This is really happening.
“Belle, my name is Luna,” says the raven-haired beauty with the bright eyes.
“And I’m Nova,” calls out a beautiful redhead waiting by the three-mirrored dresser with a brush in her hand.
Club girls.
I look at all three of them. “What’s happening?”
“We’re getting you ready for your wedding,” Mya says, leading me over to the dresser where she makes me sit.
Immediately, Nova starts brushing my hair while Luna starts inspecting my face before grabbing a makeup brush and a bottle of liquid foundation.
I feel like I’m a music star doing a costume change during a live show. The girls work fast. Brushing. Curling. Dabbing. Glossing. Painting my nails. There is a sense of urgency and excitement in the air.
I sit there giddy but a little bit dazed as I try to process what is about to happen next. I’m marrying the leader of this club and will take my place at his side.And I am so damn happy I can’t keep the smile off my face.
But even during all the excitement I am aware of the many unanswered questions lurking in my peripherals.
Like where Beast was going every night when he was rumored to be visiting a woman in town. He’s already told me there was no one. So what was he doing?
And who is the girl in the photograph he keeps in his wallet?
And what does he keep hidden in that damned forbidden room? Were the other women in his life allowed to see inside that room?
Speaking of the other women, what were they like?
A knot forms in my chest and my stomach tightens with… jealousy?
“Tell me about Guinevere and Jennifer,” I blurt out.
And just like that, all the hair brushing and makeup application suddenly stops.
Eyes meet eyes in the mirror.
Looks are exchanged.
Luna frowns. “Beast didn’t tell you about his ex- fiancée?”
“And the ex-girlfriend who gave him his scars,” Nova adds.
Realizing it would be weird for me to not know, I quickly say, “I mean, I know who they are. But he doesn’t like to talk about them. I’m just curious about them, I guess.”
Mya gives the two club girls a warning look in the mirror. “Ladies, that’s Beast’s story to tell.”
But Luna waves her off. “There’s no harm in letting her know something about them.”
“I agree,” I say.
Luna brings her gaze back to me. “I wasn’t here back then, so I can’t tell you what happened firsthand. But whatever happened, it was bad enough for Jennifer to break off their engagement.”
Jennifer. I wonder what kind of woman she was that she stole Beast’s heart. “What was she like?”
“She was a dancer I think,” Luna says.
“At one of the clubs the Knights own in town,” Nova adds. “Apparently she was as beautiful as she was a bitch.”
“I know Lars never liked her,” Luna adds. “But that’s pillow talk, and you didn’t hear it from me.”