In the Wake of the Wicked (Veridian Empire #1)

59. Rose

59

Rose

“ D o I have to go to the ball?” my cousin whined from his slumped position in the chair by my bed. His floppy brown hair swayed to the side as he looked behind me at Morgana.

A swift tug at my head had me rearing backward. With my hair still in my aunt’s hands, she twisted to face her son. “For the fifth time, yes . Now stop complaining and let me finish Rose’s hair.”

She caught my eyes in the large mirror before us and smiled sheepishly at the wince on my face. “Sorry, Rosie,” she said, loosening her grip. “What do you think, up or down?”

If it were up to me, I would’ve gone to this ball with my hair still wet from my bath, but Morgana had glowed at the chance to help me get ready. As little as I cared about this ridiculous masquerade in the midst of everything else, seeing her so excited after these weeks of torment by Ragnar’s side was something I couldn’t take away from her.

My features softened when I smiled at her in the mirror. “Whatever you think would look best.”

Beaming, she turned to rummage through her bag, pulling out a comb and several pins. As she worked, and as she and Beau talked about palace life and shops in the village and all the new people they’d met, I felt my anxiety and looming sense of dread fade away. These moments of peace and normalcy with my family were so rare, I didn’t want to forget a moment of it. No matter how fleeting it was.

“Once I’m done with Rose, it’ll be your turn,” Aunt Morgana said, pointing her comb at Beau.

He gaped at her. “What for?”

“I’m going to finally cut that mop of yours.” She waved her hand in the air. “I’ve let it go on far too long—no, no arguing, it’s got to go! Rose, don’t you think his hair needs a good trim?”

They both stared at me expectantly. “Oh, I’m not getting in the middle of this,” I said with a laugh. “But—you do kind of look like a mangy dog, Beau Beau.”

Aunt Morgana cackled while Beau threw his hands up. “Women,” he huffed, which made me break out into another fit of laughter. He crossed his arms and looked out the window. “Pa would be on my side.”

The moment he said it, the air in the room seemed to still, and his eyes widened. “Sorry, I?—”

“Your father would certainly want you looking sharp,” Morgana interrupted, turning her attention back to my hair as she twisted the ends into an elegant knot. “Especially if he knew you’d been eyeing that girl from the palace for weeks.” When she gave Beau a smile, the tension lifted.

“What’s this about a girl ?” I sang, winking at my cousin.

His cheeks reddened. “Aww, Ma, come on…” he grumbled, but the hint of a smile formed.

Mumbling around a pin in her mouth, Aunt Morgana plucked at my hair and said, “The daughter of one of the lords, I think. We’ve seen her walking in the gardens with her little dog, and Beau can never take his eyes off her.”

“It’s true love ,” I said dramatically, bringing my hands to my heart. “Does this girl have a name?”

My aunt shook her head. “I don’t know?— ”

“Eliza,” Beau muttered, embarrassed. “I heard her father calling for her the other day.”

Morgana and I exchanged a glance. For the next ten minutes, we pestered him about Eliza until he was red in the face and looked ready to jump out the window. A warmth in my chest spread as Morgana finished my hair and moved to sit in front of me, her pouch of cosmetics in hand.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I said, grabbing her free hand.

She squeezed mine. “I am too, Rosie. I’m so proud of you. The courage it took to volunteer in Ragnar’s place is something not many have. And sticking with it, especially after Emperor Gayl ambushed you like that, with all the talk about your father…” She shook her head, irritation lining her features as she swiped rouge across my cheeks. “I’m glad that group of boys walked away from Theodore while they still could.”

I straightened. “What group of boys?”

“The ones who were always with Hamilton and Theodore all those years ago. I thought I told you about them?”

“No, you only mentioned my father and Theodore. There were more?”

Nodding grimly, she motioned for me to shut my eyes and brushed powder onto the lids. “Unfortunately, Theodore amassed quite the following among the young men in town. There were three or four I’d see regularly gathering around him. I kept my distance, you know, but the rumors…” I felt her hand stop moving, and I opened my eyes. “The Sanguivex, they called themselves. Purveyors of blood magic.”

A beat passed, the name lingering in the air, until I heard Beau breathe out, “ Cool .”

Morgana shot him a cross look as chills swept down my spine. “What happened to the rest of them?” I asked. “Are they still in Feywood?”

Morgana’s jaw tightened. “No. They’re dead.”

“ All of them?”

Nodding, she said, “Died within a couple years of your father. ”

We both went quiet as she applied kohl to my eyes and a cream to my lips. Gayl had said Branock Aris was responsible for my father’s death, that he’d sent men out to kill those closest to Theodore as revenge for Gayl causing the curse. Did that mean he’d had those other men, the Sanguivex, assassinated too? Leo mentioned his father was brash, especially in the later days of his life, but the longer I got to know Leo and hear about his family, the harder it was to believe the former emperor would have done such a thing.

“Enough of that,” Morgana said with a sigh, backing away and pasting a smile on her face as she admired her handiwork. “You look beautiful, Rose.” She placed a finger under my chin and tilted my head up to meet her eyes. “So much like your mother.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I know I…I never knew her. And I’ve spent every day wishing I did. But I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to be put in my life instead.” I bit my lip, unfamiliar tears threatening to be set loose. “I love you and Ragnar so much. All three of you,” I added, casting a glance at Beau. “I think I get too caught up in feeling sorry for myself that I forget how lucky I am. How thankful I should be, that fate gave me to you.”

Morgana sniffed and took my hand. “Who are you, and what have you done with our Rose?” she asked teasingly as a tear tracked down her cheek. Motioning for Beau to join, she enveloped the two of us in a tight embrace. “My sweet children,” she said softly. “How I love you both more than words can say.”

I smiled at Beau and ruffled his hair as Morgana pulled away with another sniff. “Now, let’s get you into your dress”—she pointed at me—“and you into the chair.” She gripped Beau by the neck and plopped him in the seat I’d just vacated, then grabbed a pair of small scissors. “It’s time.”

“Well, darling, I had no idea you’d take my nickname to heart,” Nox drawled as he leaned against the doorframe to my room, taking in my ball gown.

Sheer dark green fabric hung from my shoulders, cascading down my arms until it cinched at my wrists. Gold designs in the shape of serpents were threaded delicately along the sleeves. The solid deep green bodice fastened at the chest with gold laces, then opened at my waist to flow like a cape down my legs, which were encased in matching tights with decorative snakes slithering up the sides.

I pointed my toe out with a sly grin, showing off my gold sandals. “I figured it was time I embraced it.”

Beau and Morgana had already left for the ball, seeing as the challengers were supposed to arrive after everyone else to make our grand entrance. Arowyn peered out from over Nox’s shoulder and raised an eyebrow at me. “Green looks good on you.”

I reached for my gold mask, slipping the dagger next to it in a small sheath at my thigh. “Are you two ready?”

Nox held out his arms to Arowyn and me, and I slid mine through. “Don’t get any ideas, Nox,” I joked, glancing between the three of us. Arowyn’s long, pale blonde hair hung down to her waist, brushing against the beautiful navy cloak she wore over a silver bodysuit. The sheen material flowed over her large curves like moonlight and ended in her normal pair of combat boots.

“Where’s your mask?” I asked her.

“I’m wearing it.” She pointed to her face, the black kohl beneath her eyes more prominent than normal against a pale blue shimmer on her cheeks. Black paint lined her lips, and when she smiled, it was a kind of lethal beauty that would have her enemies tucking their tails between their legs. “It’s called feminine rage,” she said dryly.

Nox chuckled. “You look the same as always.”

“Exactly.”

I eyed Nox as we began our walk down the hall. He looked like sin and mystery wrapped in one with his all-black ensemble, down to the glittering rings on his fingers. He wore a sleek black button down beneath his velvet jacket, the top buttons undone and showing a glimpse of his chest. Tied around his head was a black and white fox mask with ears that came up above his forehead.

I couldn’t hold back my smile. Rissa would approve.

As we descended a floor and approached the second-floor entrance to the ballroom, the sounds of tapping heels and ringing laughter grew louder. Sweet scents of wine and pastries mixed with fresh flowers and perfume caressed us as the hired musicians played a beautiful melody that echoed through the halls.

“Now,” Nox started, clearing his throat. “We’re all in agreement that after tonight, we go back to being enemies?”

“Obviously,” Arowyn said. “How else am I going to beat the two of you in the third trial?”

I turned to straighten Nox’s lapel. “Of course. I can’t stand you anyway.”

He scowled and gripped both my hand and Arowyn’s, forcing us into twirls in front of him. “At least the pair of you keep me humble.”

“I don’t think that word’s in your vocabulary. Come on,” Arowyn said, leading him to the entrance. “I’m thirsty.”

“When are you not ,” he grumbled.

“I’ll catch up with you,” I called after them. “I need to get my mask on.”

Their steps blended into the rest of the noise as they entered the ballroom. I fumbled at my head with the thin strand of ribbon on my gold, serpentine mask.

“Allow me,” a deep, familiar voice said at my back, before warm hands covered mine. My heart jolted.

“Leo,” I breathed out as he tied the mask in place. “What are you doing here?”

He ran his fingers along the exposed skin at the back of my neck, then replaced them with his lips. “I wanted to surprise you.”

I twirled to face him and found myself staring into dark eyes surrounded by a simple but elegant black mask, complementing his black jacket and white dress shirt. “What if you're caught?”

“It’s a masquerade,” he said with a smirk, motioning to his mask. “And Horace said he would hold an illusion over me. That’s the only way I could convince Rissa it was safe to come. Nobody will know who I am.”

I licked my lips hesitantly, still worried someone may recognize him, but my happiness at seeing him won out.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I confessed.

“How could I miss seeing you in this?” he said, his eyes roving hungrily over my gown and tights. His hand fell to my wrist, then trailed up the fabric until moving to my waist. “How could I miss being able to dance with you in front of all these people?” Drawing me closer and lowering his head, his nose skimmed against mine as the edges of our masks touched. “I love our nights tucked away together, but I want just one where we don’t have to keep it a secret. You’re not meant to be hidden in the dark, little wolf, but adored in the light.”

My breath caught in my throat. His dark eyes glittered with the depth of his feelings for me. It was a look I wished I could freeze on his features for eternity.

“Then what are you waiting for?” I reached to place a kiss on his lips, then backed away with a wink. “Come adore me.”