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.
“Let’s get this party started,” I mused, taking Tray’s hand.
“No, baby.” He threaded his fingers through mine. “We’re not starting anything. We’re finishing it.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tray
Oh, Ryan was pissed.
Everyone gave her a wide berth as she marched toward Dash with steam practically billowing from her ears. She grabbed his arm and yanked him away from the group of females he’d been chatting up, her ire hitting a boiling point. “What. The. Fuck?”
He twisted out of her grip and took a step back from her. “I believe that’s my line, Ryan. What makes you think you can touch me like that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that you’re my date and you failed to pick me up and take me to dinner, making me wait several hours just to find you here with these floozies instead?”
“I never agreed to be your date,” he replied coolly. “You made assumptions, and that’s not my problem.” He made to turn away from her, but a screech from her had him cocking a brow. “What now, Ryan?”
“How dare you stand me up!”
“Stand you up?” He laughed. “We don’t belong to each other, remember? You made that very clear three years ago.” He gave her a condescending smile. “If you’ve changed your mind, I’m sorry, but it’s too late. I haven’t been interested in you in quite some time.”
Her mouth actually fell open, her usual spitfire retorts lost to the chatter growing around them.
Well, that’s a fun twist in our evening plans, Ella mused beside me, her lips curling. He’s just publicly shamed her for us.
Oh, and that’s just an appetizer, darling. I had a speech planned that would demolish Ryan’s reputation.
Ella liked the symbolism of me being the one to speak tonight since it’d been Dash all those years ago who’d announced his true intentions to the school. It only seemed appropriate that I do the same tonight in a similar manner, but with very different words.
The music lowered to a dull background sound as two of Darlington Academy’s administrators ascended the stage. Were they present at the Holiday Ball? I asked, an idea forming in my head.
Yep. Ella narrowed her eyes at them. They always look the other way. That night was no different.
Oh, they’ll be taking notice tonight, I promised.