Page 33 of Midnight Deception

“Did you just compliment me? Has hell frozen over?” I tease, unable to help myself. I shouldn’t tease him, especially when he’s saying something nice for once, but I’m so shocked I’ve fallen back onto my default, using humour to deflect my true feelings.

“Forget I said anything,” he grumbles, gritting his teeth, but not storming off like I’d expect from him.

I could apologise, but I’m sure it would just make the situation worse. Sighing, I turn away and return to watching the witches around us. Spotting two faces I recognise, I focus on the space on the other side of the ballroom. Kano and Luna are standing together, their hands so close that they occasionally brush. They are looking away from each other, both having conversations with other people, yet there’s something about them that catches my attention. I’ve felt tension between those two before, and they seem close, but I’m pretty sure they are not a couple. Luna has made several pointed comments about Kano, and they always seem to have a tinge of jealousy. I’ve never asked before, as I felt it wasn’t my business, but I can’t stop my curiosity.

Leaning closer to Atlas, I place my hand on his shoulder, trying not to be offended when he stiffens and twists so my hand falls to my side. My bond weeps in my chest, but I ignore it and gesture towards Luna and Kano with a tilt of my head.

“What’s going on there?”

Atlas follows my gaze and snorts quietly. “Those two have been in love since we were children. It’s messy. Don’t get involved.”

He says it dismissively, and he clearly doesn’t want to talk about it, but I push on anyway. “If they love each other, then why aren’t they together?” I think I know the exact reason behind it, and she’s sitting on her throne, watching everyone with a keen eye.

Sighing as though I’m the most trying female in the world, he scowls at me. “What did I say about keeping out of it?” He must see the determination on my face and realise I’m not going to give up. “Kano’s position and working so closely with the queen makes it difficult. If you want to know any more than that, you’ll have to ask them.”

My determination doesn’t slip in the least. Maybe I’m naïve, and I don’t know the whole situation, but if they love each other, they should be able to be with each other. Perhaps if I just spoke with them…

“Don’t try to play matchmaker.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he raises his hand, pointing a finger at me in warning. “No, don’t try to look all innocent. Our bond may not be fully formed, but you’re practically shouting down it right now, so I know what you’re thinking. The whole situation is a mess, and you really don’t want to get involved. Stay out of it.”

Pursing my lips, I slowly nod, backing down—for now. My stomach growls, giving me an excuse to walk away. Glancing down at Star, I gesture for her to follow me and walk over to the buffet tables at the back of the room. People move out of my way, clearing a path. Before, I might have found this awkward, but I’m getting hangry, so I don’t care. Picking up a plate, I start working through the food. It all looks amazing, and I have no idea what half of it is. Taking a small selection of everything, I smile at my haul and make my way back to Atlas, who is glaring at everyone.

However, as I move through the room, I start to hear whispers. This is nothing new, people whisper about me wherever I go here, but these hushed conversations are different. I slow my steps so I can hear better.

“They say she’s the one from the prophecy,” a female voice comments, followed by a feminine laugh as another joins in.

“Who would have thought a werewolf would be the one to save us?”

Atlas is suddenly in front of me, scowling, his hand reaching out and touching my arm. Huffing, he grabs me and guides me to the side of the room. It’s only then that I realise that I’d come to a standstill, the female’s comments shocking me enough to freeze me to the spot.

“What are they talking about?” I turn on Atlas as he lets go of me, but he doesn’t move away, his body humming with energy. “What prophecy?”

Surprise crosses his face, but his usual scowl quickly replaces it as he shifts his weight from foot to foot. “They are talking rubbish. The witch who spouted that prophecy was always drunk and speaking nonsense. I trust nothing he said.”

So there is a prophecy. Why is this conversation making him so edgy though? What exactly does the prophecy say that has him worked up like this? He’s attracting attention with his shifty behaviour, not giving me any of the answers I need.

Grabbing his arm, I turn him to face me until he meets my gaze. “Atlas. What. Prophecy?”

A presence suddenly appears at my side, making me jump. Star barks and places herself between us until she realises that it’s only Luna. Pressing my hand to my chest, I feel the pounding of my heart beneath it. “Holy goddess,” I curse, releasing a long breath as my fear eases. There’s a general hush around us as people startle at Star’s sudden bark, but other than some wary looks, no one bothers us.

“It was prophesied that one would come and end the war between witches and werewolves,” Luna chimes in, not caring that my wolf almost took a chunk out of her for sneaking up on us. “They think that because of your unique position of belonging to both races that you could be it.” She smiles and shrugs her shoulders, her glamorous scarlet gown shifting with the movement. “It makes sense if you think about it.”

Atlas snorts and narrows his eyes on his cousin. “Or she could be the exact thing that tears us apart. You heard the rest of the prophecy.”

I find it funny that he suddenly believes in the prophecy now that we’re talking about me bringing about the downfall of the entire witch society. His words hurt. The implication that I might have a part in their demise stings, and I attempt to keep my expression neutral as I prepare to demand more answers.

“Atlas,” Kano says from behind me, his voice sharp and full of warning, cutting off anything the other male might have said. Spinning, I pin my half-brother with a glare.

“I want to hear what he was going to say.” I look up at him, recognising the stubborn expression he’s wearing, since it’s the same as my own. Perhaps we’re more alike than I first thought.

“It doesn’t matter, and I’m certainly not going to tell you here,” he snaps. It’s the harshest he’s spoken to me since I arrived here. Realising this, he sighs, his expression regretful, but he doesn’t take it back. “Just stop listening to gossip and enjoy the ball.”

If they are this adamant about me not knowing about the prophecy, then it tells me something else is going on here, and their denial has only made me more curious. If they didn’t believe there was some truth behind it, then there would be no harm in telling me. A cold chill makes me shudder at the possibility that the prophecy is true, and someone is going to either unite the witches and werewolves or somehow bring about their demise. Of course, that would only be if I am the one from the prophecy. Just another thing about this place that leaves me confused and frustrated.

I need to find out more, but I can see there’s no point in pushing this any further with Kano here, as he’s not going to tell me anything. There’s a desperation in his eyes as he silently begs for me to drop this. Huffing out a breath, I decide to give him a break. Raising my brows, I gesture sharply at Atlas. “Well, I would be enjoying myself if this one would stop snarling at everyone who comes close enough to ask me to dance.”

Kano’s relief is almost palpable, his whole demeanour changing in a second. “Well, that I can fix.” He smiles, his grin enough to make the ladies swoon. Of course it doesn’t work on me, and I just roll my eyes and wait for his solution. Extending his arm with a flourish, he bows at the waist. “Laelia, will you dance with me?” he asks with a quirk of his lips.

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