Jonas~~

The last time I saw a clock, it said it was after one in the morning. Beside me in our corner of the ballroom, Iris has her hand on my shoulder for balance as she slips off her shoes. The ball will probably go on for at least another hour.

"I'm not sure I can make it through another dance." One shoe off, she starts on the next.

We've been bombarded with requests to dance. At first we tried to decline them until the Delta reminded us we aren't in a position to say no.

She stifles a yawn. "Have you seen Percy?"

I furrow my brows as I try to recall when it was I last saw him. "Not in a while. Why?"

"He had asked if I wanted to dance later but then I haven't seen him since."

I scan the ballroom, searching for his face among the dancers and other attendees but don't see him; though, from where we stand, I can't see everyone.

"Do you think anyone else will ask us to dance?"

I roll my shoulders back. I'm not usually sore from balls, but tonight, each time we're forced to dance with someone else, I tense up. "I hope—"

"Jonas! There you are," Andrew's voice calls from behind me. Do I even want to know why my cousin who tried murdering me was looking for me?

As I turn around, Iris slides her shoes back on.

Basile stands beside Andrew. They're both dressed in black tuxes.

"Can I help you?"

Andrew nods and runs a hand through his curly hair. "We need to speak with Colton."

"Do I look like Colton?"

"Well . . ." Basile tilts his head. "You do actually." Iris fails to cover her snort, and I suppose I walked into that one.

"I haven't seen him. I'd suggest you check any closets you find."

Andrew arches a brow.

I let out weary sigh. "Wherever he is, he'll be with Vienna. I don't think I need to explain what my brother would be doing in a closet with her."

Andrew rolls his eyes, and Basile grabs his arm.

"Let's go," he says gently to my cousin in French.

Andrew takes a step back. "If you see him, tell him I need to speak with him."

The pair turnsONLYONWATTPADBENDERand makes their way across the room in the direction I last saw Erik.

Iris slips her arm through mine, and I lean down, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"I miss home," she says, resting her head against my shoulder.

Whenever she refers to the Estate as home, I feel warmth; I feel my heart swell, but this time, hearing that she's homesick leaves me gutted at the same time that I feel pride in her seeing my home as hers.

"When Colton returns to Elleany, you should go with him."

She jerks back as if I slapped her. "How can you say that?"

"I can't watch you suffer. You're safe with the Society, with my cousins. But here I just—"

"Jonas." She places her hand on my cheek. "I will never leave you." Her face is drawn tight. "Do you understand? I'm. Not. Leaving. You."

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her against me as my body trembles. I want her to be safe, but even after all we've had to overcome, she's still not safe with me. No matter how many times we save each other, I'm still bad for her. "I love you."

Her fingers grip my jacket.

"Jonas, Ms. Levine."

We break apart to face Preeminence Moretti. Behind him are four Veil.

"Come with me."

Iris places her hand near my stomach and steps forward. "Where?"

Leorus glances between us. "We have an appointment to keep."

My eyes narrow. "With whom?"

"Wouldn't that ruin the surprise?"

The Veil fall into place behind us, and we're forced to follow Leorus through the center of the ballroom.

Iris and I could stand a chance against the four Veil. It would be by no means easy; however, if Alastair was trained to fight, I'm certain Leorus would have been as well. It would be five against two.

If Erik is present, I don't think he would interfere, but Colton would. Percy would. At the very least they'll insist on coming with us.

But we make it across the ballroom, and no one joins us.

Leorus leads us outside into the chilly night air where two cars wait. The Veil guide me and Iris into the second one and close the door behind us, leaving her and I alone, even from the driver. A solid wall keeps us separated from them so that we can't see into the front. There may not even be a driver. The vehicle could be autonomous.

Iris adjusts the skirts of her dress. Red. They dressed us in red.

Once the car begins moving, she tries the doorhandles. They're all locked with no way for us to flip the locks.

My heart begins to speed up, and as the walls of the car start to feel as if they're closing in on me, I place a hand over my Mark and let out a deep breath.

Iris's eyes snap to mine.

"I'm fine."

I'll be fine.

No one stepped in. They let Leorus lead us away in front of everyone.

Maybe Colton didn't know because maybe he wasn't present. Maybe he really did find somewhere private to sneak off for a few minutes with Vienna.

Outside the car's windows is a snowy landscape blanketed by the night. Cold. Inhospitable.

Even if we were able to break the window, where would we go but back to the mansion? That is if we survive the jump from the vehicle moving at its high speed.

"Jonas?" Iris moves from the seat across from me to crouch before me, her dress crinkling as it settles into the space between the seats.

Wherever we're going, it's because of me.

She places her hands on the tops of my thighs. "Hey," her voice is gentle. "I'm okay." She rises, bringing herself closer toward me. "You're okay . . ." She presses her lips against mine, her fingers digging into my thighs.

Two seconds pass before I pull her into my lap, deepening the kiss.

Placing one hand on my shoulder, she slides her other around to my back. "I've got you," she murmurs against my lips.

I grip her tighter. "I've got you."

I've got her.

She has me.

Her hand slides from my shoulder, up my neck, and over my face. She pulls the broken laurel wreath from my hair and lets it fall to the floor. Tangling strands of my hair around her fingers, she tilts my head back, forcing me to look at her. "As long as you're beside me, I will face anything."

"Iris . . ."

She leans down, capturing my lips with hers as her hands go to my shoulders and slip under the lapels of my tux's jacket, tugging the sleeves down my arms. I take over the task, shrugging out of it, and as she returns her hands to my shoulders, she wets her lips.

"I need you to rip my dress."

I lurch back, her words catching me off guard. "I don't think this is exactly the time—"

"We don't know what's waiting for us. I'll have a hard time fighting in this dress in its current state." She tilts her head, eyeing my chest. "As you would have in that jacket."

"You mean, it wasn't because you were eager to get me out of my clothes," I say dryly.

Her hands massage my neck. If it wasn't so dark, I'm certain I'd see her blushing. "I need you to rip off the inner layers. Okay?"

I nod. "I think I can at least manage that." Moving one hand to her leg and the other to her waist, I smirk at her as I push up the skirts of her dress until they're bunched around her knees. I lean forward and kiss her. "It would be rather unfortunate if we reached our destination right now." I slide my hand over her knee and underneath her dress, skimming it along her leg.

She sucks in a breath.

I flick my eyes up to hers and arch a brow. "Are you all right?" I ask coolly.

She glares.

I continue sliding my hand over her thigh, her skin soft and smooth under my palm and fingers as I search for where the different layers begin.

Finding it, I grasp the bottom layer and bunch the fabric in my hand. I grip her waist and tug at the fabric, hearing a satisfying rip. The threads loosening, I keep pulling until the bottom skirt tears away from the bodice.

I drop it on the ground and look up at her. "More?"

"The next two."

I grasp the new bottom layer and drag it upward and underneath the other layers of skirts, the tips of my fingers scratching her skin.

She shudders.

"You good?"

She gives me a look that says she'd rather like to slap me right now.

I rip away the layer of fabric, before grabbing her wrist and bringing her hand to my mouth. I press a lingering kiss against the center of her palm.

Iris bites her lip.

I kiss the tip of each finger.

"Jonas—"

I pull away. "You're right. We should hurry."

"Jonas—"

I place a finger over her lips. "Shh . . ."

She pushes my hand away from her mouth. "I was going to say—"

I rub my thumb in circles against her hip.

She closes her eyes. "I was going to say hurry up."

"Mmhmm." I place my hand on the top of her thigh near her knee and rub my palm up and down her skin. "If we had more time, I think I'd like to spend a lot of time right here." I squeeze her thigh, my fingers pressing into her skin.

She tangles her fingers in my hair. "Please . . . hurry."

I rip away the next layer and look up innocently. "Done."

"My dresses are always getting ruined around you."

"I don't think you can blame me for the first time."

"You probably told her to pour the wine on me."

"I did not," I say indignantly and kiss her jaw. "But . . . I may do that in the future."

She givesONLYONWATTPADBENDERme a pointed look and grabs the end of the top layer of her skirt. "Then it's only fair I get to ruin a few of your suits in the future." She tears the end of the skirt, and I help her rip the fabric at the back of the dress.

I run my eyes over her. "I like the dress better this way."

Before she can answer, the car begins to slow until it comes to a stop.

Iris squeezes my hand, and the door opens, frosty air blowing into the cabin. Iris wraps her arms around herself as goosebumps race up my arms.

Leorus steps into view. "Come."

I exit the car, Iris following, and I watch as the eyes of the Head Preeminence scrutinizes her dress.

Behind him, a gray building made of what looks like concrete looms against the backdrop of the night sky. The highest point of the building towers above us and harsh lights beat down onto the lot where we stand.

"I'd have thought you'd want to be more presentable for your appointment," he says to Iris.

Her hands ball into fists. "Where are we?"

"Where do you think?"

She trembles. "Where are we?"

He motions toward a metal door. "Come. You don't want to be late for your appointment with Ms. Clarignon." 

You need to check out the @fangirling.over.the.blackwoods Instagram account. Look at this fanart PKata01 made and shared of what she thinks Alastair's and Gwen's daughter would look like.

P.S. Don't tell Colton about this.