Chapter 69

Aria

We’d been at this for hours now, primping and prodding in preparation for the masquerade tonight. Bella was like my drill sergeant, commanding me to don this color eyeshadow, smear this lipstick shade across my lips, spray just the right amount of perfume. It felt like we were teens again, back at the youth home, preparing for prom.

“Hold still,” Bella commanded, wielding the mascara wand like it was a weapon.

“I am holding still,” I protested, trying not to blink as she leaned in.

She sighed dramatically. “If you keep squirming, you’ll end up with raccoon eyes.”

I chuckled. “Fine, fine. I’ll be as still as a statue.”

She finished applying the mascara and stepped back to admire her work. “There! You look absolutely stunning.”

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. The elegant black dress hugged my curves perfectly, and the Venetian cat mask matched everything perfectly. Bella really had done an excellent job with my makeup—smoky eyes and a deep red lip. And my hair was styled perfectly too, an elegant updo with subtle gold glitter hairspray that shimmered when I moved.

“You’re a miracle worker,” I admitted.

She grinned. “I know.”

Bella herself looked breathtaking in her burgundy gown, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders in loose curls. Her gold lace mask complemented her dress beautifully, and her blue eyeshadow made the brown color of her eyes pop.

But as we gathered our things to head out, Bella’s gaze fell on my neck. “Hey, your hair straightener burn is still there,” she noted, pointing to the faint crescent-shaped scar that peeked out from beneath a few tendrils of my hair. I had dabbed some concealer on it to cover it, as I had been doing often these days, but it wasn’t enough to hide it completely from this close.

Instinctively, my hand flew up to cover the mating mark. “Oh, that. Yeah, it’s just a really bad scar. Can’t seem to get rid of it.”

She raised an eyebrow. “But you’ve had it for ages now.”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “Maybe I should sue the hair straightener company for making their tools too hot.”

Bella gave me a curious look but didn’t press further. “Well, maybe try some scar cream?”

“I will,” I promised as I gestured to the door, eager to change the subject. “Shall we?”

The venue was even more extravagant than I imagined. Twinkling lights adorned the entrance, and a red carpet led the way to massive oak doors guarded by imposing bouncers. Elegantly dressed guests milled about, their masks depicting all kinds of fantastical creatures and animals.

A long line of attendees stretched out from the door—people like us who had purchased standard tickets. Meanwhile, the VIP guests waltzed right past the line, flashing their special passes and disappearing into the darkness beyond.

“Must be nice to skip the line,” Bella mused, watching a particularly glamorous couple glide by.

“Yeah, well, patience is a virtue,” I replied with a shrug.

Finally, after what felt like an hour of waiting in line, it was our turn. We approached the entrance, tickets in hand—or so I thought. I reached into my clutch and felt around, my heart sinking.

“What's wrong?” Bella asked, noticing my panicked expression.

“I... I can’t find my ticket,” I stammered, frantically searching my small bag.

The bouncer eyed us impatiently. “Tickets, please.”

Bella handed hers over smoothly. I continued to fumble, emptying the contents of my clutch—lipstick, phone, a few bills—but no ticket.

“I’m so sorry,” I began. “I must have dropped it.”

The bouncer crossed his arms. “No ticket, no entry.”

“But I did pay for my ticket,” I pleaded. “Is there any way you can check a list or—”

He shook his head. “That’s not how it works, lady. You’ll have to step aside. You’re holding up the line.”

In response, a few people in line began to grumble, and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Maybe I can pull up a confirmation email,” I suggested desperately.

“Ma’am, I need you to step aside,” the bouncer repeated firmly.

Bella put a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Aria. We’ll figure something out.”

“But—”

Just then, a smooth voice interrupted. “Is there a problem here?”

We turned to see a tall man approaching, his dark suit impeccably tailored. His mask was sleek and black, covering half of his face but revealing striking green eyes.

“Sir, the lady doesn’t have a ticket,” the bouncer explained.

The man glanced at me, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Let them in. They’re with me.”

The bouncer hesitated. “Do you vouch for them?”

“I do,” he affirmed, his gaze never leaving mine.

“Very well,” the bouncer conceded a bit begrudgingly, stepping aside. “Enjoy your evening.”

The man gestured for us to follow. Bella and I exchanged shocked glances as we stepped inside behind him. “Thank you,” I managed to say as he held the door open for me, still taken aback.

He offered a polite nod. “It’s my pleasure. It would be a shame for such elegant ladies to miss the event.” I felt my cheeks flush again at that, but not with embarrassment.

We entered the grand hall, and I was immediately overwhelmed by the opulence. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings, and the sound of soft jazz filled the air. Guests in masks mingled and twirled on the dance floor, laughter and conversation nearly drowning out the music.

Stopping a little ways inside, the man turned to us. I half expected him to tell us to enjoy our night, but instead he asked, “Would you care to sit with me? Have a drink?”

Bella tensed beside me, gripping my wrist with excitement. Before I could even respond, she blurted out, “Yes! We’d love to!”

Smiling, he gestured toward a lavishly decorated table near the dance floor. “Please, join me.”

As we made our way to the table, Bella leaned in close. “You must be a magnet for all these handsome VIPs to dote on you!” she whispered.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Am I? First Darren, now this guy,” she quipped. “He couldn’t take his eyes off you.” I blushed, but shook my head.

“He was looking at you,” I countered.

She shook her head with a sly grin. “Definitely not. Besides, even if he was, he’s not my type.”

By the time we reached the table, my face must have been as red as my lipstick, and I was glad to have a mask covering half of my expression. The man pulled out chairs for us with a flourish. “I’m glad you accepted my invitation,” he said smoothly.

“Thank you again,” I replied as I took my seat beside Bella. “I’m Aria by the way, and this is my friend Bella.”

“Charmed,” he said, taking a seat opposite us. “Beautiful names for beautiful ladies.”

Bella kicked me so hard under the table I almost cried out.

“So, do you make a habit of rescuing damsels in distress?” Bella asked playfully, twirling a lock of dark hair around her finger.

He chuckled. “Only when the opportunity presents itself. But really, I’m just in the market tonight for someone to share a drink with.” With that, the man gestured to a nearby waiter, who appeared at our side instantly. The man ordered a bottle of their finest champagne.

“This isn’t necessary,” I protested.

“I insist,” he said. “Consider it a celebration of new acquaintances.”

Bella and I exchanged stunned glances, both of us wondering if we were imagining things yet again. But we weren’t.

The man adjusted his mask slightly, and a strand of dark hair fell across his forehead. Suddenly, I felt my entire body stiffen. There was something familiar about his features—the sharp jawline, the curve of his lips, the sultry green eyes and jet black hair…

Bella squinted at him. “You know, you look awfully familiar.”

He smiled enigmatically. “Do I?”

I studied him more closely. “Wait, are you...”

He met my gaze directly. “You caught me. I’m William Kensington.”

William Kensington

The famous model?