Page 96 of Your Coffin or Mine
It’s been hours, but I’m still buzzing from Aubrey and don’t even have the will to be annoyed about so many people in my precious home. “Sounds like ayouproblem.”
He rubs his forehead. “Ugh. Can you be any more insufferable at the moment? I’m still surprised you even agreed to the party at all.”
“I think I’ll do just about anything for her,” I state honestly. Then, under my breath, I mutter, “I can’t wait to see her in the dress I picked.”
“Well, you’re going to have wait because you’re helping me greet the guests.”
I spin to him in disbelief. “You must be joking. I don’t want to welcome people.”
“Too bad! This isyourhome.”
“But I’m not the one who wanted to turn my castle into some insufferable hotel.” I want to spend the night with Aubrey, not greet sweaty blood-sacks with a false grin. I’d rather impale my own head on a spike.
“Can’t you just do it with your newstaff?” I say with a mocking sneer.
“Nope. You are helping me, or I’ll ask Frank to drive down and do it.” He cocks a brow, and I curse this foul cretin like the annoying pup he is.
Until I sort everything with Aubrey, I can’t have Frankenstein here. It won’t bode well if I do.
“Fine,” I snap, turning back to the mirror to yank on my suit and make sure it’s sitting right. “But you better leave me alone for the rest of the night.”
“I’ll try, but no promises.”
Ignoring him, I focus on Aubrey, imagining her smile and the way her dress will sit over her beautiful curves. The soft sway of her ample hips, and her cerulean eyes I want to fall into like they are the sea. I open my eyes and shed the small things that help me hide among the humans. It’s her.She is who is doing this to me. My nails turn to claws, my fangs elongate, and I can finally relax from holding them at bay. I flex my claws in front of me.
She will know exactly what I am and what that means before the night is done. I guess I can wait a little longer to see her, so long as the night ends how I want it to.
“If this all blows up in your face, I don’t want to hear about it.” Doyle shrugs as he heads to the door. “I will not be part of the pity party afterwards.”
I laugh and shake my head. “As if I would ever throw a party without you.” After this morning, I feel like I’m truly at peace, and I can tell he’s confused about my sudden cheer, but I need him to understand what I now have. I need to ease him into what will hopefully be my new future, especially as he’ll be a part of it. “I’m telling you, Doyle. Sheismy mate.”
He blinks in astonishment, as if surprised I’m bringing it back up. He reads my face like he’s searching for the truth, and his eyes widen when he sees my conviction on the matter. “But that’s impossible! She’s a human.”
My grin grows.I know.
Chapter 30
AUBREY
“Stop pulling on it,”George hisses, smacking my hand away from the cloak currently suffocating me. “You’re going to ruin the lines.”
I sigh and push him away, trying to get a better look at the ballroom as he fiddles with the cloak. Drinks clink together and people are milling about, waiting on the party to start, while I try to get a glimpse of Vlad. I was never actually given the details about tonight.
The white cloak makes me feel like I’ve stepped out of a LOTR movie set and Frodo Baggins needs this perfume bottle of light I’ve been saving, but it truly is absolutely gorgeous. It’s heavy and embroidered with some insignia I don’t recognize. I suppose it does match the ethereal forest vibe of the ballroom, though, with all the fairy lights, fog, and trees dotting the place.
He planned this.
I guess I should have known Vlad would come up with something this outrageous. The whole white cloak screams innocence, but the dress under it is a red so deep it looks black in the low light and shimmers like rubies as I walk. The waist accentuates my curves, somehow bringing the eye to myhourglass figure without making me feel insecure. Except for the whole part where my boobs threaten to pop out each step I take, or maybe it’s just that I feel like they’re going to, which makes sense given the damn thing is V-cut down to my belly button.
Vlad and his obsession with my boobs is a whole situation I cannot even deal with tonight. Not with this many people around.
George’s eye twitches—it’s been doing that ever since he volunteered to help get me dressed, making me giggle.
My gaze roaming over the sea of people, anxiety bubbles in my chest at the thought of dancing in this ensemble. Send help.
Who in the hell invited all these people? I am definitely going to need a lot of wine to make it through this. To say I’m feeling insecure in the scandalous dress would be an understatement, especially knowing Bianca is somewhere in this mess, probably looking like a gazelle.
I do think my makeup is pretty. Although I’m a whizz at doing it because I need to look on point in every photo on my Instagram post, George uses a makeup brush like it’s a fucking magic wand. The smoky eye with a red lid crease and glittering highlights on my cheeks catch my own eye in every reflection. He managed to make my black lipstick shine with red in the center and, somehow, I feel like a vampirette or some shit.
