[Rachel, Bun Hare Eared Heroine!]

  Having heard Elizabeth out, Rachel moved back through the halls with Aurora, Anthony, and Nia by her side. Lady Ilona—the fae’s attendant—acted as their new guide since Cássia had returned to their room to inform the others about their absence.

  They paused when the bell struck, rattling through the castle and signaling the opening ceremony. It was a tad earlier than what Elizabeth had told them but was within her calculations. Overall, the meeting inspired more questions rather than provided answers.

  Aurora brooded next to her, absently playing with her silver bangs while studying the artistry of the castle. “So, First Blood has been spilled, shoving this boulder down the hill… Selene has been murdered, Jeremy’s body has been stolen by…who knows, and The Countess wants me tied to a certain hare’s hip. Aren’t you lucky, Ms. Misfortune? It seems wherever you go, you cause trouble.”

  Rachel gave her a taunting half-smile. “I think we’ve already established how much of a ‘catch’ you are to me. Do I need to release you into the wild again with a kick to make the answer stick?”

  “Oh, entertain me,” the sparkly woman giggled, giving a backward glance at Anthony, taking up their rear and still brooding on his part in this play. “I can be fun as a frenemy. I’m shocked that Mr. Handsome here decided to volunteer to play such a daring role. I have to respect it. If there’s a dance, would you mind being my partner? Maybe I can make someone jealous,” she giggled, eyelashes aflutter.

  A mocking smile lifted the Legend’s mouth as his lime-green eyes fell to her hidden bottom half, the pattering of hooves sounding throughout the hallway. “Pass. I’m not really a goat guy, and Rachel’s fur is about where I draw my limit on hare hair, if you know what I mean.”

  Rachel threw up a hand, shooting a questioning glare at the redhead. “Why am I catching strays? So you don’t like long hair, got it, got it.” She refrained from a bald joke for obvious reasons. “Chill.”

  Aurora’s joy soured as she pinched her green dress, lifting it up to display her goat legs. “I keep very well groomed, sir. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

  “Oh, I’m sure I do,” Anthony chuckled, sliding a finger across his throat. “I grew up on Irish, Scottish, and English fairy tales. I’d rather not go to bed to have my throat slashed and blood drained. Act innocent all you want, but I’m 95% sure you value the widow approach to your one-night stands.”

  Nia closed in, making Rachel tune out the bantering pair; it was quite obvious the two were developing a hatred for one another, with the Legend calling out her BS.

  “Major, Coral is telling me that something is wrong with Illa.”

  I expected her to stay with Scarlet when she went to see Selene. Dammit, I hate this dampening field and music. It’s making me miss things.

  “Coral says she drank something that Cássia gave her and passed out. They left her giggling and rolling around on the couch, half making out, half biting pillows while mumbling to herself. After leaving her in that state in Coral’s care, they went to see Selene. It seems Elizabeth was right that Scarlet would be at the scene when the murder happened.”

  Rachel’s narrowed eyes returned to the corridor as they neared the room they’d been given. I’m 70% sure Cássia is Elizabeth’s daughter. She is a standout amongst the other girls under Elizabeth’s rule, and they treat her differently. It’s no coincidence she was given to us, and specifically Scarlet.

  She sighed, scratching her ear as it twitched; it was easier to hear further distances once in the hallways compared to inside the dampening effect within the rooms.

  Scarlet’s freaking out about her father missing. I wish I could have been there to see the scene myself. Shit. There’s no way to tell if Elizabeth is trying to help Scarlet or use her…perhaps both. First Illa, and now Cássia. Both girls who appear as an age Scarlet would have trouble dealing with.

  Nia frowned as Ilona smoothly opened the door to chaos. “Well, Maria certainly cleans up nice.”

  “What the hell are you doing drinkin’ this shit?!” the unicorn snarled, holding the bottle in front of Illa’s stunned and red-cheeked face, practically dying from embarrassment. “Bitch, this shit will have you seeing triple, droppin’ yer panties like a whore on a Sunday! You don’t go drinkin’ random shit—”

  “Maria, language,” Fiona groaned, flying between the fuming Latino and the flustered teen. “How was she supposed to know it was a mix between crazy-potent alcohol, lucid dream concoction, and an aphrodisiac all rolled into one?!”

  “She didn’t need to! Party one-o-one,” Maria shot back, “never take random drugs or drinks you didn’t pour yourself or can verify! Girl’s asking to get taken advantage of.”

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  “Sorry! I’m sorry! I just—C-Cássia gave it to me—I just wanted to be cool, and…and I was thirsty… Well, not that kind of thirsty—shut up, shut up! I’m sorry!”

  “And where—Rachel, the hell you’ve been, dammit?! I started to think ya gone and got your ass kidnapped after finding this kid cozying up to ‘pillows’ like a cheerleader on Saturday night! Shit. Let a chica know where ya goin’; ya have any idea what it’s like for chicas on the streets, huh? Always leave a note, ya know? ?Perra me tiene jodidamente molesta y preocupada como una maldita madre! Shit!”

  Aurora peeked in with a gleam in her emerald eyes. “Did I hear someone say aphrodisiac? Yes, please! Here’s my money or body! Which do you prefer? Hehe. I can do both!”

  Ignoring the vampiric fae, Rachel went inside to calm them down. Maria’s maroon dress would certainly make vampires’ mouths water with the contrast to her white aesthetic. Fiona had a green gown that had her glaring at Aurora’s and comparing it, now looking like she regretted the color, but it did match her hair when she flew, thanks to her Wind Magic.

  Coral loved the tension, hopping around egging it on as she gathered everyone up and grabbed their unique masquerade masks to make it to the opening ceremony. It was where everything would go down, and where they would split up to divide and conquer.

  Rachel shoved down her discomfort; she had to have faith in the people she’d surrounded herself with if this was going to work, and she had her own amendments to Elizabeth’s plot; the woman was beyond crafty to have set all of this up, and she was keeping secrets that Rachel wanted to know.

  Walking beside the depressed pumpkin-dressed ginger, Rachel took a bit of pity on the girl, doubting she’d wanted this outcome. [Lunar Pride] itched in her brain; the 13-year-old brunette had outplayed her. She needed to try to get closer to her in order to spot any inconsistencies with the character she was playing.

  “You okay? Maria worries a lot about young girls since she grew up around a lot of human trafficking. You’re lucky she was able to cleanse you in time for the party.”

  “Mhm…” The orange-haired girl played with her broken bra strap, unwilling to look at anyone in the face as she strained a nervous laugh. “I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life. Eh-heh, I mean…and why would I have a wet dream about Lady Selene? So weird. She’s not even in my top 10. Not, not in my top 50! Ugh. Just kill me already! Please don’t tell Scarlet. Please!”

  Rachel slowed a tad as they entered the Grand Ballroom Hall, where at least a hundred people—some both sharply and shabbily dressed—in their masks spread out across the massive main floor or overlooking the cityscape from the terrace.

  A light fog filled the space, not thick enough to hide the groups but enough to shroud them in secrecy. The sound seemed compressed into a more confined space, on top of what the castle already dampened, bringing with it the sense of something behind her. Unnatural darkness closed in from the shadows, and the thirst for blood was palpable.

  Aurora gave up flirting with Nia to spin in a circle as she descended the stairs, winking at her as she went. “I’ll catch your ears when the time is right, little hare! Please don’t get jealous because you are totally the type.”

  Illa’s face lit up like it was Christmas, jogging past the Baobhan Sith to the balcony to get a full view of the masquerade guests, her face hidden by her flamboyant mask. Their host, along with the mysterious barons and baronesses, had yet to make their appearance.

  “There are so many more people than I thought there would be! What do you think The Countess is going to have all of us do? Yes! There’s a blood-bar setup. I’ll be careful, Mama Maria! Be right back; I promise!”

  “Mama-wha?!” Maria looked like she’d been slapped as Fiona giggled next to her. “Aw, hell no, are you calling me that! Aye, Fi, I spot Catherine by the stairs. Wanna chill and see what she’s been up to? We got plans, Rach? Rach?”

  “Hmm? Oh, yeah, go ahead. I’ll be down in a bit.”

  Anthony gave her a thankful smile, holding up his dove tattoo to tell her he appreciated her support. Returning an encouraging nod, she watched Illa skip down the stairs to enjoy the vampire refreshments, pulling into her mind; already, she saw their group drawing notice, whispers asking if the Baobhan Sith had joined their group or if they were now working with the Scarlet Hand.

  Rachel’s thoughts were on the mysterious Noble Vampire girl, reflecting on some of the information Elizabeth had given them. Nia leaned over the balcony, taking note of everyone who would likely be their enemies, and a few immediately stood out.

  “What put you on edge? I’ve been too busy blocking out Aurora’s voice and looking for threats. By the way, I have about fifty-five minutes left before I turn into a kid again for 16 hours. Do you think I can handle recon in this kind of environment as a scaredy-bunny?”

  I have faith, Rachel absently mumbled, keeping the ginger in her sight. What do you think about Dormant Greater Seeds, Seeds that require conditions to bloom? The Scarlet Hand had foreknowledge about a lot of them, which is how Fable managed to get an early jump into the game and evolve their Lesser Seeds by merging into specific, compatible Greater Seeds. I can’t think that the Scarlet Hand is the only one with that kind of knowledge.

  Nia puffed out a long stream of air, scratching her neck as she thought about the question. “You think that Illa may be planted into our group, knowing who she will become, and she could be a Dormant Seed carrier? You think she might be sent by the Scarlet Hand or some other organization? I…can see it as a possibility. What can we do about it, though?”

  Rachel bridged her fingers, a deep rumble in her throat. Mmm. What…if she’s already activated the Dormant Seed? What if Cássia was the one who activated it by giving her that blood? Are they working together? Is she a pawn she’s using? Did her mother put Cássia up to give her that bottle, or was it something she decided herself?

  Running her fingers through her hair, Rachel’s gaze shifted to Scarlet as the raven-haired reaper appeared from the shadows beside her. Things are deeper and more complex than they seem, and maybe Elizabeth is having to fight her own daughter, who is rebelling, or maybe all of this is a ploy to take my attention away from the real threat… This could be an interesting week.

  “Scarlet, you’re looking better,” she greeted, showing a smile. “I heard you had some trouble. Tell me about it.”

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