Page 13 of Trick Me (Immortal Vices and Virtues: All Hallows’ Eve)

Ash doesn’t let go of my hand as we move through the side garden, taking us on a path to the front of the mansion.

Leaves crunch under our feet. The pulse of the party vibrates through the ground, the thrum of music, laughter, distant howls of wolves.

I glance down at myself and wince. The jacket I’m wearing falls just below mid-thigh and hangs loose on my frame, gaping enough to flash cleavage.

But Ash walks like he owns the damn place.

He’s on a mission, as am I, to find a way to switch our powers back.

We enter the mansion through a side door, and I’m immediately reminded of how opulent this place is.

A few people stare at us… me in nothing but a man’s jacket and heels, him in a shirt that is scratched and streaked in blood.

Yet, he holds his head high, hand firmly holding mine, absolutely zero fucks given about our appearance.

A true Alpha, even without his wolf.

“Erynn! Oh my gods!” Sera’s voice cuts through the ballroom’s noise like a siren, and suddenly she’s in front of us, eyes bulging as she takes in our appearance. Her dress is slightly askew, her elaborate hairdo has fallen to one side, and there’s a hickey on her neck.

“Walk of shame, party edition,” she states, her gaze sweeping over us.

She’s practically vibrating with excitement, bouncing on her toes.

“Like, where is your dress? That beautiful blue number I spent an hour helping you into? Or did he go all animalistic on you? Did he rip it off? Because that’s fucking hot. Girl, he is HOT.”

“Sera, breathe,” I manage, face burning hotter than Phoenix Fire.

“Hello,” Ash says with amusement in his tone. “And everything here is for Erynn only.”

“Possessive already? I love it.” Sera claps her hands. “Rich! Rich, come see! Erynn got laid! ”

My face might be bright red. “Please stop talking,” I beg.

Rich appears beside her like smoke, taking us in. He’s got a new bruise on his jaw that wasn’t there earlier, and his knuckles are split. We aren’t the only ones who got into a fight.

“Rich,” Sera declares, wrapping herself around him like a vine. “This is Erynn’s… friend.”

“Ash,” Ash supplies, offering his hand. The men shake, and I watch them do that thing where they try to establish dominance through grip strength.

“You look like you’ve had an interesting evening,” Rich observes, taking in our disheveled state with barely concealed amusement.

“Halloween brings out the interesting in people,” Ash replies smoothly, pulling me closer to his side. I love how he does that, casual but deliberate, like he needs me within arm’s reach at all times.

“Let me get us all drinks,” Rich offers, pressing a kiss to Sera’s temple that’s surprisingly tender. “You two look like you could use something strong.”

“Give us a moment,” I say quickly. “We need to find someone first, then we’ll come back for that drink.”

Sera blinks at me. “You’re voluntarily leaving a social situation with me… to go find someone? Th at’s new.”

“The night’s been… educational,” I say, which is the understatement of the century.

“I’ll bet,” she smirks. “That’s a lot of education written all over your neck.”

I touch my throat automatically, feeling the tender spots where Ash was particularly enthusiastic earlier.

“We should go,” Ash states, his hand warm on my lower back. “Before we miss her.”

“Her?” Sera’s eyebrows rise. “Is this a threesome situation? Because I need details. All the details. Preferably with diagrams.”

“It’s not—no,” I stammer. “Definitely not that.”

“Pity,” Rich says with a perfectly straight face. “Threesomes can be very educational.”

Sera smacks his arm. “When have you ever had a threesome?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I would, actually. When? With who? Why wasn’t I invited?”

As they bicker, Ash leans down to my ear. “Spotted her. Far wall, near the windows. Let’s go see the witch.”

I follow his gaze across the ballroom to where a small crowd has gathered near the tall windows that overlook the gardens. She’s there, mostly keeping to herself. She seems to glow slightly, or maybe it’s just the way the light hits her silver hair .

“Rain check on those drinks,” Ash tells Rich, already guiding me away.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Sera calls after us.

“That’s not very limiting,” I call back.

“Exactly why it’s perfect advice!”

Ash keeps his hand on my back as we navigate through the crowd. People are definitely staring at us now. I try to channel some of that confidence, keeping my head high even though I’m very aware that this jacket barely covers everything it needs to.

“You good?” Ash asks quietly.

“Yep. Ready to do this,” I say, only half sarcastic. But my pulse skips anyway.

Because this is it. The whole reason we came back.

I want to believe this is just a conversation. That she’ll nod and agree and wave her hand and unravel the curse like it’s nothing. But deep down, I know that’s not how these things work.

She is sitting on a chair, legs crossed, a sleek black cocktail glass dangling from her fingers as she watches the crowd like she’s selecting her next meal.

My skin prickles. Every fine hair on my arms lifts like static has rolled through me. My wolf goes still. Not in fear. In warning.

Ash doesn’t react. Of course he doesn’t. He can’t feel it. Not anymore.

But I can .

I do.

That heavy, low thrum in the air. Like gravity is bending just slightly wrong.

Not party tricks. Not sleight of hand.

This is power that presses behind your eyes and whispers to your blood.

The witch looks up before we even reach her.

Her gaze snaps to mine, violet and gleaming with interest. Her lips curve slowly, like she’s been waiting for something and we’re finally it.

“Well,” she says, voice smooth and amused. “You certainly took your time.”

Ash steps forward. “We need to talk to you.”

She grins. “I imagine you do.”