Endless Night (Fate's Intent Book 3) by April Bowles Read Free Book Online Page B

That I wasn’t coming.”
    “Well, I don’t think it matters.” Zayden said. “The point is they know we’re here and I’m sure they don’t like it.”
    “Let them come.” Darius replied. “Something tells me they already planned for this.”
    The room was silent and I was thinking of all the possible outcomes. If they really planned this, they were the ones to know what would happen next. All we could do now was wait for it to happen.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 12
     
     
    Adele
     
    “So, what’s our look?” Kole asked. “Happy?”
    My eyes rolled. I didn’t want to be here and him joking about it didn’t help. “If you can act like it. I’ll be fighting to put on my mask.”
    He laughed. “All right. Pleasant to be here, it is.”
    We approached the ballroom and Ruby got to slip in a more private way like the lucky girl she is while I had to suffer through this public entrance. There were tons of people here tonight, talking with food and drink. Noise level was high and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Everyone but me.
    “I know.” Kole said. “It’s awful but we can make it. Here. I have your actual mask.”
    He held his hand out to me and an elegant black mask appeared in his hand with black feathers to match, well—us.
    “Thanks.” I took it and put it on. “Why did I agree to this?”
    Kole laughed, finding amusement in my misery. “I doubt you did and I have something else.”
    “What?”
    “So your father can recognize you. He said you’d know what it is.”
    He pulled a pouch from his pocket and handed it to me. Curious, I opened it and pulled out a silver chain that had a large tear drop stone hung on it. It sparkled many colors from the light. I could see myself in it and he was right. I did know what it was.
    “This was my mother’s.”
    He looked down at it like he was seeing it for the first time and paused there while examining it. “Really? This stone—”
    “It’s very rare.” I said, snatching it from him. “There are only two known in the world.”
    “No. Let me see it.” I held it out but made sure it stayed in my hand. “I’ve seen this before.”
    “Couldn’t have. My father locked it away when my mother died.”
    “No. It wasn’t like this. It was this shape but it was smaller.”
    My eyes widened. “You’ve seen the other one? When? Where?”
    He paused, maybe thinking if he was going to tell me at all. “Never mind. Forget it. Maybe it was this one.”
    Now I didn’t know if he was telling the truth or trying to hide it from me.
    “We should just go. The sooner you get in there, the sooner you can leave.”
    “All right.” I took a long breath while putting the necklace on and we stepped in, me holding Kole’s arm for appearances.
    People instantly started to notice. It was like everyone stopped just so they could look. It was one of the worst things about doing this. Small pleasant greetings were made as we walked through the ballroom but I felt like all eyes were on me; judging through their masks.
    I was grateful when I spotted my father standing with the other military leaders, holding a glass of wine. He wasn’t too unnoticeable. It was a military outfit that only the General could wear.
    We approached him from behind and everyone else around him saw us coming. They stopped talking just to look.
    “What?” My father looked back as well and saw me making my way to him. He smiled and became overwhelmed to see me like he was glad I actually came. “You made it and wore it.”
    “Father.” I replied respectfully while stepping away from Kole. My hands were placed on his forearms and we leaned into each other, kissing cheeks.
    “Thank you for the escort, Kole.”
    “Of course, General. Whenever you need me to bring her home—let me know.”
    “Thank you. That’ll do.”
    Kole nodded his head and disappeared among the crowd. I wanted to go after him and keep him in my sights at all times but I couldn’t pull