Scowling, I exhaled before admitting defeat. “Of course I didn’t forget. I even have a date,” I stated, smiling awkwardly before sliding my stare toward the shadows. Slowly bringing my gaze back, I found my team frowning at me with surprised gazes. As if they didn’t think I could manage to attend a stupid get together for the elite pricks of this town.
Kieran: I’m glad you respectfully changed your mind and saved the lives of your friends tonight. I will have a dress delivered tomorrow morning. I look forward to our date.
Me: It isn’t a date, and I don’t have any plans of doing anything with you, psychopath.
Kieran: It is a date. I already have someone picking out what I want you to wear.
Me: I hate you.
Kieran: It’s probably best that you do. It makes the sex angrier when it happens. I enjoy hate fucking immensely. You should plan on us doing so often.
Me: That’s not happening. What is wrong with you?
Kieran: Not yet. Goodnight, beautiful. I’ll see you tomorrow evening.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The evening gown arrived before I’d even woken. Instead of opening the box or spending the day dreading wearing the damn thing, I went hunting. I spent hours tracking down a demon that openly fed on a woman who was clinging to life by the time she’d been discovered and taken to the hospital.
Entering the compound, I moved into the control room, watching Noah command the guild with ease. It really pissed me off how effortlessly he’d assumed and performed my duties. He didn’t need assistance, and everyone seemed fine with him being in charge.
Exhaling, I left the main area and headed to the girls that were waiting for me. I’d ask Onyx and Kaderyn to help me tonight, realizing that I wasn’t up to the task of preparing for the gala on my own. My father always had people to assist him, and I’d given him shit over it while secretly wishing he’d taken me with him.
The nervous energy of knowing I was going out with Kieran gnawed at my insides, leaving me mentally frazzled. When I entered my room, the girls turned, staring at me with mouths opened in shock.
“What?” I strolled deeper into the apartment to remove the bloodied jacket I’d been wearing.
“Shower and use a lot of soap. You have guts in your hair,” Onyx frowned. “I placed the box that arrived for you in your bedroom. Don’t change into the dress until we have your face and hair done.”
Rolling my eyes, I fought past the nervousness that made everything seem more stressful than it should. This wasn’t a date, or at least not one I’d willingly agreed to entertain. Instead of going straight into the bathroom, though, I went to the cupboard, grabbing the expensive whiskey to battle the nerves.
“We don’t have time for you to drink, woman,” Kaderyn said, plugging in curling irons.
Ignoring her look of disproval, I dispensed two fingers into a glass for her, and took the bottle with me into the bedroom. Setting the bottle down, I gazed toward the bathroom before sliding my attention to the fancy box with a red bow on it. Grabbing the whiskey from where I’d put it, I chugged, snorting loudly before going to the bathroom.
I took my time shaving every hair off my body, minus my head. I’d been to the salon not too long ago for a Brazilian wax, and it would have to do for tonight. Not that it mattered, since I had no intention of letting him touch me there, ever again. Stepping from the shower, I slipped into a robe and exited the room to find the girls smiling.
“You assholes are enjoying this, aren’t you?” I complained, slowly going to the chair they patted, wanting me to sit.
“This is the first time you’ve dressed up,” Kaderyn stated offhandedly. “You never even tried on your wedding dress. Everyone was excited to see you in it, all fancied up.”
My shoulders slumped, and I pursed my lips as Onyx glared over my shoulder at where Kaderyn sat.
“She’s got diarrhea of the mouth tonight.” Onyx lifted a hand with primer on her middle finger. “Kaderyn just meant that you ought to dress up more often. You deserve a life away from the hunter guild, Xar. You spend all your extra time hunting, and the only thing you ever adorn yourself in is guts, entrails, and bruises.”
“You think I should date?” I asked, slowly shifting my stare to Kaderyn, who shrugged. “I don’t have the time to go out. What would you like me to do? Get on Tinder and see who wants to bump pelvises? And what? Am I supposed to cancel dates by saying, ‘Sorry can’t come out tonight. A demon ate a girl’s face, so sorta busy?’ I doubt that would go over well.”
“You are being stubborn,” Onyx argued, spraying a mist on my face and then blowing on it to help it dry.
“What are you doing?” I frowned at how she fanned me with her hand.
“It’s a priming spray to make the concealer set easier and not goop your pores,” she explained, rolling her eyes before I could do so. “Hold still.”
My hair was yanked every which way, but the right way, before Kaderyn clapped, announcing she was finished with the updo style she’d created. It felt like my face was being held back by my hair. Not to mention, Onyx was a master torturer with the makeup brushes and utensils she’d used to make me presentable.
Her gaze slid over her work, and then she smiled, saying she was done as well. “Go get dressed. You have fifteen minutes before Kieran gets here to take you to dinner.”
“Is no one going to say what a horrible idea tonight is?” I snapped, turning to look at them. “This asshole wants to own me. As in putting a leash on me and walking me around like a poodle.”
“You’re Xariana Anderson. Are we worried that you’re leaving here with Kieran? No. If he gets out of line, you’ll eat his dick while you make him watch. You’re one of the most efficient killers this place has raised, girl. We should be more concerned for him than you.” Kaderyn placed her hands on her hips while she shook her tawny head. “Go open that box and put on that dress. We have been waiting all day to find out what he bought you.”
Groaning, I went to my room and demolished the packaging that concealed my eveningwear. Opening the tissue paper and lifting the garment, I swallowed a gasp that tightened my throat. The gown was a soft, light brown color that shimmered in the light. It had spaghetti straps and was form-fitting, with a high slit that started at the waist, exposing the curve of my thigh. The bodice had a thin layer of jewels that spanned the top, dipping into a plunging V that dropped to my belly button. The entire back was open, stopping just above the low waistline.
Kieran had also sent matching heels that wrapped around the calf and tied into a bow. Making sure he’d thought of every detail, two silver armbands with dangling diamonds were delicately placed in a black velvet pouch on top of a note. I grabbed the piece of velum from the bottom of the box, reading the message he’d left within it.
Wear no panties tonight. I can’t wait to see you in this dress. ~K
Twisting my lips to the side, I sat down to put the heels on first, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to get them on easily once I was dressed. Next, I slipped on the evening gown and went into the bathroom to stare at the stranger in the full-length mirror. Holy shit. Onyx and Kaderyn had done the impossible tonight. I looked like someone else entirely.