Page 126 of Wicked Lord

Maybe my serenity stemmed from the fact that it wasn’t real. We weren’t actually getting hitched.

A laugh echoed in the back of my mind. Our relationship had started out as fake. Our engagement could easily become real. A smile tipped the edges of my lips as I pictured Lorelei walking toward me in a wedding dress. She’d look so damn perfect.

“Do you like this one?” Melanie’s voice yanked me from the fantasy, her blue eyes filled with dollar signs.

I gave a noncommittal shrug. “It’s nice. I just don’t know if it’s right for her.”

If I actually intended to marry Lorelei, I would either check the family vault for a vintage ring or have one custom-made.

She couldn’t keep my mother’s ring, and I wanted to put something on that damn finger right now to finally convince Haversham he’d lost.

“You’re really going through with this?”

I jumped at Killian’s voice as he appeared over my shoulder like a damn stalker.

“Uh, yeah, I am.” My lips thinned as I took in his grimace. “Is there something you want to say about it?”

His gaze flicked to Melanie, hypnotizing her with his suddenly charming smile. “Can you give us a minute, sweetheart?”

The brunette nearly lost it, and a deep flush spread into the apples of her cheeks. “Sure. No problem. Just call my name when you’re ready.”

Once Melanie sashayed to the other side of the store, pretending to rearrange a display case of earrings while watching us, Killian leaned against the counter.

“Are you sure about this, Ax?” He lifted his palms when I opened my mouth to go on the defensive. “I’m only looking out for you. Not that long ago, you were drooling after Cordelia Chesson, and now you want to fucking walk down the aisle with Lorelei.”

I set the ring back in the black velvet tray and plucked another giant rock. Of course my best friend had picked up on my massive crush.

“My feelings for Cordi weren’t as deep as I’d thought. I didn’t realize it until I started this thing with Lorelei.” Everything paled in comparison to how I felt for her. I would literally risk anything for my sweet, brave, sassy blondie.

Killian dragged his hand through his dark brown locks and sighed. “I just don’t get it, man.”

“You don’t know Lore like I do. Everything you’ve seen of her is only a façade.” They might have slept together, but he had no idea of the real girl behind that flawless, aloof exterior. “She’s kinder and sweeter than you could imagine. And she’s vulnerable beyond all that armor.”

“Lorelei Battenberg vulnerable? That concept doesn’t compute in my head.” He rested his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “But I can’t ignore what’s right in front of my eyes when you two are together. You’re almost as sickening as Lexi and me.”

I snorted on a laugh. “No one can beat you two in that department.”

“So you really love her?”

“Yeah, I do.” The words easily flowed from my mouth like they were the truth.

Were they? Did Ireallylove Lorelei?

Our phones both suddenly pinged with a text, and I frowned when I checked the message on my screen.

“Why is Vaughn calling an emergency meeting?” Killian tapped his forearm where the serpent and dagger tattoo stained his skin. “I’m so over his bullshit.”

“Tell me about it.” I swallowed hard and shoved my phone back into my pocket. Getting a summons from Vaughn usually meant trouble for me.

The arrogant smile stretching over Vaughn’s lips as he stood in the catacomb atrium spread chills down my spine. I didn’t like the satisfied glint in his dark eyes either.

“Now that we’ve gotten the business of the upcoming year out of the way, I’d like to make an announcement.” His gaze roamed over the crowd of Lords—no masks or cloaks required for this—and halted on me. “It seems congratulations are in order for one of our brothers.”

Oh, shit.

“Axel Vanderhart has proposed to the lovely Lorelei Battenberg.” Vaughn flicked his hand, and the youngest members entered the archaic stone room with silver trays of champagne. “Let’s all congratulate him and toast to his future.”

Slate wrapped his arm around my neck and tried to put me in a headlock. “When I saw that shit go down at Royal’s house, I thought I’d had one too many cocktails.”