Page 19 of The Never List
I nod back just as the announcer says my name again,and the same enforcer walks up behind me, taking me by the arm and hustling me toward the group of Legends like a prize mare.
My eyes tear away from the crowd, landing on the four men the enforcer is hurrying me toward. They’re captivating up close, even with the masks. Now that I draw nearer, I can feel their powers charging the air between us in an overwhelming wave that threatens to steal my breath. I check myself, burying my own power deep inside me so they can’t sense it as the enforcer jerks us to a halt so hard, I nearly trip.
I fling my free arm, trying to right my balance, but instead connect with a strong chest, a muscled arm sliding around my waist, steadying me.
“Take your hand off of her,” a deep voice says, the timbre confident and full.
The enforcer immediately releases me, and the effect has me stumbling even farther against the hard chest of the man holding me. My palms flatten over endless muscle, and I tip my head upward as I right myself.
His mask is identical to the one the man I danced with wore, except where that man’s stones were black, these are glistening rubies that match the color of his suit. I inhale at the deep blue of his eyes, the kindness in them as he looks down at me, and the absolute murderous shift they have when they look at the enforcer behind me.
“Touch her like that one more time, and you’ll lose more than that arm,” the man says, and the enforcer bows quickly before practically sprinting off the dais.
“Thanks,” I say, catching the scent of sunshine and lemon verbena as I take a step away from him.
He smooths down his immaculate suit jacket, dipping his head slightly before glancing behind him, where the other Legends wait.
One second, I’m standing among them, and the next, they’re whisking me off the dais, down the steps, and through the crowd. It parts as if some great power is shifting them out of the way, and all I can think as they herd me into a private golden elevator isthank goddess I didn’t trip in front of all these people.
I can hardly breathe around the power filling the small space as they fall two and two to my side in the elevator, the one with long black hair and the sapphires in his mask hitting a button that has us jolting down so fast my stomach flips.
I close my eyes and breathe, stifling the elated giggle that builds at the base of my throat, threatening to spill out in a mixture of joy and terror and pure madness. Because that’s what this is. I started the night off by dodging a power-drunk abusive ex, then offering a forged invitation to an event I have no business attending, and I’m ending it in an elevator with four of the most powerful beings in Lumathyst.
Breathe. Just breathe, I tell myself as I cling to something solid to focus on. Their names would be a good start. I draw up memories from the Ashlands, the posters plastered along brick walls.
The rubies, that’s Kal Erhart.
Sapphires is Axl Dawson.
Emeralds is Pierce Bertrand.
And the black diamonds…that’s Jax Lavine.
A warm shiver rakes down my body as I crane my headjust slightly to look at him, my eyes finding him effortlessly as he leans against the wall of the elevator on the other side of Pierce. I swear his purple eyes sear as they meet mine, a thousand unspoken questions churning there as I force myself to look away.
The Nightmare. That’s his nickname. That’s what the kingdom deemed him long ago. His ruthlessness has shredded through more people than is likely public knowledge.
I danced with the Nightmare.
I flirted with him. More than that, Iwantedhim.
I still do. I can still feel that humming in my blood, a pull toward where he stands in the corner.
Goddess help me.
“Your name?” Kal asks, his tone soothing. Careful, even.
I hesitate, wondering if I should give a fake name but instantly dismissing it. The forged invitation will have my real name attached, and it’s common enough that I won’t immediately be outed as an Ashlander. They’ll have to dig to figure that out. I just have to hope I have enough time to work out what to do before then.
“Rylee,” I say, hating that my voice cracks. “Rylee Gray.”
The elevator halts, the doors sliding open to a grand room filled with slick marble floors, lush furniture, and a view of the sparkling royal city. Kal holds the doors open for me, ushering me inside.
I take one step, then two, as if I expect an axe to come down on me at any moment.
“We’ll be right back, Rylee,” Kal says, his voice filledwith warmth as if he’s assuring a scared puppy.
“Where are you going?” I ask, whirling around, eyes wide as I see the elevator doors sliding closed, the image of the four of them burned on the backs of my lids before they disappear.
