Page 97 of A Taste of Torment
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Future Queen or No One. There is No Inbetween
My mind continuesspinning through the information Bea threw at me. It wasn’t the gossip I’d been expecting. It’s not information I really need.
But it sure serves her purpose: it gets into my head.
The gala is being heldinElite Hall—because of course the onlyimportantstudents are here. Cue brain scrambling eye roll.
Which means when we leave Bea’s room, there are already important supernaturals roaming around in the common rooms.
She hooks her arm in mine, now in her outrageously beautiful—and very revealing—black gown. The skirt is silky like mine, but there is a sheer panel from her left outer thigh that runs all the way past her hip, extending to expose nearly her entire belly, and her breasts are only covered by black lace appliques in a swirling pattern. It barely covers the bits humans don’t like shown. She struts down the hall with me in tow.
“Come on,” she says in a sultry tone, the hot demon princess persona already in full force. “You’re one of the most important—and you certainly hold the most intrigue—of all the guests here. To them, you may be a future Orizian queen. Act like it.” She hisses the command.
My knees begin to tremble. I wish I could be on Jarron’s arm for this part. At least then, I’d have someone I trust to rely on.
Trust.
Do I trust Jarron? I swallow. I’m not supposed to. I’m supposed to still believe he may be guilty. I’m supposed to be preparing myself for the possibility that he either dated or killed my sister.
Yet, as I search my heart, I realize I do. I trust him. He would be my support. He would give me whatever I needed, without concern for himself. He’d whisk me away if I got too overwhelmed. I know it.
My heart speeds up, now eager for that safety net. His arms.
This is a problem.
It’s all a game. I’m playing a part. I’m just lucky enough to have a friend playing the other side. That’s all this is.
Friendship pretending to be more.
A tightness in my chest eases, and not just the anxiety of tonight. I’m relieved to admit Jarron matters to me. I’m relieved to finally believe he isn’t the demon I was so concerned he’d be.
At least while he’s in human form.
Now is not the time to think about his beast.
I force my shoulders back and chin up.
“Better,” Bea says.
I do my best to keep my feet steady and expression empty of the panic coursing through my body now. We stop when we reach the end of the hall, standing in the opening to the sunroom, which is bustling with people. Most of whom I’ve never seen before.
Bea’s red lips curl into a sly smile. She waits. And so, I wait too. Jarron and Trevor turn to meet our stares first, then like a cascade, more and more eyes turn to us.
Jarron is on his feet, strolling toward me, one hand in his pocket, in an instant. His entire demeanor is calm, relaxed, except the fire in his eyes. Wild and full of wonder, pinned to only me.
“You look incredible,” he says when he stops in front of us. “I appreciate your assistance, Bea.”
“Anytime. Princesses need to stick together.” She winks at me, and I blanch. Jarron doesn’t react, doesn’t even look away from me as Bea bounces off to meet Trevor, who wordlessly takes her hand and brings it to his lips.
She’s an accepted part of his life. Everyone is accustomed to her being with him.
The attention is all on me and Jarron.
“How are you?” he asks quietly.
“Secretly freaking out,” I admit.
