
Noah appeared in the doorway, looking devastating in his charcoal suit. The sight of my mate made my heart skip. "The security team is in position," he reported. "Lucas has the pack patrolling the perimeter. Kaitlyn has set up additional wards around the property."
"Any sign of Society stragglers?" Dre asked with concern briefly clouding her expression.
Noah shook his head. "Nothing. Most seemto have gone underground after Delacroix's imprisonment. The few we've identified are being monitored."
"Good," Dre nodded. "Let's keep it that way."
The mask that imprisoned Delacroix was secure at Cold Water Creek Correctional. Kaveh and Kaitlyn had left immediately after the battle, transporting the sealed containment box through a series of warded portals. Even the most desperate mage wouldn't risk breaking into the supernatural prison to retrieve it. Not with the facility's reputation for making escape attempts... educational.
"We should start getting ready," I said, glancing at my watch. "Guests will arrive any minute."
We rushed upstairs to the second-floor bathrooms. In no time, we had transformed the spaces into a chaotic whirlwind of preparation. Makeup kits exploded across countertops as curling irons heated and six different perfumes competed for dominance in the steamy air.
