Chapter Seventeen
Cricket and Radley sat in the backseat of the town car. Cricket would have preferred to drive there but etiquette dictated she never drove anywhere of importance. Of course, no one knew it was her, but it was best to follow protocol for when her father found out her plans.
She had her hood down while inside the car. The windows were tinted dark and mirrored so that no one would be able to see inside. Still, it was strange to be heading toward a party where her identity was a secret. Normally, it made the news when she walked in somewhere. It was almost thrilling to be incognito.
The entrance ball and race was still a little over a week away. The introduction party was a new event for many reasons. The main one being the old vamp king had been corrupt and tried to arrange his own son to be killed in the races in the race a year ago. He’d added an additional six teams to the race without the rest of the council’s approval, causing a stir. Now that Yophiel was King, changes were being made. Plus, the event was another excuse to televise and profit from the racers. Money was always an influence.
Cricket couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss. It had been brief, but for that brief meeting of lips, it had been everything she’d expected. If not for the party, she was sure they wouldn’t have made it anywhere at all. She could still feel the shape of his lips against hers as she sat with her hands folded elegantly in her lap to keep from touching him.
Radley’s eyes were heated beside her, those glowing eyes alternating between looking out the window and looking at her. The smirk that spread across his face when he saw her tension made her want to bite him, but she refrained. Silly wolf would probably like that.
Reaching up toward the button panel overhead, Radley closed the partition between the driver and them and looked at her. Without waiting for her to speak, he touched his hand to her knee, making her jump at the contact. He chuckled.
“Relax, sugar plum. You’re so tense, I can smell it.”
Glancing at him, Cricket winced. “You’re smelling me?”
His smile turned wicked. “I can smell your arousal, too.”
Her breath stuttered at the look in his eyes. “Great.” She started to fidget again.
“Relax, Cricket. You know how much is going to happen once you reveal yourself. No use being tense now.”
“I can’t help it if you kissed me and sent my hormones into overdrive,” she grunted.
“I’d argue that you kissed me,” he purred. “But if you’re a good girl, maybe I’ll promise to drive those hormones later for you.”
She snapped her thighs together. Holy shit. The alpha on a mission was far sexier than when he wasn’t.
“My father will be here,” she rasped, suddenly afraid for him. “You must not reveal we’re in any way fond of each other.”
Radley’s brow raised. “Don’t reveal that I’m imagining you riding me with your wings flared wide behind you. Got it.”
“Radley,” she groaned, pressing a hand to her cheek where she knew she was probably blushing.
“I know, sugar plum.” He grinned. “I know what’s at stake. I’ll be on my best behavior and wear my mask and watch your back.” The frown that suddenly pulled at his lips drew her attention. “Have you thought about the fact that other teams might want to get back at the Snapdragon family through you?”
“I have,” Cricket nodded. “They’ll be afraid of my father but in the Races, I’ll be a temptation most won’t want to resist.” She bit her lip. “It’s not too late to back out. I’ll understand—”
“I’m staying,” Radley interrupted, settling back in his seat. His hand still rested on her knee, burning her like a brand.
“For the debt?” she asked, looking at him from beneath her lashes.
Radley lifted her chin and forced her eyes to his. “For you.”
Cricket very nearly leaned forward to kiss him. She would have if not for the piece of flaming paper that suddenly appeared in the air before her. She panicked and jumped back with nowhere to go.
“What the fuck?” Radley growled and tried to grab it to avoid it dropping on her lap but his hand passed right through. The worry was pointless, however, because the paper didn’t burn her. The fire was cold to the touch.
“It’s a letter,” Cricket breathed as she lifted it into her hands to study the elegant script across it. “It isn’t signed.”
“What’s it say?” he asked, leaning over to get a better look.
It was strange to see the paper burning in her hands, to realize it wasn’t hurting her. Magic like that came from strength.
“Beware the corruption in the races, Lady Snapdragon. Watch deeper than the surface and keep your wolf close.”
The moment she read it out loud, the letter vanished from her hands, nothing left behind as evidence that it had been there at all.
Radley blinked. “Someone knows you’re in the Races. Someone powerful.”
“And they’re warning us,” Cricket whispered. “This is bigger than us.”
Radley met her eyes, emotions passing between them. Worry, fear, curiosity. Something big was happening, and they would be playing a part whether they liked it or not.
“Then we best heed that warning,” Radley finally said. He reached forward and gently lifted the hood over her head until only her lips were revealed. With the glamour, they would see nothing but her lips, keeping the rest of her face in shadow the entire time.
“Time to put on a show,” she murmured, but her heart throbbed in her chest.
She wasn’t sure if it was fear or something else, but she took three deep breathes, and when the car rolled to a stop and the door opened, she took the hand Radley offered and climbed out.
Let the show begin.