Her brown hair was fashioned into a low chignon at her neck. Her face was covered by a diamond eye mask that dazzled and sparkled. She had on red lipstick and heavy makeup that shrouded her eyes in black. She was wearing an expensive white dress that was made of lace, with a halter neckline that had dozens of pearls sewn around the collar. Long white gloves ended at her elbows, and she walked in flats.
The White Rose. I was certain it had to be her.
Everyone at the party stared. She’d certainly made an entrance.
Elijah smiled. He got off his throne and walked across the room to the woman. He lifted her hand in a way that was supposed to be regally polite, but looked more predatory. “May I introduce to you my special guest of the night— many of you know her as the White Rose.”
Whispers ran throughout the ballroom, and my blood boiled. She had a lot of nerve coming here, on this night.
“You’ve all heard of Dolinska’s menace, the Phantom,” Elijah said. “That vigilante has caused quite a lot of trouble, for the Arcanea Alliance and for me. I’m proud to say that the White Rose has prevented the Phantom thus far from continuing to plague the city and harm our people. As my thanks, she is here as my guest of honor.”
Polite applause rang out, but I couldn’t bring myself to clap. Elijah and Gabby had hired her for security. Somehow, they’d caught on to what we were doing. The White Rose was here to stop me from following Gabby tonight, by any means necessary.
The White Rose’s stare was blank, and her lips were thin. She didn’t show any emotion whatsoever. She didn’t even flinch when Eli raised her hand to kiss it, before allowing it to drop slowly at her side like a dancer.
Elijah caught my smoldering gaze and grinned. “Cousin, why don’t you dance with my little rose?” he crooned. “The two of you would make a fine date, seeing as how your mate is absent.”
I couldn’t refuse, not with an audience. I bowed stiffly to the White Rose, and said darkly, “My lady.”
I held out an arm. Elijah’s devious smile was on me as the White Rose reached out and took it. Her touch sent lightning bolts ricocheting across my skin, and I hated it.
The band struck up again, that same somber tune. Gods, it was like a funeral march. Who could manage to dance to this dull monotone?
Apparently, the White Rose could, because she took my hand in hers and placed the other on my shoulder. I took her waist, and we began to turn alongside the other couples in the middle of the dance floor. I was keenly aware of Gabby and Elijah on the outside of the circle, watching us like cats watch mice.
But their gaze could burn into me all they wanted and I wouldn’t feel it. I only had eyes for the White Rose. Since she’d arrived, she’d captured my attention, making me forget about even the mission.
The way she danced was eerie. It was like experiencing deja vu, as if repeating some kind of dream.
Or nightmare. I was caught between the two.
“I can’t quite figure you out,” I muttered lowly under my breath. No one could hear us, but even so, my heartbeat picked up in anticipation when I spoke.
“There’s nothing for you to understand. I’m no riddle,” she replied in that cold, sultry voice of hers.
My chest stirred, but lust was replaced by rage as I remembered what she’d done to Emma. “You tried to kill my mate.”
“So I did,” she said. “You should feel lucky my hand slipped.”
I nearly lost my temper and exploded into a wolf, but instead, I yanked her closer to me. I heard her let out a gasp of pain as my hand tightened on hers. “If we weren’t in a crowded ballroom right now, I’d kill you.”
“But we are,” she breathed. “And you can do nothing about it.”
The anger inside me simmered. “Who are you? How do you know who I am?” I hissed.
“You’re easy to figure out.” She looked up at me through long eyelashes. “You aren’t as clever as you think. Or as secretive.”
This is what Stefan had warned me about. No matter how careful I was, people would always find out.
“You have to be a student at the school,” I insisted. “Why are you working for Gabby? Do you