Page 64 of Destined Dawn

How? Is it because we’re bonded now? Is it the way she’s done her hair tonight, the seductive cut of the gown, the dark makeup highlighting her honey eyes?

Or is it because I’ve fallen that little bit more in love with her?

Heck, a lot more in love with her.

I open my mouth to tell her just how amazing she looks, and goddamn Stone beats me to it.

“You look incredible, sweetheart,” he says.

She blushes and I remember this girl never can take a compliment.

“It looks okay?” she asks, smoothing her hands down the scarlet silk that clings to her body like water. “Not too … you know …”

“Looks the exact right amount of ‘you know’ to me,” Spencer says with a growl.

“But my …” she swallows, “dad’s going to be there and I want to look right.”

A chill seems to pass over my skin, an unease that I haven’t been able to shift since we climbed aboard those dragons.

I’m not convinced we made the right decision coming here. I’m not sure I trust her dad. The Black Prince for fuck’s sake. How is he even alive? And how … how is this the West? The piece-of-crap land they always said was some barren country where the people were starving.

“You look perfect,” Azlan says, sliding an arm around her waist, but his gaze dashes to mine and I read that same unease in him too. In fact, I’d say the only one who seems at ease in this situation is Barone and frankly, that does fuck all to alleviate my reservations. As if reading my thoughts,Azlan adds, “Let’s be careful tonight. Keep our eyes and ears open. We don’t know if we can trust these people.”

“They saved us from Christopher Kennedy,” Rhi points out. “And he’s my dad.”

“The same dad your aunt was keeping you hidden from,” I say, regretting it immediately as the excitement sparking in her eyes only moments ago, extinguishes.

“I know what you’re saying,” she says. “And I know we should be careful. I have a lot of questions too.”

“Then hopefully you’ll get a chance to ask them tonight,” Stone says.

I turn to look at the professor. He has one power that could prove pretty useful in this situation.

“Have you been able to garner anything from their thoughts?”

He shakes his head. “Everyone we’ve met so far has been well trained at guarding their thoughts.”

“Keep trying,” I tell him and he glares at me. He’s never liked me.

“Let’s all agree to keep a watch out – especially on Rhianna,” Azlan says, and we all nod in agreement, even the assassin.

“You know I can look after myself,” Rhi protests as Azlan guides her to the door.

“Yeah, yeah, sure we do, sweetheart,” Stone says.

“That does not sound convincing,” she protests.

He winks at her and then we’re all pacing towards the door, everyone, including the pig.

Azlan pauses, hand on the doorknob.

“Is the pig coming with us?” he says, glancing down at Rhi’s pet.

“Oh,” Rhi says, crouching down in her heels. “Pip, I think it’s best you stay here.” The pig grunts like it disagrees. “I have a feeling feasts are like balls – crowded. I don’t want you to get trampled.”

“Or mistaken for the main meal,” Stone says, winking at the pig. The pig grunts again, this time directing its displeasure at the professor, and then we’re all squeezing through the gap in the doorway, attempting to stop the pig from following us as he tries to scuttle between our legs.

Once we’re all through, the man who’s come to collect us stares at us like we’re all nut-jobs.