Page 25
Mia is the only one of us tied to Silver Coven, though lower-ranking witches care less about loyalty than their elders pretend. Some don’t belong to covens at all. Vanessa, who belongs to Glass like Ezra, looks around the room with open admiration.
“I have to say, this party looks amazing. Silver really showed up tonight.”
Ezra rolls his eyes. Naomi, meanwhile, rolls a joint under the table.
“I don’t think you can smoke here,” I say.
She gives me a look and tucks it behind her ear.
Mia leans in, already hunting for gossip. “So, I heard about Le Vertige. Apparently that new wolf is Caruso’s son? When we were in VIP at Moon, I knew he was alpha. You could feel it on him.”
Vanessa sighs. “He’s hot.”
“I’m not getting into that,” Naomi says quickly. She was with Piro for a while. It was fiery, but it ended in heartbreak. “I mean, wolf sex is great, but they’re fucking psychos.”
“Did you know Piro had a brother?” I ask.
Naomi shakes her head. “No. He never mentioned him. But that whole family is very tight. Lots of secrets. None they shared with me because I wasn’t a wolf. Mafia stuff.”
Speak of the devil.
The wolves enter, and the whole ballroom reacts.
A low murmur ripples through the crowd, and vampire fangs sharpen. Even Vito Caruso appears tonight, which means Silver Coven must have sent one hell of an invitation. Piro looks good in a crisp white shirt and black suit, all that reckless charm cleaned up for polite society, but Nero is the one who drags all the attention to himself without trying.
Black shirt. Black suit. Black hair. He walks to the right of his father like the devil himself left hell and came out to play. He doesn’t smile. Doesn’t look around. Doesn’t seem like he wants to be here. Witches still sigh. I turn away and ignore the unpleasant kick of my own heartbeat. What is wrong with me? I don’t even like wolves. Not like THAT.
I go to the open bar because gin and tonic feels safer than staring at Antonero Caruso. While I wait, a familiar voice slides in beside me.
“Nice shoes I bought you.”
I don’t look at Lex right away. “How do you know these are from you?”
“Aren’t they?”
I glance down at the black heels, then at his perfectly tailored suit. “Seems like your bill there is bigger than mine.”
“You know we both like expensive things.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Speaking of expensive things. Have you heard anything about Julian? Witches? Necromancers?”
“Nothing. He disappeared.”
“I’ve seen you with wolves lately. I didn’t know you liked dogs. I thought you were more of a cat person.”
“I party with whoever buys.” I take my drink from the bartender. “What, are you jealous? You have no right to be.”
Lex studies me, head slightly tilted. “Marcus raised the bounty to one hundred thousand.”
“You think that’ll convince me?”
“I hope it will motivate you. You have credit cards to pay.”
“Asshole.”
“You look beautiful,” he says, gaze sliding down my dress and back up again.
“I know.” I turn and leave.
One hundred thousand. Screw the credit cards, but the Institute…
