Please let me survive tonight.
Gabriella sits alone in an armchair, the high wooden back resembling a throne. Her long black hair shines and her red dress sweeps the floor as she stands, a model of poise and elegance. She lifts the glass in her hand, her smile serene and as if to a royal subject. Is this how others see Gabriella?
"Maeve!" I tense at her enthusiasm and her voice causes a painful twinge in the side of my head.
Relieved she doesn't approach, I take in the rest of the guests, praying that one man in particular is here. Hemia vampires mingle with witches; isn't there a risk one of them will attack a witch? Anastasia and Nikolai hold court with a gathered group of vampires, others mill around as if they're at a dinner party, chatting and laughing politely at each other's jokes. Nikolai's steady gaze shifts from my face along the length of me, lingering on my breasts. Repulsed, I look away, continuing to search for Tobias.
I don’t see him until Anastasia steps to one side. He's dressed in a dinner suit and blends in well with the other guests, the way he blends in with professors in his suit when he teaches. Recently, I'm used to him wearing casual clothes as if one of us.
Now, Tobias looks like one of them.
His confession about the curse and what this means between us spins around in my head with the memories of the kiss I’ve dreamed about. The one that confirmed his nightmare as we finally stepped over the hard line he drew and pulled him into the future he denied. Was that our first and last kiss?
I've triggered murmuring in the room, and I swallow hard. If the door hadn't closed behind me, I would run—never mind the consequences. I pull myself straight and return the curious looks with a stony gaze. "Yes, I'm Maeve. Stop staring."
Anastasia's laugh breaks the silence and she sweeps towards me in a dress similar to mine, in emerald green, before taking my hand between hers. "Isn't she cute?"
Cute? I'm not a puppy or a child. I pull my hand away and fold my arms.
"Such a pretty little thing," says Nikolai quietly. "I do hope you spend some time with me tonight."
His words don't help my heating cheeks and I curse that he'll think this is due to him. Tobias, at Anastasia's shoulder, hears, and I'm hit with a flash of his anger.
"Are you feeling better now, Maeve?" asks Anastasia in a voice filled with mock concern.
"When can I leave?" I reply.
She blinks in surprise and lets out another false laugh. "Oh, sweetie, why not enjoy the night?"
"Enjoy?" I splutter. “That won’t happen.”
Her expression darkens. "If I were you, I would watch your mouth and behaviour, Maeve."
"Quite," adds Nikolai.
"Be on alert too." Anastasia's smile returns. "You never know what might happen."
I moisten my dry lips. Are they testing my magic again?
She sips the sparkling wine from her glass and peers over my shoulder. "Gabriella! Do talk to us."
Heavy perfume reaches me before Gabriella stands by my side, too close for comfort. "Don't worry, Maeve. I won't hurt you. I have the information I need."
Gabriella's eyes meet mine, and again it's as if I'm looking into Andrei's. I don't want that reminder, and switch my gaze to a spot the wall behind her.
"I appreciate the Blackwood hospitality, Anastasia." She taps her red painted fingernails on the glass and my stomach churns as she drinks. The liquid is too thick to be wine. Acid fills my mouth. A hemia vampire. I don't need to join the dots. "We have much to discuss tonight."
"We do, but a little mingling never hurt anybody. There are members of my family you haven't yet met who are committed to the cause." She gestures at an older man standing with her father. "I understand there's bad blood between vampires and some of the Blackwoods, but we believe unity is needed."
I bite back a smile at her turn of phrase.
Gabriella's lips purse. "Perhaps we should not drag up old grudges. The child is no longer a concern."
Anastasia side glances me. "And you think the place can contain him?"
"For their sake, I hope so." Gabriella drains her glass and hands it to one of the maids hanging around the edges of the guests. "Could I try a younger vintage this time?"
The girl blanches and nods, her hand shaking as she takes the glass. I try hard not to imagine what she means by 'younger vintage', or where the maid will source this from.
"Would you like a glass of wine, Maeve?" asks Nikolai.
His smooth tones do nothing but scare me. "No, thank you. I don't drink."
He pouts. "I'm not trying to poison you."
"I don't drink," I repeat.
I've avoided looking at Tobias as much as I can but the greater his displeasure at the situation grows, the harder it is for me to avoid him. Can Nikolai and others sense this too?
Nikolai catches me glance at Tobias and angles his body towards him. "Tell me, Tobias, how was your time at the academy? Anastasia told me you wanted to help Maeve and that's why you came back to the fold. I knew you'd see sense."
I tighten my jaw and look to Gabriella, who's now in quiet conversation with Anastasia, the pair far enough away to keep their conversation private. She didn't tell the Blackwoods about the kiss.
"Indeed," says Tobias, and I half-smile at the familiar response.
"Is she your temptation?" he asks and sips his wine with an innocent expression. "So unfair of the Confederacy placing you in an academy with witches. Almost as if they wanted you to fail."
"Mmm." He sips from a glass of white wine.
Nikolai's face sours as Tobias refuses to engage. "Did you know about Tobias's curse, Maeve?"
"Yes."
Silence drops between us and my pulse continues to race at my situation. I startle as Nikolai rests a warm hand on my shoulder and whispers, "Your power is alluring, Maeve. I can almost taste you."
Disgust ripples through my body from head to toes. With that touch I sense exactly what he means by alluring. Nikolai sees me as something to be moulded by the Blackwoods and by his hands. I only hope my mental barrier and abilities are enough to fight back against his plans.
I swallow. Is this one of their tests?
Tobias clears his throat. What is he saying to you?
He's a creep.
Tobias's brow furrows and he looks away, taking a drink. I'm relieved his drink isn't blood red too. I wince as something pokes behind my eyes. An angry hurt. Don't doubt me, Maeve.
Sorry.
Nikolai tips his head. "The energy between you is curious. Are you sure this one isn't the witch who will kill you, Tobias?"
Tobias shoves his glass at the nearest staff member. "Excuse me," he says and walks away.
My heart leaps in my chest as I watch him go. How can he leave me?
Chapter Eighteen
MAEVE
”Ooh. Somebody's touchy." Nikolai chuckles. "I remember when he was a real party boy. Such a serious guy nowadays."
"I imagine a curse would change anybody."
Nikolai shakes his head. "If I were cursed, I'd live my life taking everything I could. Enjoying all life's pleasures."