Page 81 of Ella's Masquerade
He let that sit between the three of us.
The soft beat of the ballroom vibrated beneath my heels, the rhythm matching the subdued one of my pulse.
“Charlie’s leaving has softened you,” Tray finally said.
Dash lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know about softened, but it’s forced me to put a few things into perspective. That guy was a real dick.”
“So are you,” Tray pointed out.
“I am,” he agreed. “But I’m working on fixing that.”
Three months ago, I’d have called bullshit. But I couldn’t deny his behavior had changed since Charlie left. And the way he’d come to me tonight? That suggested sincerity in his actions.
I don’t think we can show this to the school,I told Tray, swallowing.
That’d been our original plan—we’d make him confess that Ryan encouraged him to torment me, then put him and Ryan on blast together. While he still technically deserved it, I didn’t see the point in punishing a guy who was clearly already punishing himself and trying to change at the same time.
I know, he whispered back to me.I turned off the feed before joining you in the hall.
“Well…” Dash cleared his throat again. “I’ll, uh, let you two enjoy the rest of your night.”
He took a step, but Tray moved into his path. “Just so we’re clear, the only reason I’ve not kicked your ass for hurting Ella is because I know she wouldn’t approve. I also didn’t want to take the opportunity away from her, should she want to beat you the way you deserve. But if you breathe a word of any of this to Ryan before we have a chance to finish this game, I will destroy you in ways you can’t even imagine.”
Power radiated from my mate. Dash wouldn’t see it, but I had no doubt he couldfeelit. And the widening of his eyes confirmed my suspicion. “I don’t know what you have planned for Ryan, but I won’t stand in your way. And I won’t breathe a word of any of this to her.”
“See that you don’t,” Tray murmured, his voice low and lethal. “Because I’ll know if you do. And you will regret it.” He allowed that threat to linger between them before returning to my side. “Continue on your path, Charming. It’s the right one.”
That almost sounded like a prophecy, but I knew from talking to Tray that Midnight Fae weren’t seers. However, apparently that kind of fae did exist—the Fortune Fae.
I shivered as Tray circled my waist with his arm.
We watched as Dash left, his shoulders caving yet again. It was so strange to see him appear weak after ruling the academy for so long. “Do you think he’s truly going to change?” I wondered out loud.
“I think he’s already changing,” Tray said, holding me close. “It’s not how I anticipated things to evolve after removing Charlie from the equation, but I can’t say I’m disappointed by it.”
“Neither am I,” I admitted. “But I don’t think the others are going to be so easy.”
He snorted. “No, your wicked witch of a stepsister doesn’t have a heart. It’s why I still vote for burning her alive.”
I shook my head, grinning. “You really want to kill her.”
“It’s a fantasy I’d love to see come true.”
“How about a public roast instead?” I suggested.
He glanced down at me. “I thought you just said I can’t kill her? But yes, roasting her is something I’d enjoy observing.”
“I’m talking about the act of ridiculing, not a fire, Nacht.” Sometimes our backgrounds crossed and I had to play fae interpreter for the human language.
Disappointment flashed in his features. “And here I thought there’d be bloodshed tonight.”
“Well, that remains to be seen.” It all depended on how this went down.
Right on cue, an announcement sounded from the ballroom, giving the Royal Court a thirty-minute warning for the festivities.
Ryan might be pissed about Dash standing her up, but she wouldn’t miss this for the world.
Which meant she’d be here soon.
