Ominous (Private 13)

Suddenly my mouth went dry. Someone whirled past, air-kissing me and wishing me many happy returns, but I didn’t even register who it was.

“Are you kidding me?” I asked.

She shook her head slowly from side to side, not taking her eyes off mine. I tugged her away from my other friends toward the wall.

“Which ones?” I asked. I basically had the list memorized, though I hadn’t tried any of them myself today. There had been too much to do in preparation for the party, but I was also kind of … angry at the book for failing me. I hadn’t even looked in its direction since last night.

Yes, I was giving a book the cold shoulder.

“Well, Levitas, first of all,” Kiki whispered, looking around furtively. “Forget the spoon. I made an entire set of silverware dance.”

My pulse raced in my veins, tickling every inch of my body. “Seriously?”

“Yep,” Kiki said, grinning. “And I got Ventus to work too.”

I blinked. “Wait. You made wind?”

Kiki nodded proudly. “I moved the curtains in my room and everything.”

I could hardly breathe I was so excited. “Kiki, do you realize what this means?”

“I know,” she said.

I grabbed her hand and looked around. “Come on. You have to show me.”

“Where? This place is crawling with people. Not to mention security detail,” she said.

“I’ll find a place.”

We were just stepping away from the wall when a waiter stepped up next to us and handed me a small, square card.

“What’s this?” I asked him.

“A message for the birthday girl,” he said before moving on.

I looked at Kiki. That was weird. And weird, considering our current circumstances, was not good. I glanced behind me and felt bolstered by Sam’s presence about ten feet away.

“Open it,” Kiki said.

Fingers quaking, I tore open the small envelope. Inside was a flat card with a message scrawled across it in familiar handwriting.

Reed,

Meet me in Noelle’s room for a birthday surprise.

Love,

Josh

I felt a momentary rush of relief, but it didn’t last long. The last time I’d been passed a note during a party, it had been a fake—a note from Dash that had actually been from Sabine, telling me to meet him on the roof. And the rest was awful history.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my clutch. I exhaled loudly and yanked it out. It was a text from Josh.

STOP STRESSING. IT’S REALLY ME. I JUST WANT TO GIVE

YOU YOUR PRESENT IN PRIVATE. NOW GET YOUR BUTT

UP HERE!