It was the kind of dress a supermodel wore to a fancy gala or a celebrity event.
And it was perfect for tonight.
“You really are like a fairy guardian, Tray,” I teased him, thinking of the conversation we had after Homecoming. Because once again, he’d chosen the gown, and this was my favorite one yet.
“Fuck fairies,” he scoffed, sauntering into the room in a sinful black suit. “I’m all fae, baby.” He wrapped his palm around the back of my neck, tugging me toward him for a long, sensual kiss.
“My fae,” I murmured, smiling.
“Your fae,” he agreed, angling his mouth over mine.
He tasted like fresh mint. I dipped my tongue inside, indulging myself in more as I clutched his shoulders. Mmm, I could do this all night.
Me, too, he agreed. But we’ll miss the dance.
And what a shame that would be, I thought, unable to hold back my sarcasm.
“Mmm, we put too much into tonight to miss it now,” he said, nipping my lower lip. “Ryan still thinks I intend to ruin you.”
“I really don’t know how you’ve managed to convince her that’s still your plan with everything else that’s occurred.” Her reputation at the academy was soiled after her most recent erratic behavior—courtesy of my occasional taunting jolt.
Every time I felt bad for provoking her, I recalled all the horrible things she’d done to me over the years. The fact that she desperately wanted to ruin me tonight only fueled me onward. She needed a healthy dose of her own medicine. Maybe then she’d stop tormenting people.
And Carmen.
Oh, Carmen.
She wore a wig every day now and had already begun consultations for plastic surgery to fix some of the scarring—which wasn’t even that bad. Unfortunately, her personality hadn’t changed much, apart from adding a layer of whining to the mix.
So she hadn’t really learned her lesson yet.
It was something I planned to revisit after our finale tonight.
“The compulsion these last few weeks helped,” Tray admitted, pressing his forehead to mine.
“Yeah.” I knew he’d woven some compulsion into his statements. After all the rumors started flying about her losing her mantle of queen, Tray had needed to do damage control. “I can’t wait for all this to be done.”
“Me, too,” he whispered against my mouth.
We both agreed that graduating from high school really wasn’t needed. Especially after what we’d discovered last week regarding my father’s will. And, aside from that, a GED wouldn’t mean much at Midnight Fae Academy. However, I still planned to apply for mine. My advanced curriculums and grades would allow me to qualify for early graduation. Not to mention, the administrative board wouldn’t have a choice after Tray’s plan came to fruition next week.
It all meant I would be free to move to the Midnight Fae Realm with Tray, where I could practice my magic freely.
Finally.
“Take me to the dance, Tray. Before I decide this isn’t worth our time and demand you take me to bed instead.”
He grinned. “Mmm, if you would just allow me to kill t
hem all, it would go much faster.” He phrased it as a joke, but I knew he meant it.
“This will be better.”
“So you say.” He linked his fingers through mine and tugged me toward the door. “I still say a bloody end would be more entertaining.”
“Such a vampy thing to say.”
“Midnight Fae, darling. Not vampires. Midnight. Fae.” He gave me a look. “Did you not read that history text I gave you? It clearly explained what we are.”