Page 149 of Midnights
I huff out a laugh, shaking my head as I finish. She’s not wrong. Anticipation hums around us, all jittery nerves tangled with excitement.
This isn’t just some event. It’s the solstice, a full moon, and somehow, we’ve found ourselves going to a ball. All in one night!
It’s like the universe hand-delivered every childhood fairytale we've ever had on a silver platter. Except the dresses are better, the men are hotter, and the stakes feel impossibly high.
Rachel spins dramatically, her gown catching the light as she strikes a pose.
“How do I look?”
“Like you’re about to ruin some poor bastard's life.” I grin. “Damn, you lookgood.Now hurry up before we’re late… and not in the cute way.”
I slide into the dress and meet Rachel's wide-eyed reflection. She's looking at me with her mouth half open like I just reinvented fire in front of her.
“Holy fuck,” she whispers.
When I finally look in the mirror, I have to blink a few times. Nephi's work was impressive at the fitting, but under the glow of these lights, it's something else entirely. The dress fits like it's conspiring with me. The liquid fabric flows in ways that feel almost dangerous.
Rachel nudges me, giving herself one last once-over. “Yup, we look amazing.”
She’s right. We do.
But as I look back at my reflection, something tugs at me. I wasn't planning on wearing my necklace, it doesn't really match the aesthetic I was going for. But suddenly, that feels irrelevant.
Without thinking, I cross the room, slipping it from the pouch. The metal is cool against my fingertips, but the moment it touches my skin, warmth spreads through me.
Rachel's phone pings, letting us know the car is outside, and right on time.
We grab our stuff, lock the door, and head outside. I’m practically vibrating with excitement. The car hums along the road as the city slowly gives way to the countryside. Rachel sits beside me, uncharacteristically silent, with her eyes fixed on the passing landscape.
I blink and the next thing I know, a sharp bump rattles me upright. My head snaps toward the window. Somewhere along the way, the world outside shifted.
Where are we?
Recognition tugs at the edges of my mind as the car takes another turn. The sound of gravel crunching beneath the tires fills the silence, and a large iron gate looms ahead. As the car rolls through the entrance, the castle comes into view.
A sharp inhale slips past my lips.
“This is the same castle.”
Rachel snaps to attention, blinking as she finally registers where we are. “Wait, what?”
I can’t take my eyes off the massive stone structure, it's lit like something out of a dream.
Rachel vibrates beside me, her excitement suddenly radiating off her in waves. “You mean… the same castle we were at with the guys?”
I huff out a small laugh, shaking my head. “Unless you’ve been sneaking off to castles behind my back, I’d say yes.”
As the car rolls up the long drive, the full scale of the event unravels before us. A steady stream of vehicles moves toward the grand entrance as the valets guide the guests in a rhythmic, effortless dance. The warm glow of chandeliers spills out onto the courtyard, flickering across the cobblestone path.
Music drifts from the entrance, weaving through the night like a spell. The entire scene hums with anticipation and I seriously cannot wait to get out.
I reach into my bag, pulling out my mask. “Let’s hurry and put these on.”
Rachel nods, shifting closer as we take turns fastening the delicate straps. There’s something thrilling about the anonymity of it all, it's like slipping into another life, another version of ourselves.
A gloved hand slips into view, and when I look up, a valet is already there, smiling as he swings the door open. “Good evening, beautiful,” he says smoothly, offering his hand.
Rachel's already stepping out on the other side, laughing as her own escort assists her. “Well, this is already turning into a night to remember.”
