Midnight Beauties (Grim Lovelies 2)

King Kaspar doubled over, pushing his son away to keep him from ministering to him. His sleek black crown slid down his head. A team of acrobats took to the center of the ballroom in beautiful blue costumes that were enchanted so they’d change color with every somersault and tumble, and Anouk lost sight of the Lunar Court.

She sighed. “I suppose the show must go on, then.”

Rennar raised his glass. “To the future princess of the Parisian Court.”

Viggo gave Anouk a doubting look, but when she shrugged and picked up her glass, he did the same.

“To me,” she said.

They all clinked glasses.

The sound rang out like a bell and she flinched.

As soon as she pressed the glass to her lips, a commotion came from the hall. The music stopped. A dog came charging in, followed by Petra, who was wearing sunglasses and the most fabulous coat Anouk had ever seen, charcoal-black wool with gold embroidery that caught the light and looked like live coals. Anouk wasn’t entirely sure it wasn’t enchanted to be actually smoldering.

“Have room for a couple of late arrivals?”

Little Beau ran to Anouk, and she dropped to her knees and pulled him into a hug. The smile vanished from Rennar’s face. He muttered something about fleas and drained his glass of wine.

“Oh, I missed you, sweet fellow!” Anouk cupped the dog’s face and kissed his snout. She looked up at Petra. “Thank you for watching out for him. I guess . . . I guess you couldn’t make him human?”

“Sorry. That spell is beyond my ability.” Petra was already pouring herself some wine. She looked different, and it wasn’t just the beautiful coat. Once she’d made it through the blue flames, it had been impossible not to notice her smooth skin and her lustrous red hair, even though she’d been naked and dusted in soot. Anouk touched the gold studs on the coat’s shoulders and gave Petra a questioning look.

“It’s a Faustine original,” Petra said.

“I wondered.” Anouk felt a stab of loss at the thought of her own Faustine jacket, which she’d left at the Cottage.

“Speaking of which . . .” Petra reached into a black leather handbag draped over one arm. Though it was a small bag, she whispered and drew out of it a silk jacket. Anouk gasped.

“My jacket!”

“It was in Little Beau’s stall. He clawed up some of the embroidery. I can whisper it fixed for you, but personally, I like the distressed effect.”

Anouk ran her hand down the jacket lovingly. Beau had clawed through the creature’s widespread wings. Multicolored threads hung loose and dangled like fringe. She pressed her face into it, breathing deep. For a second, she felt hopeful. She’d gotten her jacket back. Maybe there was some way she could regain magic too.

Petra’s long lashes blinked lazily behind champagne-colored sunglasses. “You missed the Witchery Feast. Jolie and Sam and Karla and Lise were there. Since Rennar put the coals out, we couldn’t continue with the trials. I think the girls were secretly relieved. The Minaret Court and the Barren Court both wanted me

in their region—?you should have seen them clamor! The things they offered me—?estates, cars, servants, horses.” She tossed back some wine and sighed contentedly. “Naturally I told them to go stuff themselves. My loyalty is with Paris. Montélimar is the closest thing I have to a home. So I cast a whisper, took Little Beau, and stole one of the Crimson Court’s cars.”

“I suppose congratulations are in order,” Viggo said, tossing back his black hair. “It doesn’t feel like so long ago that you and I were playing chase in the lavender fields. And now look at you, so different, so . . .”

“Not a little boy anymore?” Petra gave him a droll look.

“I was going to say how powerful you look.”

“Sure you were. Now, are we ignoring the fact that a coven of insane witches have awoken an ancient dark magic, or are we coming up with a plan?”

“Wedding first,” Rennar said. “Plan after.”

Petra raised her glass again. “So we have a few final days of revelry before we’re all destroyed. Great.” Her eyes fell on Anouk and she got up and pulled her by the wrist to the privacy of the next table, where she leaned in close. “Are you okay?”

Anouk squeezed her jacket and looked away. “You saw what happened at the Baths.”

“You’re alive, that’s all that matters.” She saw the melted bell around Anouk’s neck and grimaced. “You really want to hold on to a failed crux? I didn’t think you were that morbid.”

Anouk gave a bitter laugh, clutching the bell. “If I ever get a second chance, I have to start by understanding where I went wrong before.” Then she dropped her hand and peered closely at Petra. “How did you know what your crux was? What did you do differently?”

Petra held out her hands and shrugged. “I haven’t a clue. Ten girls who were all clever and deserving. Ten girls who all wanted it as bad as I did. You all seemed somehow complete to me. I don’t know if that makes sense. Even Frederika, crazy as she was, seemed true to herself. It was like you all belonged there, at the Cottage. I always felt like an impostor, in a way, like I never belonged anywhere. Maybe that’s what happens when you’re abducted by a witch as a baby. It didn’t really bother me—?I accepted that feeling a long time ago—?but I’d have thought one of you would have chosen the right crux, not me.” Petra pressed a quick kiss onto the top of Anouk’s head. “For what it’s worth, you would have made a great witch. Maybe you’ll get a second chance.” And then she grabbed Viggo’s hand and pulled him toward the dance floor.