I am unreasonably excited while I wait for Lukas to get dressed, for one single reason. He grabbed the tie. He’s going to wear the pink tie. This feels like a major accomplishment, somehow. Convincing Lukas to wear an actual colour is no small feat. Especially since I’m ninety percent sure he’s doing it just to make me happy. It’s not like I want to change him or anything. If he’s comfortable and happy in his endless sea of dark suits, that’s fine. But I love bright colours. And it’s really nice to see him appreciating something I like, even if it’s just this once. The bathroom door opens, and Lukas steps out, all sharp lines and dark grey fabric, with the pink tie neatly knotted at his collar. I squeal.
“You’re wearing it!” I exclaim, practically vibrating with excitement. Lukas shrugs, as if this is completely normal.
“You left it out for me.” He points out.
“Well, yeah, but I didn’t think you’d actually wear it.” I grin, wandering closer to adjust the tie, just to have an excuse to touch it. Lukas tilts his head, watching me with faint amusement.
“Why would you leave it out for me, or even buy it in the first place, if you didn’t think I’d wear it?” He questions. I blink.
“I don’t know… Optimism?” I answer casually. Lukas laughs, the sound warm and genuine, and before I even realise what’s happening, his hand lands on my waist. My brain stutters slightly. I’m just shocked he’s actually wearing it. He always sticks to black and grey.
“I pick all black and grey because it’s the easiest way to make sure my clothes always match.” He explains, matter of factly.
“But I can… Try something different every now and then.” He adds. Lukas tugs lightly at the end of the tie, like he’s still getting used to it.
“I figure this time I’m matching you, so it’s still okay. Besides, it’d be rude to refuse a gift… And it might help me…” His voice lowers slightly.
“Concentrate on you when there are lots of people around.” He finishes. My breath catches. Why does that make me blush? Lukas notices. And of course, he’s amused.
“Tell me something.” He starts, his tone shifting, softer, lower, almost teasing. I look up at him suspiciously.
“What?” I ask.
“If you knew the answer would be yes…” He murmurs, watching me far too closely.
“What would you ask for right now?” He asks, looking me straight in the eye. My brain short circuits. I don’t even get the chance to process what I want, I just react.
I jump back two full steps, like I’ve just been electrocuted. Lukas’s eyebrows raise in mild surprise, then he smirks.
“Huh.” He tilts his head, like he’s filing that reaction away for later.
“Apparently nothing you want me to hear.” He says calmly. I turn bright red.
“That was an unfair question!” I blurt out. Lukas just smiles.
“Was it?” He responds simply. Damn him. I cross my arms stubbornly, glaring at him. which, unfortunately, only makes him look even more entertained. For a long, tense second, he just stands there, smirking. Like he knows exactly what I was thinking, which is impossible because I don’t even know what my answer was. Just that he was getting me flustered and that whatever thought I was about to think would inevitably have embarrassed me. Still, he doesn’t push. He just smooths down the front of his suit, completely unbothered.
“Are we ready to go, then?” He says. How is he so relaxed? He’s about to take a massive risk, and somehow he looks like we’re just going out for a casual dinner. I sigh, louder than necessary.
“Let’s get this over with.” I grumble. Lukas grins.
“That’s the spirit.”
We reach the casino, and it is… Not what I pictured at all. I had this mental image of a sketchy, run down place with dim lighting, stained carpets, and a crowd of sleazy, shifty eyed people I’d want to avoid. But this? This place is almost elegant. Sleek, polished floors reflect the glow of chandeliers overhead, and sharply dressed patrons filter in and out with an air of effortless wealth. It’s nothing like the grimy den of crime I imagined. Which is ridiculous, really, because I did research it. I saw the pictures online. But somehow, I hadn’t quite believed them. I suppose it’s because of Solem. I’ve built up this image of him as a monster, a man who manipulates and abuses children, kills people, and wants to raise the dead just because he can. Someone like that shouldn’t be running a place that looks like it belongs in a high roller’s paradise. It doesn’t fit. Maybe I need to rethink my mental picture of him. Less obvious villain, more puppet master, pulling strings from behind the scenes. I shake the thought away as we approach the entrance, joining the short but steady line forming at the doors. That’s when I notice something that should have been obvious from the start. They’re checking I.D. A tight knot of unease forms in my stomach. People might not recognise Lukas, or me for that matter, but handing over legal identification? Yeah. That feels like a terrible idea. Who knows who’s watching? Screw it. We came this far. I can figure this out. Lukas, beside me, notices my hesitation. He arches an eyebrow, voice low.
“What’s your plan?” He asks. I shrug, buying time.
“I don’t know yet… Cleavage?” I joke, mostly to mess with him. His gaze immediately drops to my neckline before snapping back up to my face, scowl firmly in place.
“I don’t think so.” He mutters, almost sulking. I laugh, because, honestly? It serves him right for that question earlier that embarrassed me.
“Relax, I haven’t figured it out yet. Just give me a minute.” I say, shaking my head. I pull out my driver’s license and examine it. Could I alter it? A simple illusion, just enough to change the name, blur the details… No. That kind of precise control is beyond me. My brother could probably do it, but me? I’d end up making it look like an expired library card. The line shortens. Too fast. I need a plan, and I need one now. We reach the front. The bouncer, a burly guy with a tired expression, holds out his hand expectantly. Lukas, because he actually trusts me, hands over his I.D. like this isn’t a potential disaster. My pulse kicks up. I shove mine into the guy’s hand too, overlapping our cards, trying to delay the guy seeing Lukas’s name, even for just a second. Then, in a blind leap of desperation, I cast a spell. No overthinking it, just raw instinct.
A surge of magic flares through me, small and unfocused. It won’t be anything major or destructive. I just need this guy to be too distracted to read the names on our cards. The bouncer’s face twitches. His eyelids flutter. For a moment, I think he’s caught on, that I’ve screwed this up completely. Then… He sneezes. Loudly. The force of it nearly bends him in half.
Did I do that?
“Sorry.” He mutters, sniffling. He lifts our I.D.s for another look, squinting… And sneezes again. This time, harder. I swear his eyeballs nearly bulge out of his head. I hold my breath. The guy shakes his head and tries once more to focus on our cards, but a third sneeze racks his body before he can even register a single word. His eyes are watering now. His face is flushed. He barely manages to shove the I.D.s back into our hands before doubling over with another fit.
“Just… Go in.” He chokes out between sneezes, waving us through with a desperate swipe of his hand. I don’t hesitate. I grab Lukas by the wrist and pull him inside before the guy recovers.
The second we’re past the entrance, I can’t help but grin. Mission accomplished.