As I looked at myself in the mirror, I thought that we looked more like we were going to some kind of ball than a party. Then it hit me.
“Shit.”
“What?” she blinked. Realization spread across my face, then on hers as she realized herself that I knew.
“Linds-”
“Okay, no, you just- ugh! No, don’t even-”
“Lindsay!”
“Shh!” she hissed. “It’ll be fun! But you have to act surprised!”
“What the hell is this for?”
“It’s a surprise!” she grinned, taking my hand in hers and pulling me toward the door. “Don’t tell them you figured it out, or I might quite literally have to avoid Death all night, and that’s not how I want to spend my first royal ball.”
I groaned as she dragged me out and went to rub my face with my hands when she screeched at me.
“Ah, ah, ah! Don’t you dare ruin all the time I spent on your face!”
I sighed and settled for rolling my eyes as we headed for the main room. From down the hall, I could hear live music and voices. My heart beat faster, and I began to wonder how difficult it would be to world jump to the Moonstone Castle without anyone noticing.
If you leave, we’ll have to chase you. I heard Syrion’s voice in my head. Then again, that might be fun.
You guys are so dead, I responded to both him and Daath, whose consciousness I could also sense.
Relax, the King of Death purred. You’ll have a ball.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
I rolled my eyes as Lindsay and I reached the door and she pushed it open. The music grew louder, and before me, the hall was filled with every creature I could imagine and just about everyone I’d ever met. Against the far wall, there was a small orchestra playing music. Across from them, there was a wall of waiters holding trays with drinks, which seemed massively silly to me when tables existed, and on the dais where their thrones sat stood Daath and Syrion.
Though they normally dressed quite formally, even they looked more grand than usual. I didn’t know why I thought this, but I got the sense that Lindsay had gone out of her way to design their wardrobes, as well. They each wore black dress pants and topcoats in their respective colors of black and white with dramatic gold buttons down the center and gold patterns embroidered on one shoulder and the opposite sleeve. I couldn’t help but smile at how handsome they looked, but the longer I admired their outfits, the quicker I realized Lindsay had to have designed them. There was no other way they’d ever have chosen clothes for themselves that fit so tightly. I could practically see the definition of their pecs through the coats.
The Kings made their way over to us and bowed.
“Thank you, Lindsay,” Syrion nodded.
“We’ll discuss how she figured the whole thing out later,” Daath said with a sickeningly sweet smile and a threatening tone. I rolled my eyes and hit his arm gently. He was joking, of course, but she wouldn’t get that.
“I figured out that we were going to a ball because she was dressing me for a ball. Give me some credit for having more than one brain cell and leave my best friend alone.”
Lindsay looked pale at Daath’s joke, but smiled and laughed at my response. “I always wanted a best friend who’d face Death for me. I never imagined it would be so literal, but hey.” She shrugged.
I smiled and hugged her. “Thank you for helping me get ready. No doubt, I’d have been the worst dressed person here if I was getting ready on my own.”
“On the contrary,” Daath smiled. “You look stunning in anything and everything.”
“And nothing,” Syrion added playfully.
I smirked at them. “You’re just trying to win me back over after threatening Linds. I’m not entirely convinced yet. I think I’ll spend the whole night dancing with her just to make you two pay.”
They laughed as I swung my arm around my best friend, whose attention I’d already lost as she watched an Unseelie man walk across the room. I looked at her and rolled my eyes.
“Go get him. And don’t drool too much.”
She blushed but giggled as she kissed my cheek. “Love ya!”
“Love you too,” I laughed as she wandered off to seduce the fae. I rested my hands on my hips as I looked at the Lords of the Night. “Well, what exactly is this supposed to be for? She wouldn’t tell me.”
“Darling,” Syrion smiled. “This is your Coronation Ball.”
My smile fell, and I felt my cheeks flush red. “My what?”
Daath laughed at my expression and grabbed the edge of my chin with his thumb and forefinger. “You’re so cute when you look like that. Flustered is a nice color on you.”
“Oh, stop that!” I blushed harder, swatting his hand away. “You really mean it? Everyone is here for me?”
“Yes,” Syrion nodded. “They’re here to celebrate you. We invited everyone we could think of, and they’re all anxious to see you.”
“What?” I blinked, glancing around the room, focusing on the guests for the first time. Scattered amongst the sea of faces, which included all the reapers I’d ever met, were Maluc and Hestus, Siena, Gloria, Petunia, Serriah, and against the wall behind Daath and Syrion stood Kalian, his eyes on me.
“Go,” Syrion said, coming over to kiss me quickly. “Go talk to everyone. They’re all here for you. We won’t be so
