Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
I feel ready for a masquerade.
A bit of excitement comes back when we first leave, but it mingles with dread. I know Killian will be there, and I know he’ll be there with her.
Aiden said there would be plenty of people, so we would be able to blend into the crowd easily, but I can’t shake thoughts of Killian spotting me.
Aiden bought the masks, and I’ve seen mine—a beautiful, intricate black lace mask to match my dress—but my mouth and jawline will still be visible, and what if that’s enough for Killian to recognize me?
Glancing over at Aiden, I say, “You brought the masks, right?”
“Of course,” he answers idly, his gaze fixed out the front windshield.
Unease ripples through me.
I swallow, touching my phone to light it up and seeing I have no service.
My stomach bottoms out, and I look over at him again.
He keeps his eyes on the road.
“Um, how much longer?” I ask, hating that my uncertainty is very much detectible.
A faint smirk tugs at his mouth and he looks over at me, his dark eyes glinting with mild enjoyment over my clear discomfort. “Not too much farther.”
I look around at my surroundings and realize I’ve been so anxious about the ball, I haven’t been watching landmarks this time. We’re nowhere near campus based on how long we’ve been in the car and the trees lining both sides of the street.
“If you kidnap or murder me, Aiden, I am going to be so pissed.”
He laughs, glancing over at me. “Noted.”
His mirth doesn’t seem overly evil, so I decide to take that as a sign not to jump out of the car, but I begin to doubt my decision when he takes a left into…
Well, into what appears to be a path in the woods.
He’s going to kill me.
He didn’t get to that night, and I guess it was still on his bucket list, so he needed to find a way to put a strike through it.
“The ball is in the woods?” I demand. “Who hosts a ball in the woods?”
“The Blue Bloods do. It’s off the beaten path on private property, probably owned by an old Blue Blood’s family. I don’t know the history of this particular location. I’m not in the club yet, and you can’t exactly google it.” Seeing I don’t believe him, he says, “It’s a secret society, Brynn. Did you think they’d host their event at a fucking Hilton?”
I guess it makes sense they wouldn’t choose a traditional venue, but I’m still not convinced.
“I’m not going to murder you.” He looks over at me, a little more forcefully this time. “Do not jump out of this car. I’m not chasing you through the woods again.”
Since I’m still at least forty percent sure he’s going to kill me, I cross my arms and don’t bother to hide my attitude. “You couldn’t catch me anyway,” I mutter.
He cocks an eyebrow at my audacity to taunt him when he has me in such a remote place, and I guess it is a little ballsy, but fuck it. If I’m getting murdered tonight, he’s getting taunted.
At least I wore a low heel, I guess. I’d rather not run in heels at all, but at least low heels give me a chance. If I’d worn Addison’s stilettos, I wouldn’t even attempt an escape. Hell, if I did, he wouldn’t have to murder me; I’d fall and kill myself.
I knew Aiden was shifty. I should have worn sneakers.
I pout, thoroughly annoyed with myself and every decision I’ve made that led me to this point, but since it’s too late to do much about it, I decide to spend a few more minutes doing what Aiden told me I’d have to do—trust him and see how it pans out.
And a couple minutes later, a building comes into sight.
I sit up a little straighter, looking at all the cars parked in the clearing around it.
Oh, thank God.
Aiden glances over at me with a raised eyebrow as if to say, “See?”
“Fine, you really brought me to the ball. But my suspicion was justified.”
He smirks and shakes his head wordlessly, then he finds us a parking spot in the grassy clearing with all the rest of them.
It seems a little like we’re the last to arrive. There are a lot of cars parked on this side of the building, and I don’t see anyone else going in.
I didn’t bring a coat because I wasn’t sure there would be anywhere to store it and I figured we wouldn’t be outside for long, so I’m instantly cold when I step outside.
Aiden waits behind the car, then walks with me toward the entrance. He has our masks in one hand and the invitation in the other.
“Can I have my mask, please?”
He passes it to me. “Since you said please.”