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He frowns and takes the envelope from me. “Kaz cleared it?”

“Yeah. Said it was delivered by a courier.” I watch as he examines the outside, a frown developing when he sees the pentagram. “Is that what I think it is?”

He sighs. “I hope the fuck not, but I guess it’s time to find out.”

Just as he tears open the envelope, Remy and Nick stroll out of the bedroom. As good as Remy looks in his designer jeans and custom boots, my eyes are drawn to Nick. Not with what he’s wearing, but the simple fact he’s dressed and ready to go.Alive.

“What’s that?” Remy asked, probably sensing a disturbance in the room.

“Something from your father,” Sy says holding it out between two fingers. “Want to open it?”

Remy stares at it for a moment, then takes the rectangle from him. We all watch as he studies the front, then pulls out the card lodged inside. I can’t see what’s written, but it does look like more of the same fancy script. Definitely an invitation. His eyes ping over the words, hand thrusting into his hair. “He’s lost his goddamn mind,” he mumbles, pushing the envelope back to Sy.

“What does it say?” Nick asks, leaning against the armchair.

Sy clears his throat and starts reading, “You are cordially invited to bear witness to the eternal union of Baroness Arianette Gowen Hexley to The King of Barons on the evening of October thirty-first, at the House of Night.”

“Well, I guess it’s happening,” Remy says, shoving his hand into his pocket and pulling out his marker. “My father is actually going to marry the girl that was originally arranged for me.” He laughs darkly, “A girl, which I’ll remind everyone, is youngerthan all of us. If that doesn’t nail the dynamic between the Maddox men, I don’t know what does.”

“Does this mean she’ll be your stepmother?” Nick asks, snatching the invitation out of his brother’s hand, his blue eyes skimming over the words. “Wait, isn’t your dad still married to your mom? Is he a bigamist now?”

“The Baron’s covenants transcend legalities,” Remy says. “Marriages are… more like an oath than a piece of paper. An exchange. The Black Wedding is an event between two families. It’s about merging power. He stole that from my mother, locking her up where no one can get to her. I guess he found a new source now.”

“Then fuck him,” I say, hating the hurt I hear in his voice. “Let’s bail. We don’t have to go.”

“Oh, we’re going,” he declares, “not because I have to or to give my approval, but I’ll bear witness for my mom. I’ll make sure he sees my face while he’s walking down the aisle and betraying her.”

“Damn, Rem, that’s savage.” Nick says, scratching at the bandage on his neck. “Your father sucks. But we knew that.”

“Yeah,” Remy says, glancing over at me, “we did.”

I’m brought back to that night on the cliffs, when Maddox revealed himself as the Baron King to his son. When he told him how if he chose me over his father, everything would fall apart.

I guess this is what he was alluding to. Timothy Maddox has to take on the burden of this arrangement for his son.

“I’m okay with it,” I announce, walking over and wrapping my arms around his waist, “because it means you’re free. And it means your mine. And what goes on over in the crypt is none of our concern.”

And to be honest, I’m a little curious about the spectacle. Halloween night? And the dresses. Fuck, I think back to the equinox celebration last year. Regina was a badass, but no oneknows anything about this girl Arianette, other than that she went missing and managed to escape.

My mind slips downstairs to the Morgue where I’ve been sorting Forsyth’s history. Maybe Arianette has the key to where girls like Laura and Stella are being kept.

And just maybe, our ties to the Baron King will allow us to get close to her.

I’msurprised I can feel the buzz of my phone over the roar of the crowd, but I pull it out of my pocket and read the message.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I say, easing out from under Remy’s arm.

“What’s up?” he asks.

“That was Maggie. Apparently there’s an emergency in the cutslut lounge.”

Sy frowns. “What kind of emergency?”

“The hair kind.” I roll my eyes. “It’ll just take a minute.”

I rise but as I pass Nick, his fingers curl in my belt loop and he drags me back. “Wanna grab me a beer while you’re down there?”

I lift an eyebrow. “You’re not drinking. We all agreed.”