Heart of Stone (Rock Star Fairy Tales #1)

Chapter 56

C h apte r 56

To Family

Late Afternoon, Sunday, M arch 15 th at The Aerie in Ta flah, Genc

W hen Margot stepped off her bus in the dark blue dress, she wished Tobin was by her side. He had left earlier, heading out to take care of fae business before the party, and she missed him. She knew she would see him again soon—though not as the Tobin she knew. Margot took a deep breath, straightening her back, and headed to where the guys were getting ready on the P arty Bus.

She opened the door without knocking, hearing them inside, and entered the bus to catcalls from Nik. “Baby Go!” her cousin exclaimed, noddin g. “Damn!”

“I guess that’s a compliment?” she snarked, lifting her dress to step up into the living room. She felt a bit like a princess with the flowy layer of tulle around her legs, though the plunging neckline and off the shoulder top definitely belonged on a woman. She had braided the front of her hair to keep it out of her face, but left the rest down, a nod to the braided style she had seen on Lady Drina, but also a reminder of her mother’s always wild hair.

“You look lovely, Margot,” Timothy said, striding into view and fixing his bowtie. He grabbed his jacket from the edge of the couch, shrugging it on and smoothing the front. Timothy cleaned up well, the black tuxedo accentuating the lines of his shoulders and arms toned by years of drumming.

“And you,” she said, meaning it. Turning to Nik, she crooked her finger. “Get over here,” she told him, grabbing the dangling ends of his bowtie as he obeyed. “You look great,” she told him, fixing the bowtie in place and running a hand down his shirt sleeves to smooth them. “Cayla will approve.”

“Ash will approve of that dress,” Nik whispered, winking at her, and headed to the back room to get his jacket. He passed Ash in the small hallway, the lead singer still buttoning up his white shirt. Margot caught sight of the lines across his chest and arms, heat rising up her cheeks as she recalled running her fingers across the b are skin.

Get a grip, she reminded herself. Keep it together.

Ash finished the top few buttons, and Margot thought he took his time with it, letting her gaze linger on his bare skin. He lifted his hand, the limp length of the bowtie held out to her. “Margot,” he said, “will you tie mine?”

Margot sniffed, trying to regain her composure, and took the fabric from him. “Sure,” she said, gesturing him closer. He stood before her, watching her as she first wrapped it around his neck, then began twisting it into shape. She was aware of her fingers grazing the skin of his neck as she folded the collar down. She rested her palms flat on his chest for a second, to check the balance, she told herself, trying not to let her hands linger. Pulling her hands back, she gave him a weak thumbs up. “You’re good,” she said, turning around to check the rest of the boys.

“You look lovely, Margot,” Ash said to her back, and she felt her cheeks heat, the compliment runn ing deep.

Stop it! she told herself. You’re being ridiculous! But she knew it was useless. If she could have made herself stop loving Ash, she would have done it years ago. Even now, knowing they had no future, that she was with Tobin, that his words didn’t matter, she couldn’t help the fierce joy his approval raise d in her.

“Thank you,” she managed, not turning around, and stood by the door. The guys finished putting on their jackets and grabbing their things. Margot’s phone pinged, and she glanced at it, glad her dress had hidden pockets. “The limo is here,” she told them. They filed off the bus, and Ash glanced around, walking next to her as they headed to the stretch limo parked by the gate.

“No Tobin?” he a sked her.

Margot shook her head, glad she wore sensible strappy sandals as they crossed the wide lot. Her dress was long enough, she had decided. No one would be looking at her shoes—and if they did, fuck them. “He’s … busy,” she said vaguely, not wanting to lie to Ash. She thought he may be able to tell.

“Right,” Ash agreed in the same tone and gave her a searching look. “That’s all you’re goin g to say?”

“What do you want me to say?” Margot asked, watching Nik and Timothy’s backs as they walked ahead of them.

“I want you to explain why my brother, who hasn’t let you out of his sight for three weeks and five days, has decided not to accompany you to a gala that will likely include all the members of fae society.”

Margot nearly stumbled but kept walking when Ash grabbed her elbow. “How do you know ab out that?”

“I’m in hiding, Margot,” Ash reminded her. “I’m not a fool. My father will be there. No doubt the other Lords will also be there, hobnobbing with the human elites.” He paused, then added, “Lord Rebinus will be there.”

Margot nodded, biting her lip. She wanted to reassure Ash, to tell him that she was in no danger from Lord Rebinus, though she still didn’t quite understand why Tobin wouldn’t just Claim her and end the game. There was something else she didn’t know. She hoped tonight would reveal more of h is plans.

“Go,” Ash said, hand warm on her arm, “where is my brother?”

“He’s busy,” Margot said, reaching out to remove his hand, but he only held her in place with his other, escorting her the few final feet to the waiting vehicle. “I promise you, Ash. I’m not in an y danger.”

“You aren’t,” he said, releasing her arm and putting a hand on her lower back, “because now I can protect you.” He pushed her gently inside after Nik and Timothy, and Margot didn’t get to ask him what he meant with the sudden change in m otivation.

The drive to the Aerie passed with Nik messing around with every possible button inside the limo and shoving his hands through the open sunroof.

“Why don’t you just howl while you’re at it?” Timothy griped, and Nik replied by lowering the barricade between them and the driver y et again.

“You don’t know how to have a good time,” Nik complained, reaching out to study the contents of the small built-in cooler. Finding bottles of Gencian beer, Nik grabbed four and handed them to everyone. “A toast!” he insisted, popping the cap on his and Margot’s beer and wiping the foam with his hand so none got on Margot’s dress. When everyone had an open drink, he raised the bottle. “To old friends,” he began. “To music and to the ties that bind us together. You are my favorite people, my family, and I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else.” Ash and Timothy nodded, Margot smiling at her cousin. “To family!” he shouted.

They all raised their glasses to the center of the limo, clinking them together.

Margot drank, feeling more a part of Stone Dragons than she had in weeks. She remembered this feeling, the connection between her and the guys, the bond forged on the road, the muscle memory of years spent together. Tobin’s arrival may have sent her life on a different path, but she would also have this: the guys—even Ash—would always be part of her life.