Page 84 of Shattered Illusion

It’s easy for her to tell me to relax. Marion’s a regular wolf shifter, whereas her brother has the lycan genes. Both are normal in everyday supernatural society. But she’s still in the wind of my actual heritage, unlike her brother.

And I know I shouldn’t be this nervous, but I’ll be on the arm of one of the most influential lawyers in Faridity and also on the arm of one of the only demigods residing here. No pressure,right? It’s not like I’m anything special. Only the very last of my kind, not that anyone will know that.

My hand clasps around my necklace, a nervous gesture I’ve been finding myself doing more and more lately in an effort to curb my anxiety of my true self. While I may not see the glamour on myself, it’s one of the only ways I can be sure it’s still intact. Thaddeus said there were very few who could see through Fae glamours, but that wasn’t something anyone on the council could do. So I should be safe. Should being the relative term there. Anything can happen, and that’s what I’m worried about.

A knock on the door halts me mid-pace, snapping my head in the direction of the sound. My feet feel glued to the floor, unable to actually go open it. My magic simmers low in my belly, something it’s been doing more and more recently in the presence of the two men in the hallway.

Marion huffs from beside me, having moved off the couch silently. The knock sounds once again, and when I still make no move to open it, she moves around me to let the guys in. And I know it’s them. Maybe it’s from the way my magic reacts, or maybe it’s just because I know they’re picking us up. But it’s almost like I can feel their souls on the side of the wood.

My bestie steps aside, revealing two of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen. Luka—my playful demigod—and Axel—my too-sweet-to-be-true vampire—are decked out in the finest tuxedos I’ve ever seen. The black fabric molds to their bodies like they were painted on. And while Axel has the customary white button-up shirt beneath his jacket, Luka has gone fully black, and both have bowties in the same red that matches my dress.

Luka grins at me mischievously as his eyes rove over my curves, and I can only speculate that he’s thinking of what I may or may not be wearing underneath. He’s in for a surprise later because I’m sans underwear. Maybe we’ll be able to slipaway somewhere at the gala and reenact what happened in my bedroom.

My gaze moves to Axel next, and what I see there takes my breath away. Love emanates from those red orbs as they sweep over me. But it has to be that my eyes are playing tricks on me. There’s no way he can love me. Not yet anyway. It hasn’t been that long. Quickly that look of love turns salacious, and he bites his lip, a peek of fang flashing in the dying light coming from my windows.

My cheeks heat, and warmth pools between my thighs as I remember the night a couple of weeks ago with Axel. The night I gave myself to him fully. When the sexual tension between us finally snapped. It’s been there all along, but it’s something we’ve danced around the edges of. Not anymore, though. Not after one mind-blowing night. Now Axel and Luka—my mates—are all I can think about.

Granted, there are others my mind wanders to, but I know it’s the mate bond and a little wishful thinking that’s veering my thoughts in their direction.

A throat clearing knocks us out of our mutual perusal, and it spurs the guys into action. They cross the threshold and into my space, both leaning in dangerously close to place a kiss on each of my cheeks. My eyes close as contentment washes over me from their presence. Nothing could be better than this.

“You look amazing,cor meum,” Axel purrs in my ear, his cool breath sending shivers down my spine.

“Absolutely stunning,” Luka murmurs, his plump lips ghosting over my other one.

“You both look very beautif—er…handsome. You both look very handsome,” I stutter, completely flustered at the combined attention of them both. While it's not the first time the three of us have been in close proximity, it’s the first time I’ve had theirundivided attention completely. And holy crap, Batman. Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

A fake-gagging sound comes from our right, followed by the uncontrollable giggles of my soon-to-be ex-bestie if she doesn’t knock that shit off. “You three are just too damn cute for your own good. It’s nauseating.”

“Your jealousy is showing, Mare-bear,” I mutter, even though I know she’s messing around.

She huffs indignantly at my words, then stomps out the door in her stilettos. “Let’s go before we’re late. Or you three make me vomit for real,” she mumbles the last part under her breath.

Axel and Luka chuckle as they each grab one of my hands, tucking them in the crooks of their elbows before following Marion out my dorm. My demigod shuts the door behind us, and we head down the hallway in Marion’s wake.

Nerves bubble up once more, but there’s an underlying core of fear percolating within. Let’s just hope it’s because I’ll be surrounded by so many people and not because something bad is going to happen.

But with my luck, it’ll be the latter.

I wonder if it’s too late to beg them to stay here.

The limo Axel procured for the night glides smoothly around the other vehicles all headed in the same direction. The gala is being held almost an hour away at the headquarters of the council, also the very same spot where the veil originally shattered. I never realized it was so close, but then again, there’s still so much I don’t know about the world I now live in.

Marion sits across from us, bopping her head to the music filtering through the limo, but I’m just too damn nervous to share her enthusiasm. The bad feeling I had as we left my dorm has only gotten stronger, and quickly turning into a sense of dread. Not something I want to be feeling right now.

My knee bounces, belaying my nerves, and thankfully, no one in the limo comments on it. They probably just think I’m nervous about meeting the council. But if they knew the real reason behind it, they’d turn around, and I’d ruin everyone’s night. And I don’t want to do that. Even if all I want to do is hide out here until it’s over.

That’s wishful thinking on my part though because Axel’s excited to finally introduce me to his mother. From what he’s told me, she’s mentioned meeting me every time they’ve spoken. Not that I know all he’s told her. But hey, no pressure there.

The limo slows to a stop, but no one moves to exit the vehicle. Peeking out the window, I find a line of cars in front of us, waiting to pull up to the council building. Though it may be dark now, the building is lit up with spotlights crisscrossing the sky and projections dancing on the outer walls. Each image depicts a different supernatural, and the longer we sit here waiting, the more I hope that maybe, just maybe, a picture of my kind will be represented up there. But by the time we reach the front doors, the projections start all over again. Not once did they pay homage to the species that they themselves wiped from existence. No. They've well and truly buried us.

It’s enough to make the magic inside of me thrash behind my ribcage, desperate to get out and prove that they didn’t win. That our kind is still here.

Fire races through my veins, that same feeling I’ve felt a few times before when my skin has lit up like a dang Christmas tree. Panic courses through next as the first hints of magic push to the surface.

Forceful fingers grip my chin and twist my head in their direction before Luka crushes his lips against mine. He easily stops my downward spiral of thoughts, redirecting them in a more pleasant direction.

I thank my lucky stars that Luka is able to see past the glamour because I don’t think this is an instance where I would have been able to rein myself in. My control over my magic has been getting better, but there are still those times when I get super worked up and feel like I may blow. Luckily, Luka has been there every time to stop it.

---