Authors: Nancy A. Collins
The thought of her ex-boyfriend brought with it a melancholy, which she quickly tried to banish. This was not the place or time to feel sad. What was in the past could not be changed. What was done could not be undone, and there was no point in grieving forever—just like Baron Metzger had said. Life was too long for sorrow.
There was a flickering at the corner of her eye, and suddenly Lucky Maledetto was at the front of the crowd, seeming to pop into existence from nowhere, handing her a gigantic bouquet of exotic flowers.
The models headed offstage so they could change back into their street clothes. As she was led away, Lilith paused to shoot a venomous glare in Cally’s direction.
Enjoy it while it lasts, sister
, she thought.
Because there’s not enough spotlight for both of us
.
A
s Cally stepped down off the stage, Lucky moved toward her, acting as an informal bodyguard as the crowd of well-wishers surged forward. Even though she didn’t know most of those in attendance, that didn’t keep them from wanting to shake her hand as if they did.
Bella Maledetto pushed past her older brother to throw her arms around Cally’s neck. “Everything was so
beautiful
! You really
are
talented, just like Sister Midnight said! I’m so proud to be your friend, Cally!”
“Hey, I was her friend
first
!” protested her sister, Bette.
“Girls! Please!” their mother said sharply, stepping in between the twins. With her classic black silk Dior dress and raven-dark hair pulled into an elegant updo, Mrs. Maledetto looked like a classical Roman statue brought to life. She addressed Lucky sharply. “Perhaps you would be so kind as to introduce me to your friend, Faustus?”
“Of course, Mama!” Lucky said, giving Cally a sly grin. “Cally, this is my—
our
—mother, Skylla Lamia-Maledetto.”
“It’s good to make your acquaintance, ma’am.”
“My daughters talk of you quite fondly,” Mrs. Maledetto said, eyeing Cally as if she were a questionable cut of meat in the butcher’s case. “Indeed,
all
my children seem to hold you in high regard, as does my husband.”
“I am honored they feel that way about me.”
“As well you should,” Mrs. Maledetto replied stiffly. “Our family is not free with our friendships.”
“Make way!” Baron Metzger called out as he pushed to the front of the line. “Proud father coming through!”
On hearing his voice, Mrs. Maledetto and her brood discreetly faded into the crowd. Cally looked around, but Lucky seemed to have disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. Still, she was relieved the Baron hadn’t seen them together.
“Congratulations, my dear! It’s a truly marvelous collection!” Metzger said warmly. “By the way—I have someone here who would love to speak with you.”
Metzger stepped aside to make way for the man Cally had seen with him before the show started. The stranger looked to be in his early forties, with rust-colored hair and a sharp chin that gave him a foxlike appearance.
“You are the designer?” Metzger’s friend spoke with a noticeable French accent.
“Yes, sir.”
“My name is Nazaire d’Ombres,” he said, offering his hand in greeting. “I am very pleased to meet you, mademoiselle.”
“You’re
the
Nazaire?” Cally gasped in surprise.
“
Mais oui
,” he said with an impish grin. “Your papa, the Baron, was kind enough to fax me the sketches you made….”
“Oh, monsieur, I’m
so
embarrassed!” Cally said. “I was just fooling around! I hope you didn’t think I was being disrespectful.”
“Far from it,
ma chérie
!” He chuckled. “In truth, I was most intrigued. I have been in the fashion business a
very
long time. I have had to fake my own death and reinherit my company
twice
! One thing I have learned over the decades is how to recognize talent. You,
ma jolie
, are very talented indeed. And I do not say this simply because your father represents the majority stockholder in my business!
“You possess what it takes to become a great designer. I know because I have worked with them all—Pierre, Giorgio, Coco, Christian, Karl, Gianni. All of them burned with the same fire when they were young, the fire I see in you.
“I would like to make you a little offer,
m’selle
. Once you graduate from your school, should you still be interested in pursuing a career in fashion, you are more than welcome to come work
pour moi
. It has been some time since Maison d’Ombres last had an infusion of ‘fresh blood,’ if you will. My label is in need of a younger aesthetic—one you are capable of providing.”
Cally’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “I—I’m terribly flattered, Monsieur d’Ombres.”
“Please! Call me Nazaire!” he said, kissing her hand. “I do not stand on formality with those I consider my friends.”
“Monsieur…I mean, Nazaire, this is an
incredibly
generous offer you’ve made. I
really
don’t know what to say. I certainly do not consider myself worthy….”
“Nonsense!” he said, dismissing her protests with a wave of his hand. “There’s no room for modesty in fashion—false or otherwise! You need not give me an answer now. You are young, and our lives are long. Five months…five years, they are the same to us,
n’est-ce pas
?”
The fashion show was long over, as well as the reception that followed it. Cally sighed in relief as her last fan finally filed out the door of the boutique. It had never occurred to her how exhausting being famous really was.
“You did extremely well for someone who was a complete unknown a week or so ago,” Sister Midnight said with a pleased look on her face. “I’m interested in buying the patterns from you. The line will still bear your name, but my seamstresses will be the ones to put everything together. What do you say?”
“I say you have a deal.”
“Excellent! I’ll have my attorney draw up the necessary paperwork and drop it off at the Plaza for you to sign. Why don’t we go up to my office and celebrate with a glass of something good? I have an O neg mixed with Dom Pérignon champagne…. ”
“You start without me, Sis,” Cally called over her shoulder as she ducked backstage. “I’ll join you as soon as I double-check to make sure the collection is properly put away.”
The staging area that had been a riot of activity a few hours before was now eerily silent. The dressers and models were gone, leaving only racks of clothes and discarded shoes behind as evidence of their existence. As she looked around, she was startled to see the silhouette of a man on the other side of the curtains. She gasped in alarm, her heart leaping into high gear, thinking Peter had succeeded in tracking her down and was about to make her pay for killing his father.
“Who’s there?” she called out.
“It’s just me—your biggest fan,” Lucky said, pushing aside the curtain.
“For a moment I thought you were someone else.” Cally sighed in relief. Even though she knew she wasn’t in any danger, her heart continued to beat fast.
“Someone you don’t want to see, I take it?”
“Never again, if I can help it.”
“I wanted to wait until the others left before I gave you this,” Lucky explained, fishing a gold necklace from his coat pocket. “I didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. Or the right one.”
“Oh, Lucky!” Cally gasped. “You really shouldn’t have! It’s beautiful!”
“No, it’s not,” he said as he helped to fasten it around her neck. “But it will be in a second. Turn around and let me see how you look in it.” Cally did as he asked, pirouetting around to face him. Lucky smiled and nodded. “
Now
it’s beautiful.”
“Thank you, Lucky—I really don’t know what else to say! No one has ever given me a present this nice before.”
“That’ll be changing soon—I’ll see to that personally,” Lucky promised.
“Where were you keeping yourself during the show? I didn’t see you in the audience before it started. Then suddenly—poof! You’re right in front of me!”
“I was around the whole time—I was keeping an eye on Mom and the twins. Most people don’t see me unless I want them to.” Lucky lowered his head and placed the tips of his ring and middle fingers to his brow. The air rippled, like the surface of a pond disturbed by a passing wind, as darkness gathered about Lucky, shrouding him until he resembled a flitting shadow, like those glimpsed out of the corner of the eye.
“Where did you go?” Cally giggled, looking around nervously. “Lucky—?”
Suddenly a pair of strong arms grabbed her from behind around the waist, lifting her off her feet as she was swung around in a circle.
“
Boo!
” Lucky laughed. “
Gotcha!
”
“No fair sneaking up on me!” Cally squealed in mock protest.
Lucky put her back down but didn’t let her go, his hands linked around the small of her back. “You know,” he said, looking down into her upturned face. “We never really got the chance to finish our dance that night at the Grand Ball….”
A warning bell at the back of Cally’s head began to clang its alarm. The last time she followed her heart, it had resulted in disaster for everyone involved. The safe and sane thing for her to do would be to simply tell Lucky she was flattered but not really interested. It would be a lie, but at least she wouldn’t get hurt in the long run. Then she could go join Sister Midnight in her office for that drink and head back home for a well-deserved rest.
She was still trying to figure out the best way to let Lucky down gently when he pulled her close and planted a long, deep kiss on her lips. Instead of pushing herself away, like she told herself she should, Cally melted in his arms, returning his kiss.
When they finally came up for air several minutes later, Cally shook her head in dismay. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“Why not?” Lucky asked, a puzzled look on his face. “You like me, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do—very much,” she admitted.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that your father is the sworn enemy of Victor Todd, and my father is…” She paused for a second, then quickly looked away. “My father is Todd’s loyal vassal. That means, by blood, I am sworn to protect Victor and serve him, as my father has. That makes us enemies. I’ve lost so much already, Lucky. I don’t want to lose you, too.”
“It doesn’t
have
to be like that,” Lucky assured her. “My sisters and I have been discussing things lately and have decided it’s time that our father call off his vendetta. We’re trying to convince him to do so because of our friendship with you.”
“You would do that for
me
?” Cally whispered in amazement. “You would actually make peace between the families?”
“Cally, I would do
anything
for you,” Lucky replied, taking her into his arms. “All you ever have to do is ask.”
N
ormally Lilith would have hung around for the reception after the fashion show, but she couldn’t stomach having to stand around and watch everyone fawn over Cally. So, while the other models sipped O poz laced with cheap white wine, she changed back into the clothes she arrived in and left. She felt that Sister Midnight had lied to her about Lady Elysia, but she wasn’t ready to burn her bridges with the retail tycoon. She had her own ideas that would benefit from her support.
As she rode the elevator down, Lilith recalled the dopey look on Cally’s face as she looked out at the crowd gathered at her feet. What an idiot! Did she
really
think everyone genuinely liked her clothes? Didn’t she realize that the
only
reason they were toadying up to her was because of the Shadow Hand, not her skill at the sewing machine? They were just there to suck up to her and try to get on her good side so she wouldn’t have a reason to kill them later on.
As the doors opened, Lilith was surprised to find Xander standing in the lobby, dressed in his pea jacket and navy watch cap.
“What are
you
doing here, Exo?” Lilith asked as she stepped out of the elevator.
“You sent me a text message asking me to come out and show my support,” he said, holding up his cell phone.
You and everyone else on my contact list
, Lilith thought. Still, she was secretly pleased that Xander made the effort to show up. She knew his idea of a good time was tinkering with potions, not hobnobbing at fashion shows, so his being there actually meant something.
“Is that a present for me?” she asked, pointing to the black velvet-covered jewelry case he held in his hand. Lilith not only enjoyed receiving gifts from admirers, she more or less expected it. After all, hanging with someone as popular and beautiful as herself was a privilege, not a right.
“Yes, it is,” he said, smiling bashfully. “I hope you like it.”
“Is it diamonds?” Lilith asked, all but snatching the box from him. “I positively
adore
diamonds.” She flipped open the clamshell case and gasped in amazement at the blue diamond tennis bracelet inside, nestled like a tiny, shining snake on a bed of white satin. Lilith lost no time slipping it onto her left wrist.
“I had it commissioned especially for you,” Xander explained. “The blue diamonds are the same shade as your eyes.”
“Thank you, Exo!” she said breathlessly, admiring her newest trophy.
“Do you like it?” he asked. “Because I can get you something you like better if you don’t….”
“Like it?—I
love
it!” she said with a laugh, gently brushing Xander’s cheek with the edge of her hand. She was surprised at how good his skin felt against her own. She experienced an unexpected tingle as Xander looked her in the eye.
“If you love that, then you’re going to
adore
the other present I have for you.”
“Something
better
than a diamond bracelet?” Lilith asked, cocking an eyebrow. “This I’ve got to see!”
“I was expecting to see Jules at the fashion show,” Lilith said as she followed Xander into his workshop. There was a time, not so long ago, when she would have freaked out at the thought of being alone in a room with Exo. Now she found herself psyched while in his company. “Did you see him?”
Xander shook his head. “No, I didn’t.”
“Have you heard anything from him recently?” Lilith asked as she slid out of her Nanette Lepore coat, draping it over the back of a nearby chair.
“Jules and I haven’t talked since that night at the club,” Xander reminded her. “The only de Lavals and Orlocks who are close right now are my mother and father. My father and Uncle Julian aren’t speaking to each other, either. Hey,” he said, changing the subject. “You were a knockout tonight. You were so beautiful in the white dress. You looked like a goddess. I wish I had a picture of you in that gown.”
“Yeah, too bad there’s no way to photograph me.” Lilith sighed. “That way I could look at it and remember what it felt like to walk down the runway. A keepsake, you know? So, where’s this gift you promised me?” She loved presents, and Exo had already demonstrated superior taste when it came to jewelry. Lilith rubbed her new bracelet fondly, trying to imagine something better.
Xander knelt beside the chair where she sat so that they were eye to eye and held up a small, unmarked jar. “This is it.”
Lilith scowled for a moment, then realization dawned in her eyes. “By the Founders!” she gasped. “Exo! Is that what I
think
it is?”
“There’s only one way to find out.” He smiled. “Close your eyes.”
Lilith shut her eyes, her pulse throbbing in eager anticipation. She flinched as something cold, wet, and sticky made contact with her right cheek. She wrinkled her nose in distaste on catching a rank odor. “Yuck! This stuff reeks of toadstools! I thought you were serious!”
“Hush!” Xander said firmly, continuing to spread the cold goo across Lilith’s face. “It smells like that because it has toadstool in it. I’m using the most recent formulation—the one incorporating some of your suggestions, partner. This was
your
idea, after all. We can see about fixing that later. Right now I just need you to stay put and keep your eyes and mouth shut. I don’t want to get any of this where it doesn’t need to be.”
Although she normally disliked being told what to do, Lilith responded to the commanding tone of Exo’s voice and the soothing, almost hypnotic sensation of his hands smoothing the cream across her skin.
Xander stepped back to admire his handiwork. “Lilith, you once asked me if you were pretty. I said you were beautiful, but you didn’t truly believe me. But now I’m going to prove it to you! I want you to look at me.”
Lilith opened her eyes to find Xander pointing a digital camera at her. “Exo—what are you doing?” she gasped. “You know what would happen if anyone saw you with that!”
“Say B neg!” Xander grinned as he snapped her picture.
“
Exo
—
no!
” Lilith cried out as the flash went off. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Providing you with the confirmation you need,” he replied, reversing the camera so that she could look at the display on the back. “See? You
are
the most beautiful woman in the world!”
Lilith gazed in wonderment at the image in the viewfinder for a long moment. The last time she had seen a picture of herself, she had looked like an artsy optical effect, with a body as transparent as window glass. Now she appeared as solid and three-dimensional as any human—except that her hair and eyes seemed to be missing. Jumping to her feet, she fished out a pair of oversized YSL sunglasses from her Prada bag.
“Take another picture!” she said excitedly, sliding on her shades.
This time when Exo showed her the picture, the illusion of normalcy was almost complete. “Too bad about the hair.” She sighed. “But I guess I could wear a scarf.”
“I’m working on that,” Xander said matter-of-factly, pointing to an open notebook sitting on the worktable. “I should be able to bond the active ingredients that allow for reflection into a simple shampoo. And the problem with the eyes can be solved by using contact lenses.”
“This is incredible!” Lilith exclaimed in delight. “I can see myself in a photograph! I can actually
see
myself! You’re right, this
is
better than a diamond bracelet! Exo, do you realize what this
means?
”
Instead of answering her, Xander pulled Lilith into his arms and kissed her. At first she struggled to free herself from his embrace, but after a couple of seconds she began to respond. To her surprise, Exo was a great kisser—much better than Jules. After a long minute they drew back to stare into each other’s eyes.
As she looked up into his face, features she had once made fun of, like his long fingers and pointed ears, no longer repulsed her. In fact, they now seemed to arouse her. She had to admit that Exo possessed a unique aura. Unlike Jules, who was physically perfect no matter which way you looked at him, Xander could look hideously ugly from one angle and then, a second later, somehow manage to appear ruggedly handsome.
The difference between the cousins wasn’t limited to physical appearance. Jules’s masculinity often seemed to be part facade, whereas Xander’s was part of every fiber of his being. Although Xander appeared self-conscious and shy, at his core he was confident in his power and abilities, which Lilith found incredibly sexy.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled his head back down to hers for a second, lengthier kiss. With Jules, kissing always seemed rushed, as if it was something he had to do in order to get to the next step in his seduction. But with Xander, it was nice and sweet and slow, as if he was trying to savor her instead of devour her. The feel of his full mouth against her own was fantastic, unlike anything she had experienced before.
She moved sinuously against him, like a cat eager to be scratched behind the ears, as his powerful hands traveled over her body. As his long, spidery fingers brushed against the bare flesh of her outer thigh, she arched her spine, tossing back her head as she hissed through her teeth. Xander leaned forward, pushing her against the worktable hard enough to jostle the racks of beakers and flasks.
Lilith boosted herself onto the edge of the table, wrapping her legs around Xander’s lower body. As she kissed him, she began to pull his shirt off over his head, running her hands over his totally hairless yet surprisingly broad chest. However, as she began to tug on his belt buckle, Xander abruptly broke free of their kiss and stepped back, gasping like a winded runner.
“Why are you stopping?” Lilith panted, literally trembling with lust.
“This isn’t right—we both know that.” Xander shook his head. “You’re promised to Jules, and despite everything, he’s
still
my cousin and oldest friend. I have no right to be with you—especially not like this.”
“Jules and I are so over!” Lilith assured him.
Xander’s cheeks turned bright red, but he said nothing else as he put his shirt back on.
Lilith quickly hopped down off the table. “Do you
really
think Jules would do the same if the roles were reversed?”
“It doesn’t matter to me what Jules would have done,” Xander replied solemnly. “It only matters what
I
do. I think you should go home now, Lilith. It will be dawn soon.”
As he held the door open for her, Lilith paused to look up at him. “Are you
sure
you want me to leave, Xander?” she whispered, leaning in so close her breasts were brushing against his body.
“We’ll talk about this later, okay?” Xander said, letting out a shaky breath. “I think right now—I think we’re in danger of letting our excitement get the better of us.”
“I certainly hope so,” Lilith said.