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“I’ll get your dress,” he said, his voice gravel as his gaze dipped to her lips.

“And I’ll get ready.”

He left her at Luka’s door, continuing upstairs while she went into the bathroom. She quickly rinsed off before wrapping a towel around her body. She took her time brushing out her hair, preparing herself for what this night would bring.

Preparing herself for what she was about to do.

A theory she needed to test.

She didn’t know what dress Theon was going to bring her, so she made sure her hair and make-up would work with anything. Curling her hair into big, soft curls, she pinned them up on her head. She made her cosmetics dark with hints of gold on her eyelids.

She’d started a little stockpile of lip color in here, and she swiped up a tube of red from the antique-looking soap dish. Luka had a lot of odd little trinkets around his room. She hadn’t really noticed them until she’d started coming out of her self-induced state of numbness, but there was an onyx and silver vase on his bookshelf. He kept his hair ties in a small brass tin with gems inlaid in it. He even had some sort of antique frame. It was gold and beautiful, but there was nothing in it. Just an empty frame sitting on a desk.

When she emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a silk robe, Luka was there, already dressed in a suit and tie. His hair was tied back neatly, but she knew some strands would slip free before the end of the night.

He was adjusting cufflinks, but he looked up when she emerged, bright eyes sweeping over her. She cleared her throat, pulling the sash of the robe a little tighter.

“Theon is on his way down with your dress,” Luka said. “He was finishing getting ready.”

“Sorry I took over your bathroom,” she replied, realizing Luka likely got ready upstairs as well.

He shrugged. “I’m used to plans suddenly changing and needing to adapt.”

“Yes, but this isyourroom.”

“It’s fine, Tessa. Are you ready for tonight?”

She looked away from him, her fingertips sliding along the wall as she moved just to have something to do. “Is there something I should be ready for?”

“I am just assuming it could be a difficult evening for you.”

She paused, looking over her shoulder at him. “Why?”

“Because of Felicity.”

The blunt statement had her pausing for a split second. “I think it will be fine. Theon told me what is expected of me tonight.”

Luka’s eyes narrowed. “And what, exactly, is that?”

“What I was meant to be.” Her eyes darted to the door as the bond warmed a little in her soul. “He’s coming.”

Seconds later, Theon walked through the door, a black evening dress in hand. He came to a halt, looking between her and Luka before he asked, “What is happening here?”

“I should be asking you that,” Luka said, reaching out to take the heels Theon held in his other hand. “I think we all need to be very careful tonight.”

“Aren’t we always?” Theon asked, crossing the room to Tessa.

“Some more than others,” Luka said pointedly.

Tessa gave him a simpering smile before looking over the dress. “No undergarments?”

“I’m told some dresses can’t be worn with undergarments. This seemed like one of those,” Theon replied, a dark caress in his voice.

She almost huffed a laugh, but instead she reached for the sash of the robe, letting it slide down her body before taking the dress from Theon. The black garment dipped low enough to show the second Source Mark on her chest, and the thigh slit reached nearly to her hip. It hugged her torso, and the heels added the usual several inches. Theon pulled small emerald earrings from his pocket, and she quickly slipped them on.

Axel was waiting for them in the foyer, Kat presumably in his room. He looked annoyed, and when he didn’t say anything as they approached, it only confirmed his foul mood. He didn’t even turn on the music on the drive to the restaurant.

When they arrived, Theon helped her remove her long coat, handing it off to the coat check with his own. Luka and Axel did the same before they were escorted to a table near the back. The restaurant was more than fancy. Low lighting. Ornate tables and chairs. A bottle of wine probably cost more than the emerald earrings she was wearing. It was immediately clear only elite Legacy were allowed to dine here. The wait staff was even Legacy. She was sure there were Fae in the back who took care of dishes and cleaning, but out here? The only Fae in sight was Eviana as they approached the table.