Chapter 139 Fixing blackmail
The audience gave a robust applaud at the end of the speech, a few people rising to their feet.
And finally, Finn started to turn back to me, but Caroline said something just then, and he paused to respond to her.
Mordaine was still watching us, and even from this distance, I could see his eyes beginning to darken. Above the table, I appeared as calm as a duck, but under the table, my muscles thrummed, my body trembling.
“What is it going to be, sweet Lys?” Gianna pressed. She reached for her purse with her eyes still pinned on me, unclasped it, and pulled her phone out. “I can text Fentone right now, and give him the answers he’s beginning to seek desperately.”
“Gianna.” My voice was impressively calm, even though my claws were now piercing through the flesh of my palm. “You know this by now that I cannot convince a man to be with you. Speak to him, if he likes you…”
“Nonsense,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “Convince, cajole, I don't care. Just set him on a date with me, and I will handle the rest myself.”
My palms felt warm and sticky now, and I hurriedly moved them from my lap to the side of my chair to avoid a blood-soaked dress. “I will never understand why you do these things to me.” I whispered, out of breath.
Gianna cursed.
Cedric glanced at us then. Gianna had her back almost fully turned to him, so he could not see her face. But he could see mine, and his brows wrinkled in worry at whatever he saw there.
“You sure know how to play the victim,” Gianna whispered harshly, frustration lacing her tone like poison. “Just do what I ask, I'll hate to ruin your second marriage opportunity.”
Something snapped inside me the moment she said that. The thought of what she had me do to Hale years ago made me want to growl. But then a large, cool hand covered mine.
The effect was instantaneous, as if I had been dunked in an ice bathtub after a marathon. My claws sheathed immediately, and my body felt like mine again.
I looked up at Finn, who was watching me with concern, his eyes bright pools of panic at the sight of blood on my hand. “It seems my sister has taken a fancy to you.” I said loudly enough for Cedric Claire to hear.
Kade and Caroline stopped speaking immediately, and turned to me.
“Lys.” Gianna gasped.
I felt sorry for poor Cedric Claire, having to suffer an embarrassment like this. But I was so fed up with Gianna, and I decided then that she needed rehab. Maybe not the awful wolf one Mom and Dad took her to in the past, but she needed mental help.
“She would like you both to go on a date, what do you think?” I smiled sweetly, looking between my sister and Finn, acting the role of a professional matchmaker.
“Lys,” Gianna repeated fiercely, tugging at my dress under the table as Kade and Caroline stared open-mouthed, stealing glances at Cedric Claire, who was getting more furious by the minute.
“She’s joking.” Gianna tried to smile now, looking round the table. “We have been pulling these types of stunts on each other since we were girls.” She spoke fast, tripping over her words.
She reached for Cedric’s hand, but he pulled away. The tension at our table could be cut with a knife. Mordaine finally looked away.
My muscles were still spasming from the aftershocks of almost losing control, and I desperately needed air.
As soon as the orchestra started, I leaned towards Finn. “Excuse me. No, I need to be alone,” I added quickly as he started to rise. He frowned, gearing to argue. “We will draw too much attention. Give me ten minutes, and then you can come.”
I rose before he could stop me, and hurried out of the hall as waitstaffs began to round the hall to discuss menus.
Outside, the air was painfully cold as snow settled on my hair, fell onto my dress. All the performers from earlier were gone, the red carpet area empty, and the surroundings were quiet and almost dark.
I hurried down the tarmac, in the opposite direction we had taken earlier, as I decided to go inspect the area I would be performing over the next few days.
The blood had dried in my hands now, clinging to my skin in crusts and looking like henna beneath the golden torches that lit my path. I was panting, breaking into a short run every few steps.
But I halted suddenly, looking up with a frown. This temperature was cold enough for even a werewolf to need a jacket. Why then did I feel warm enough to be out here in a thin silk dress?
I hitched up my skirt and started to half-run, enjoying the temporary feeling of freedom and deciding to think of nothing else. I ran past the multi-tiered glass and steel facade of the convention complex where all those dignitaries would congregate by morning for the business part of this ceremony.
Council sessions during the day, balls and lavish parties at night. Almost like the Victorian era again.
It was in the large cobblestone courtyard I first wondered if it was wise to come here all on my own. But I thought about how I had kicked the dragon in that lake, the force my feet had created, and continued walking.
A large curtain covered the stage I would be performing from the front, but when I walked further in, I saw the columns and beams and steel strong enough to support every one of us midair.
I threw my head back then to stare up at the very top, where I would be hanging from. This was not enough. I ran into the building and got into an elevator that would take me to the top of the building for a better view.
When the elevator doors slid open, I walked down the ghostly hallway to find the restroom first. There, I washed my hands, which had healed already.
Then I finally stepped out of the restroom, and was heading to take the stairs to the rooftop when I froze. A man stood by the balcony, mostly shrouded in the shadows, but there was that easily distinguishable feature about him. His hair