“I’m well aware of my past habits,” Killian said dryly.

“Then you are aware how some might interpret Hazel’s position?” Celestina asked. “Given that she would be the first you take to a public event?”

Josh tilted his head back. “You mean to say everyone will assume Hazel and His Eminence are romantically involved?”

My sword slipped from limp fingers and fell on the mats with a muffled thump. “Pardon?”

Celestina shot Josh a look. “Yes.”

I shuffled back to Killian. “Why?”

“Must I have a reason?” Killian asked.

“Yes, because you have a reason for everything!”

“I told you my reason for breaking into Tutu’s, and you weren’t satisfied with it,” Killian said.

“Because you lied! You obviously agreed to break in so you could deliver that letter to the Night Court’s vault.”

“I didn’t lie,” Killian said. “I hadn’t yet decided if I was going to leave the letter or not.”

“You are unbelievable,” I grumbled. “And I don’t think you’ve thought this through.”

Both of Killian’s eyebrows went up. “You think I haven’t deeply considered my strategy?” His voice was just the tiniest bit frosty, but I didn’t care—I already knew it was unlikely he’d actually kill me.

“I think you impulsively want something and have decided to use me to get it, but you haven’t realized the long-lasting effects,” I said. “Killian, you’re infamous in our society.”

“You think going with me will tarnish your reputation?” Killian wryly asked.

“No! I mean—it will, but your reputation is the bigger thing! People aren’t going to dismiss me as being your pet or just a fad. They’ll think we’re…they’ll believe we’re an item,” I said. “It’s going to take you months—possibly years—to shake the idea from the public mind.”

Killian scoffed. “The public mind is far easier to manipulate than you think.”

“Fine.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Then tell me why we have to manipulate it in the first place.”

Killian sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, mussing it slightly. “Isn’t it enough to know we’ll both benefit from this?”

“Then it has something to do with the alliance between the Night Court and Mason?”

“Yes.”

I narrowed my eyes as I carefully studied the set of his eyebrows and mouth, and finally peered up into his dark eyes.

Disbelief nipped at me—Killian was perfectly capable of lying, but he was probably more skilled in deception and distraction. He still hadn’t come out and exactly said why this was necessary—even though I bet there were multiple layered reasons for it.

But besides the Spring Summons and the Snow Ball, this was the event of the year.

I might have an opportunity to talk to the wizards serving on the Wizard Council about my position, and the House Medeis signet ring. Especially if I got Killian to vouch for me that Mason had attacked me.

Killian was absolutely using me—it was only natural I was allowed to use his reputation to my advantage, too.

“Okay…” I slowly started. “I’ll go as your date. But I have a question. When we went out to eat together we acted as more of a boss-servant relationship. How did you plan we would appear at the ball?”

Killian grinned, and suddenly I regretted agreeing without ironing out this very important detail first.

“Hazel,” Killian purred. “I’m so glad you asked…”

Chapter Fourteen

Hazel

I was shocked by the sheer amount of preparation that went into getting ready for the Summer’s End Ball. But I also wasn’t quite prepared for the enthusiasm Celestina attacked it with.

Actually, Celestina was why preparations were so…intense. She cut my training schedule in half so I could only train in the late evenings and nights, which left my early afternoons open for things like manicures, pedicures, dress fittings, facials, a massage, and a haircut.

I would have felt guilty—Killian was footing the bill for everything—except Celestina came with me for all of that and was clearly having the time of her life, and I figured Killian probably owed his First Knight a few pedicures for everything he put her through, so it balanced out.

“I have always wanted this.” Celestina smoothed out a wrinkle in her gorgeous crimson dress—which brought out warmer hues in her tawny-brown skin.

“You do look drop-dead gorgeous in that dress,” I acknowledged as I tried to wriggle into my dress.

“No, no—I have a hundred dresses.” Celestina swatted her hand through the air, brushing off the idea that she could easily switch places with a model for the night and no one would notice. “I meant this.” She gestured back and forth between us. “Girl time! This week has been so fun!”

“I’ve really enjoyed it, too.” I grinned at her when I finally got the waist of my dress in place. “And I’m glad you did all of this with me. But can’t you have girl talk with Julianne?”

Celestina’s silky hair tumbled over her shoulder in perfect curls I honestly didn’t know were possible outside of Hollywood. “Not entirely. I’m His Eminence’s First Knight. That puts me in a position of power and respect, so it is difficult to be truly friends with those under my command.” Celestina’s clear red eyes looked distant as she stared unseeingly at the mirror. “We’re comrades—we’ll live and die together. But although we may train together, doing things like this…”

“Selfishly, I’m glad you’re so happy. I had fun with you this week, too—thank you.” I smiled at the vampire when she came to help me with my dress.

The design was pretty simplistic—off-the-shoulder sleeves, a fitted bust and waist, and long skirts that had a bit of a ruffle to give it some poof. What made the dress remarkable, however, was the fabric. Simultaneously shimmery and glossy, the silvery fabric seemed to glow with the faint light of a full moon. White embroidered swirls covered the three-quarter-length sleeves and traced the neckline in shapes that looked remarkably similar to my wizard’s mark.

I couldn’t help but smile at my reflection as Celestina zipped me up, but I shook my head and tried to pick up the thread of our conversation.

“But about being friends with other Drake vampires…Julianne hero-worships you,” I said. “I think she’d probably die of glee if you invited her to get a manicure with you.”

There was a tap on the door, and Josh poked his head in. “Are preparations complete?”

“Almost.” Celestina applied another layer of lipstick, then circled around me, inspecting my carefully applied makeup—which we had seen a stylist for that afternoon.

Josh straightened and slipped into the room—Celestina had taken over an upstairs drawing room and had rows of mirrors put up to make it easier to get ready today. Since he was going with as part of Killian’s guard escort, Josh wore a tuxedo that fit so well, I couldn’t even pick out where he had holstered his sidearms or throwing knives.

“Looking good, Josh!” I winked at him.

Josh looked down at his tuxedo and shrugged. “It is appropriate attire.”

I studied Josh for a moment, then turned back to Celestina. “Okay, I get it. I think you can be friends with her—or anyone from the Drake Family—but I can see how it would be difficult. You guys don’t really do anything besides train, guard, and have your Family dinners.” I waved at Josh to illustrate my point. “It’s not like Killian gives you gobs of time to play a team sport, or have sleepovers and watch movies or something.” I paused and curiously peered at Josh. “And now I’m stuck thinking what a sleepover with you would be like.”

Josh sniffed. “I can do girl talk.”

I arched an eyebrow at the vampire. “Try it.”

Everything in Josh lifted up—his mouth, his height, and his voice. “Hazel, you look so cute in your dress! Killian is going to die when he sees you. Celestina, that lipgloss is fabulous.”

“Lipstick,” Celestina corrected.

Josh slightly pursed his lips. “Close enough. Should we talk boys now? Or do you want to tell me where you have all your weapons hidden? Hazel—you have at least one sidearm, right?”

I laughed. “I have a dagger, but no gun,” I said. “Though I do have my clutch.”

Josh briefly tapped his foot on the floor, then nodded. “Considering you knocked out a wizard last time with your clutch, that is acceptable.”

“What did you stuff it with this time?” Celestina asked.

“Rocks.” I held up my clutch—made of the same silver material as my dress. “They filled it up better and gave it a rounder appearance. You’re sure there aren’t going to be guards who ask to inspect it?”

“Nah.” Celestina shook her head, making her glossy hair shine. “The place is warded and shielded to the teeth. It’s pretty much impossible for a fight to break out inside the actual ball. Traditionally skirmishes and assassination attempts happen on the way in or out—outside the Curia Cloisters, of course. That’s neutral territory that can’t be fought in.”

I made a face. “Have there really been that many fights that it’s a tradition?”

“No. Only a few times over the past century,” Josh said. “Your clutch will be plenty. Now, did I not do a sufficient job at girl talk?”

I laughed. “You did great—better than I thought!”

He straightened his tux jacket. “Excellent. Now, if you both would come downstairs as swiftly as possible, His Eminence is waiting at the front entrance.”

“We’ll be there shortly. Now off you go.” Celestina shooed him from the room while I plopped down on a well-padded chair and put on my shoes—a pair of surprisingly comfortable heels that gave me an extra three inches of height, elevating me into loftiness. Or at least what passed for loftiness for me.