Page 67 of Born Wicked

“You’re on,” I say. And it doesn’t matter what the bet is. It just feels good to be joking and talking about non-important things.

Roman smiles, one of those rare as seeing a shooting star moments, and looks out over the crowd.

“Did you really mean all those things you just said?” I ask, even though I know the answer. My fingers twine together, unsure what to do with themselves.

“You know I did,” he says.

I nod. I do know.

I look back up, my eyes fixing on the audience, though I don’t actually see them. “Why did you do it, Roman? Why did you throw yourself in front of Superintendent Day for me?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Roman’s jaw flex. He doesn’t say anything right away, and I think maybe he’s at as much of a loss for words as I am.

“You didn’t need to do that,” I say, shaking my head. “If Sebastian didn’t call me, you might still be sitting in jail. I don’t.... Why would you do that, Roman?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he says, his tone low. He still doesn’t look at me.

Heat rises in my blood. No one sacrifices their freedom for nothing. “Tell me why, Roman. Why would you do something so stupid and reckless?”

“Just drop it, Juliet,” he says, his tone a low growl. He steps forward, blending back into the crowd.

I stand there, frozen, frustrated, and confused.

My arms wrap around my middle as my eyes track Roman as he goes about the room. He slips right into the circles made up of his security team members. They all laugh and joke with him like he isn’t the most intimidating and confusing resident of the city.

“May I have this dance?”

My eyes slip over to my best friend, who holds her hand out to me. And it’s perfect timing because the music surges right then, and we aren’t the only ones to take the cue. A dozen other couples pair up, swaying to the music.

I roll my eyes at her but take her hand. With a mischievous grin, she pulls me in, assuming a dance position.

“You’re handling all of this well,” she observes. “How does it feel?”

I shrug. “Overwhelming, yes. But I think everything since my arrival here has kind of eased me into it.” And I have a plan. Tomorrow, when the party hangover wears off, I’m going to sit down with Elena and Mason and tell them everything I’ve been hiding since I came to this city.

Elena nods. “You’ve been an attachment in every important decision made since you got here. It’s like you were practically groomed for it.”

My head swivels to look her in the eyes. She arches an eyebrow.

Sneaky, sneaky Elena. Though I doubt she actually knew how I’d end up on the Council.

“You’ve changed since I got sick,” she notes, moving on.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“You’ve grown up in a way I can’t quite put my finger on,” she says, looking directly into my eyes. She’s never been one to shy away from intensity. “And… you seem more at peace.”

Interesting. She’s not wrong. When I think about it, so much of the angst I was living with has gone away.

“I never would have seen this coming,” she says, her eyes sweeping the room. “But he’s surprisingly good for you.”

“Excuse me?” I ask, my brows furrowing.

Elena’s eyes return to mine. And a little crease forms between her brows for a moment. She’s studying me. And then I see resolve slip into her eyes. She takes one breath, her grip on me tightening just slightly. “You’re in love with Roman, Juliet.”

CHAPTERNINETEEN

My heart stops beatingin my chest. I freeze in place. I feel all the color bleed out of my face.

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