"Syn, you look stunning," Larissa said fanning her eyes to keep from messing her mascara up.
I smiled at her from where I still faced the mirror, I don't think I came close to matching her beauty, but I was one hundred percent woman right now. I let my eyes drop to the stunning small heels and smiled. They laced up my ankles and had tiny ruby-like jewels that matched the necklace with the twin dragon pendant on it that he'd sent to replace the Celtic one he'd given me days ago.
"Wow Malinda, you managed to make Syn speechless," said Larissa, "You're amazing, simply amazing,"
A knock sounded at the door right before Adam walked in and stopped dead in his tracks as his eyes filled with love for Larissa. "Wow, you look amazing," his eyes swung to me as I watched through the reflection of the mirror, "Holy shit bricks Syn, no way in hell are you going anywhere with Ryder looking like that."
I smiled and crinkled my nose, "It's not a date. It's simply research so I know what to expect from the Fae for the ball."
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that and eventually you might buy it. I'm a guy Syn and I'm telling you straight up we don’t take women looking like that anywhere for just research."
"Well it's not like that," I said wondering who I was trying to convince more, myself or him? My smile faltered with the reality of what I was doing and who I was going with came rushing back. I closed my eyes briefly, knowing I was making a mistake by going with him tonight.
"Adam! Get out. You always put your foot in that fat mouth of yours. She is going for research, who cares if she is the hottest damn thing in the club?"
I blinked as Larissa went off on Adam. She thumped her foot as she crossed her arms and waited for him to leave. I knew better, he wouldn’t walk out and leave her upset, he wasn’t built like that. "It's okay, really." I said when Larissa didn’t let up.
"I don’t like her going out with him, not without us as backup baby," he said messing with the suit tie he wore.
Larissa's sternness gave away to a huff of air as she rushed forward and threw her arms around Adam's neck. "I know. Me either but she won't change her mind. Looking like that she could have any guy inside the Guild and we could watch her back."
I snorted, "I'll be fine, if not I'll call you. You two enjoy tonight. We need to let loose once in a while. Just remember not to make a huge show of your newly found feelings tonight, never know who might try and use it against us. Just be safe and have fun tonight."
Adam smiled roguishly, "Right, so I shouldn’t grind my erection into her on the dance floor?"
"Ahh," I held up my hands covering my ears making a show of it, "My ears!"
We all laughed, including Malinda who had been watching us. Adam released his hold on Larissa and stepped up until I had no choice but to turn around and face him. "Be careful tonight Syn, call us if you need us. We'll come," he said before pulling me in for a hug carefully as to not wrinkle the silk dress. "You look beyond amazing tonight, just remember, one call and we're there."
I smiled, "Considering I don’t even know where there is, you're just going to have to trust that I am able to take care of myself for once."
He swallowed and nodded, "We're well aware that you can Syn that's never been in doubt. It's all this shit with Adrian coming back, it has to be driving you crazy knowing he was a few blocks from us this entire time and you're vulnerable right now."
It was my turn to swallow and nod. "You guys remember what I told you earlier about Adrian's reason? I mean it doesn’t change what he did by leaving us, but you guys should know, he's still tapped in to us, our power. I need to release him, just couldn’t do it yesterday."
"Shit, so he's been connected to us this whole time," Larissa said putting her hand over her mouth in disbelief.
"Yes, but I didn’t realize it until yesterday when I knocked him on his ass. He pulled from my power I'd tapped into. He was able to draw power from me." I exhaled a shaky breath and continued, "I'll take care of it, but I needed you guys to be aware of it as well. He's chosen a side and if he ever was against us, well, he'd know our moves before we would."
~~~~~~~~~~*
I walked out of the room with my friends by my side, we'd all be leaving close to the same time and I was as ready as I would ever be. With my heart in my throat I looked down the intricate long stairwell and found Ryder watching us.
He was decked out in a black suit. He was mind blowing in his finery. I had to remember how to breathe as I took the stairs carefully in the heels. He was devastating tonight. His short hair was loose, falling over his ears as he watched me through his perfect bedroom eyes. His hands folded in front of him as the perfect smirk covered his beautiful mouth.