Page 70 of The Bound Zodiac

“You haven’t even put it on, Jupe,” Lydia said, unimpressed with my pacing. “We’re going to be late and you’re the guest of honor.”

Kassie peered at me over a tube of mascara. “I’d be nervous too. But you’re one of the coolest chicks I’ve ever met, and I only met you a week ago. And you look like an actual goddess, which should help with the whole confidence thing.”

I tried to laugh and failed. “I’m going to barf on the stage,” I said. “Just watch. It’ll be a viral headline in the morning. ‘Ophis Loses It, Takes Down Entire Assembly With Her Vomit.’”

Lydia cackled. “Ten bucks says you could weaponize that if you wanted to.”

I grinned, finally, and gave in. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

The dress was gorgeous. Midnight black silk down to the floor. The back was totally open, exposing miles of my skin, especially since my hair was up in a super high, super sleek ponytail, not a single strand out of place.

Valeria approached with the eyeliner and I let her do it without complaint, mostly because my hands were shaking too bad and also because she was way more skilled than I’d give her credit for. Three minutes later, I had black wings that could kill a man.

“Lipstick,” Lydia demanded, and I grabbed the wine red tube on my nightstand and swiped a bit of color on my bloodless lips, completing the look.

Noodle slithered down from his perch and wrapped around my neck, draping himself perfectly so his glossy grayish black scales contrasted with my skin and the dress. He looked like living jewelry.

‘You pretty,’ he said, flicking his tongue lazily. ‘No panic…’

“I’m not panicking.”

‘A throne of lies for the queen of liars…’

I stuck my tongue out at him, but he just yawned.

There was a knock at the door. Lydia answered it while I put in some earrings. It was my own mom, stepping in with her phone already in hand for pictures, eyes shining.

“Holy crap,” she said. “You look incredible, baby.”

I rolled my eyes, but she waved her phone and started snapping photos anyway. “Your father’s with the guys downstairs, having a drink before the shitshow. His words, not mine.”

I relaxed just a little. “Is he nervous too?”

Mom snorted. “He’s fine. He’s more worried about you. He said to tell you he loves you, and if anyone gives you a hard time tonight, he’s going to start a brawl so we can smuggle you out.”

Lydia giggled. “He and my dad were already plotting earlier. Tye’s trying to convince them to spike the punch.”

I snorted. “Classic.”

Mom surveyed the room, taking everything in. “You ladies look amazing. I’ve never been in a room with so many beautiful women at once.”

Valeria inclined her head like a queen. “Thank you, Mrs. Black.”

Mom came in close, looking at my face. “Are you okay, Jupe?”

I shook my head. “I’m freakin’ terrified. If I lose control during the demo, I could hurt someone. I know the magic is the same, but this isn’t the Nexus chamber. If something goes wrong, it’s not just me and the guys. It’s a few hundred innocent bystanders.”

Her hand was warm on my arm. “You’ve trained for this. You have nine of the best guardians in the galaxy watching your back. And you have Noodle. If I trust anyone not to drop-kick a bunch of bureaucrats into deep space, it’s you.”

‘Drop-kick,’ Noodle repeated with relish.

“Thanks, Mom,” I said. “But for the love of all that is holy, never let the guys hear you call them guardians of the galaxy, because I’ll be forced to hear it for the next hundred years.”

She laughed and hugged me carefully, making sure not to mess up my hair, and then headed back out, promising to see me downstairs before the doors opened.

As soon as she left, Lydia exhaled, all the bravado draining out for a second. “Okay but, like, are you actually ready for this?”

I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I don’t have a choice. It’s showtime.”