Page 39 of Cruelly Fated (Princes of Avari #1)

Thirty-Five

ALLIE

“ D oes Valor—” I began.

“—know you’re here? If he missed my greeting, then he’s one deaf vampire,” Valor’s sister chirped.

She guided me onto a pink, tufted stool in front of a theater-style vanity that dominated the wall, lined with mirrors and bulbs. In two seconds flat, she’d undone my braid.

“I’m Vanessa, by the way. But friends call me Ness—you should too. I’ve got a good feeling about you.”

“Um…Allie. You do know I’m not dating your brother, right?”

Ness stuck out her lower lip in a pout. “Yeah. He’s too wound up with a stick up his ass to attract any decent prospects.

What I meant was—I got a reading of you when we touched.

It’s my gift, and I can tell that while you’re fond of my brother, your heart belongs to someone else.

Still, having a female friend in his circle is a step in the right direction. I worry about him sometimes…”

She tilted my head side to side, analyzing.

“Cascading curls would suit you,” she murmured.

I shrugged. “I’ve never been to a fancy party.”

Ness had a flat iron and a curler heating up. I reached for the curler, but she suddenly appeared between me and the vanity, her arms folded across her chest.

“You can’t curl this scrunchy mess on your head without smoothing the hair first.” She tapped a finger against her hot pink lips. “My stylists already left, which means you’re stuck with me…but have no fear.”

Wasn’t that what people unsure of their skills say? I tensed.

She gripped the flat iron and within a few minutes, my hair was transformed into a glossy waterfall. She clipped sections, misted them with copious hairspray, and curled them one by one with near-military precision. At last, she touched up my makeup.

“Look,” she said, stepping aside. I leaned toward the mirror.

Was this me? The hair looked fabulous, a cover-model-worthy style.

The smoky eyes and that same hot-pink lipstick highlighted two of my best features.

I usually stopped at eyeliner, but I’d have to rethink dark eye shadow after today. This look might bring me more tips.

“Midnight blue will bring out your eyes even more,” Ness said, sashaying behind me with a strapless mermaid dress draped over one arm.

I covered my gaping mouth. “This is gorgeous. Are you sure I can borrow it?”

“You could lose it, and my sister would never notice.” Valor stepped into the dressing room, his frame wrapped in a navy-blue tuxedo with velvet lapels. “Have you seen her other closets?”

“Hush, brother. I don’t ick over your yum,” Ness quipped, stepping around the corner in a tight pink number that left little to the imagination.

Valor’s eyes narrowed at her attire. “That’s not exactly ballroom-appropriate.”

Ness waved him off. “What you mean is that it’s not suited for him . I’m a big girl, V. Besides, it’s a formal ball. What could possibly happen?” She rolled her eyes, spritzing perfume around her perfectly styled hair and curve-hugging dress.

“This might surprise you,” Valor muttered, “but he has a knack for getting into trouble and putting women in compromising situations.”

“Ugh, he’s your friend, V. I think he can manage a little restraint out of respect for you. If he’s even remotely as bad as you claim…” Ness twirled in place, then dashed out of the room at the sound of the doorbell.

I averted my gaze from Valor’s bloodshot eyes. Their spat wasn’t mine to witness, yet here I was, smack in the middle of it.

“I’ll get changed. What time are we leaving?” I asked, trying for a change of subject.

“As soon as you’re ready,” he growled, still simmering over his sister’s choice of date.

I slipped behind the folding screen and carefully eased into the dress. Ness had left a pair of strappy silver heels behind, clearly meant for me. I stepped into them to complete the look. My stomach began to tango with nerves. Was I making the right decision? There was only one way to find out.

“I’m r—” I choked mid-sentence, nearly twisting my ankle at the sight of Rhylan propping himself in the doorway, one arm braced high against the frame. His black suit looked like a last-minute choice, but the designer cut and how it hugged his muscular frame made it work.

The wolf grinned. “Well, well, well. Had to see it with my own eyes. Ballsy move, mind reader.”

Slender fingers curled around Rhylan’s bicep, and Ness’s sultry voice purred something as she pulled him away.

And just like that, I understood Valor’s frustration. His baby sister had fallen for a forever-jock flirt with a rotating list of one-night stands. Valor didn’t want Ness to become another name on it .

I joined Valor in the front hall, where he silently extended his elbow. Without a word, he escorted me down the steps to his sleek Lambo.

Dark exhaust fumes lingered in the cool night air.

“Fucking wolf,” he muttered. “Couldn’t even offer my sister a proper ride. Shows up in that gas-guzzling truck.”

I clicked my seat belt into place. “I’m sure they’ll be fine,” I said, more to ease him than because I believed it.

Valor scoffed. “I owe you an apology for dragging you into this mess. I know Kyon’s the last person you want to see tonight. I planned on skipping the ball until I found out who her date was. Maybe I’m a little overprotective.”

“I think if I had an older brother, I’d want him to care about me as much as you do about her.”

He nodded, eyes on the road. “Sometimes she looks at me like I’m the enemy.”

“Perhaps you can ease off a little. Helicopter brothers aren’t exactly in style.”

“Wise words, mind reader,” Valor said, a smile ghosting across his profile.

I blew out a breath. “Wish I could read minds.”

“If you’re referring to your own situation, Kyon is the opposite of subtle. He doesn’t hold back.”

Yet that was exactly how I’d felt in the past few days; he’d been holding back physically and emotionally. He must have had a reason.

“I’m going to ask him tonight,” I said .

The car swerved slightly before he corrected it. He glanced at me, curiosity and awe flickering in his eyes. “I’ll support you. You’re good for each other. And if it doesn’t go as planned, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces.”

I inhaled deeply, my anxiety kicking in again. I needed to brace myself for the possibility of rejection. And so what if Kyon rejected me? I’d survived worse, hadn’t I? I’d walk out with my head held high. At least I’d try…