Page 87 of Choosing Stella

“Then we keep the plan.”

Geo’s mouth flattened.

“You know I’d rather cancel.”

“I do.”

“But you still want to go.”

“Yes.”

He was quiet for a moment.

Then he nodded.

“All right.”

I focused on the two face-down cards.

At The Exchange, someone might lie to me about what was safe.

Geo knew that now too.

Whatever happened next, neither of us would walk into it alone.

Chapter Six

Stella walked into The Exchange on Halloween night wearing a tracker under her dress and looking like she’d come to enjoy the party instead of draw out whoever had sent men to take her.

The black dress Colleen had brought fit her like it had been made for her, silver beading catching the amber ballroom light along one side. The slit opened high when she walked, showing enough leg to distract me while still giving her room to run. Her white streak cut through her raven hair, and her lipstick was a deep red I’d already thought about ruining.

I was supposed to be paying attention to everyone else.

The tracker was active. Locke had the mirrored feed. My protective gear was concealed beneath a black suit, and the smoking purple drink in my hand contained blackberry, citrus, and no alcohol whatsoever.

Stella lifted her cocktail glass toward mine. Pale vapor rolled over the rim of her Corpse Reviver.

“You look offended by your drink.”

“It’s fruit punch.”

“It’s an artisanal zero-proof Halloween cocktail.”

“It’s smoking.”

“That’s how you know it’s expensive.”

She took a slow sip.

I watched her red mouth touch the glass and reminded myself why I was sober.

The Exchange had spent obscene money making death look elegant. Black gauze draped the balconies. Candle-shaped lights flickered beneath the chandeliers. Guests crossed the ballroom in Venetian masks, elaborate costumes, and enough feathers to destroy peripheral vision.

Servers carried trays of tiny coffin cakes, dark chocolate skulls, bloody-looking tartlets, and almond shortbread shaped like severed fingers.

Stella took one and studied the sliced-almond nail and raspberry filling at the broken end.

“This is either dessert or evidence.”