I sighed. It was exactly the type of thing Gareth would insist on. I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen. Still no calls or messages. Where are you, Gareth?
“You’re right,” I said, ignoring the voice inside my head that was screaming how absurd the whole thing was. “Finding the Hetaeria is our best chance of getting out alive. So now we just need a plan. We’ll have to sneak into the Gathering and figure out some why to buy us time in case the Scavenger is hanging around. Any ideas?”
Silence fell over the room. It was almost comical how quiet the room became—I could practically hear crickets chirping.
I was trying to decide whether to laugh or burst into hysterics when Maggie stood up suddenly, a wide grin on her face.
“I’ve got it!” She laughed and did a little dance. “Mystique!” She held out her arms and waited as if she had just told us some gigantic secret of the universe.
When we all stared at her blankly, she rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips.
“Seriously? You guys have got to read more comic books.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
My hands were shaking. I swore under my breath and considered throwing the necklace—and its pesky clasp—against the wall.
“Here, let me.” Serena came up behind me and nimbly fastened the necklace around my neck. The jeweled pendant came to rest at the base of my throat, right above the sweetheart neckline, and helped hide the ugly, yellow-purple bruises coloring my skin—my parting gift from the Scavenger.
She smiled at me, an approving glint in her eye. “You look lovely. Gareth . . .” Her voice wavered. “Gareth would be so proud.” She smiled again, but I could see the worry she was trying to hide.
“Hey,” I said, squeezing her hand, “I’m sure he’s fine. He’s probably just not somewhere he can call.” It was the same thing I’d been telling myself for days. I hoped it sounded more reassuring to Serena than it did to me.
“I know.” Serena sniffled. “I just wish I could See him.” She was quiet for a moment, her forehead scrunched. “It never occurred to me to be annoyed with my Sight until now—how little control I have.” She huffed, her fists clenching. “Just one glimpse, that’s all I want.”
“I know, but we have to stay focused.” I gave her what I hoped was a calm, reassuring smile. “After this is all over, we’ll find him, okay?” I had no idea where my motivation was coming from, but I wasn’t going to question it. I had a feeling I’d need it. An undercurrent of nerves vibrated beneath my skin, but I forced the feeling away.
Serena sighed then, but offered me a small smile. “Right.” She waved her hand. “Well, you do look lovely, you know.”
I understood her need to change the subject, so I didn’t press the issue. “Thank you,” I said, tugging at the neckline of the dress, “but I’d feel a whole lot more comfortable in jeans.”
The dress itself was stunning: the deep emerald color of the gown brought out the hue in my eyes, and the beaded waistline that sat below the fitted lace bodice gave me more of a shape than my usual t-shirts and hoodies. The full skirt, layered with tulle, swished around my ankles. It was the most beautiful garment I’d ever put on, but I was showing way more skin that I was used to, and it made me feel too exposed, too vulnerable.
“That makes two of us,” Serena said, looking ill at ease in her elegant white gown compared with the eccentric patterned skirts she usually wore. She clutched absently at her chest, her fingers searching for the blue lace agate medallion that usually hung from her throat.
“How’d we let her talk us into those again,” I grumbled, pointing to the heels Maggie had insisted complemented our dresses, though I thought they looked more like strappy torture devices.
Serena eyed the shoes and grimaced. “It’s Maggie. We didn’t really have a choice in the matter.”
“Right,” I said with a laugh. “What was I thinking?”
We smiled at each other, and for a moment it felt good, normal even to be joking around with Serena. It was almost too easy to pretend that we weren’t standing on a precipice—hell, hanging off it, really—with more than just one life at stake. My smile faded.
We’d arrived in Savannah that morning. The fact that the Gathering was taking place only a few hours from home wasn’t lost on me—the Scavenger had no doubt reported my power to the Master.
I’d always imagined myself leaving Lothbrook and moving somewhere where adventures would find me. Savannah, with its beautiful architecture, tall, billowing live oaks, and rich history, was exactly the type of place I could see myself. With the Gathering only an hour away, however, all I could think about was how much I wished we were all safe and heading back home to simple little Lothbrook, where nothing ever happens.
I sighed. Things are never going to be the same again.
I looked at Serena, who was adjusting her hair in the mirror. “So, tell me about the Gatherings.” I’d already grilled her multiple times over that very topic, but I needed to distract myself. “Why so formal? Are they always like this?”
“Usually. The Master likes luxury, and he chooses to lavishly reward those who have remained loyal to him.”
“But not every guest is loyal. The majority of the guests are forced to attend, right?”
“Yes. It’s a show of power,” Serena said. “I guess you could say the Master has a flair for the dramatic. If you’re going to terrorize people, you might as well do it in top hat and tails, or in our case, at a masquerade ball.”
The whole thing sounded grotesque and utterly terrifying. I thought of our plan, and my nerves responded by clenching into a ball that sank like a rock in the pit of my stomach. I shivered, her words like ice down my back.
“It’s okay to be afraid, you know,” she said, reading the expression on my face. “I’d be worried if you weren’t.”
I sighed. “I know, but . . . if we fail . . . if something happens to you or Maggie or—”
“We’ve gone into this of our own volition, Lainey. You can’t shoulder the responsibility if something goes wrong.”
“How could I not? We’re in this mess because of me.”
Serena gave me a hug, squeezing me tightly. “You’re so much like your mother. She was always worried about everyone but herself.” She gave me a warm smile. “You have her spirit.”
I swallowed, the lump in my throat growing bigger. I couldn’t think about my mother right now; I had to focus. I cleared my throat and gently pulled away from Serena. “Let’s just hope I don’t get anyone killed tonight.”
“Lainey—”
“You ready?” I plastered a smile on my face and checked my hair one last time. “I think it’s time.”
Serena’s expression was guarded. I could tell there was more that she wanted to say, but she nodded, linking her arm through mine. Arm in arm, we walked into the adjoining room.
Ty was standing next to the window in a black suit, but instead of a white shirt, he had opted for a black one, with a black silk tie to match. There was the tiniest bit of gel taming his hair, and he was smiling at me.