Page 96 of Code of Heart

Grace gasped in dramatic fashion, pointing. “Oh my God. You broke Ivy! She’s crying! Ivy never cries. Quick, where’s my phone! I need pics or it didn’t happen!”

Ivy spun around, eyes blazing, her long ponytail nearly taking Aurelia’s head off. “Try it, Grace. Try it, and Isaac will be scraping your remains off the driveway by midnight.”

The three of them held each other’s gazes for a tense heartbeat—and then the tension shattered into wild, helpless laughter.

They laughed until they cried for an entirely different reason, the heavy weight of emotion transforming into something bright and full of life.

This.

This was what she had been missing. Another priceless gift that had quietly found its way into her life because of Levi.

Once the laughter faded, the mood shifted again, and the cosmetic commandos re-emerged, their playful banter giving way to fierce determination.

With a knowing glance between them, they got to work—their magic tangible in every brush stroke and curl of her hair. And for the first time in a long time, Aurelia sat perfectly still, no longer resisting the transformation…but embracing it.

Tonight, she wouldn’t just attend the ball.

She would own it.

Levi

Levi hadn’t been allowed near their bathroom since Ivy and Grace commandeered it. He felt a brief pang of sympathy for Aurelia, trapped in their clutches with no escape. He knew firsthand how relentless his friends could be when it came to getting someone ready for an event.

Already dressed, Levi adjusted the cuffs of his tailored black tuxedo. He had foregone the usual bow tie in favor of a formalpaisley print tie threaded with rich fall tones—deep golds, coppers, and burgundy—woven seamlessly into the fabric. His dark hair was styled back in precise waves, giving him a sharp, regal edge.

The outfit was perfect, but it was nothing compared to what he knew was coming next.

With one last glance in the mirror, he joined Owen on the couch. His best friend had shown up a while ago and was now flipping through the channels, looking entirely too comfortable in his own sleek tuxedo and classic black bow tie.

Levi’s knee bounced restlessly as he kept glancing at the closed bedroom door.

Owen shot him an amused glance. “Your anxiety is nauseating. The whole couch is shaking. If you wanted me bouncing like this, Lockwood, you should have bought me dinner first.”

Levi stilled his knee but didn’t bother replying. The second the door cracked open, he flew to his feet.

Ivy and Grace exited first, appearing far too pleased with themselves. Then…Aurelia stepped into view.

Levi forgot how to breathe.

She was nothing short of divine, a vision that seemed to step straight out of his most impossible dreams.

Her long chestnut hair flowed in soft, cascading waves, the vibrant rainbow strands threaded through like stolen light from a prism. Her skin glowed beneath the warm lighting, every soft curve of her face touched by it, her full lips parted slightly as her deep brown eyes, lit from within, locked onto his.

And then there was the dress.

The sheer, nude-toned fabric clung to her curves like a second skin, dusted with thousands of iridescent crystals that sparkled in every imaginable color, casting light across the room as she moved.

The bodice was a masterpiece, clusters of crystals blooming into intricate vines and floral patterns, winding their way delicately along her torso. Whisper-light tulle sleeves floated over her arms, each dotted with crystals that seemed to hover weightlessly on her skin.

The skirt deepened into rich ombré shades of eggplant and crimson, as if she carried the sunset itself in her gown. She looked like she belonged to another world—half goddess, half queen—and all his.

Levi’s throat tightened painfully.

“I could search every language and still never find the words to describe how beautiful you are,” he rasped, his voice hoarse with emotion.

Aurelia’s cheeks flushed pink, her soft smile dazzling. She then twirled in the dress, a beam of pure joy lighting up her face.

“It even has pockets!” she squealed.