Page 131 of House of Marionne

He went cold all over. Mother’s people. Their House. The unspoken rule: House first.

“I should go,” Yagrin said, brushing past Charlie.

“Where you off to tonight?” Charlie asked at his back.

He ignored him. When the door closed, he took off in a full sprint toward the elevator. Back on the ballroom floor, Yagrin sifted through the thinned crowd for sight of Red. They needed to get out of there. He was naive to think tonight could work. He spotted her tittering behind her gloved hand with a sinewy blonde in a teal flowered dress. His throat thickened.

“Excuse me, sorry to interrupt.” He tugged her along.

“Slow down.” She had to walk-run to keep up with him.

“I told you, talk to no one.”

“You left me up here for forever. I almost went home.”

He rubbed his temples. “Look, I’m sorry. Let’s just get out of here.” He turned and bumped into one of his Housemates from downstairs.

“Sorry to interrupt, Yagrin,” his blond-haired brother said. “And you are?”

Red gaped at the Dragun’s outstretched hand. She looked at Yagrin.

“You didn’t tell your own brothers that you had a friend, Yags?” Blondie said. “We’re supposed to be family.” He jostled Yagrin’s shoulders.

“We just met,” Red said.

“I have it on good authority you’ve known each other for some time.” He glanced over his shoulder at the girl in the teal dress Red had been talking to.

Red’s eyes darted.

“Yags, Mother called. Something urgent popped up. She needs to see you.”

“I’ll go to her as soon as I get Red home.”

“We’ll see her home.” Blondie stepped forward. Charlie and the others were suddenly at his back. “You should get to Mother. There’s a chopper on the roof, waiting.” Charlie tried to pull him along but Yagrin shoved off their hands. People started to watch.

“Don’t make a scene,” Charlie warned.

Yagrin huffed. He shouldn’t overreact or they’d know there was more to him and Red.

Red wore a smile. But Yagrin could only see worry in her brown eyes.

“It’s fine, I can get home on my own. I hope your mother’s okay.” Red started toward the door, but Blondie stepped in her path.

“I’ll escort you out,” he said, offering his arm. She swallowed before looping hers around his.

“Let me know when you make it home.” Yagrin hugged her goodbye. “Get away from them as soon as you can,” he whispered in her ear. She broke the hug and smiled tightly before they were off. Yagrin resituated his coat around himself as he, too, was ushered out the door.

THIRTY-NINE

Heads turn at commotion near the ballroom doors, but the crowd is so thick, and the entrance is so far across the room, I can’t make out what the trouble is about.

“Stay here,” Jordan says, eyeing the crowd in that direction.

“No.” I lasso his wrist, scanning, fearing the worst.

“If there is a raid happening, these things can get ugly.”

I tug at him, then halt when I spot a familiar head of brown hair on a set of broad shoulders. His deep-set brow is unmistakable.