The Chronicles of Kerrigan Box Set Books # 1 - 6: Paranormal Fantasy Young Adult/New Adult Romance

by W. J. May

  “Of course. Isn't that the idea behind the Royal Tea Ball? Not knowing who anyone is?”

  Rae shrugged. She couldn't imagine Devon wearing feathers and lace on his face. She giggled; the picture in her head was not the boy she knew.

  Molly stared at her. “You smoking something?”

  “HA HA. You are so funny,” Rae said sarcastically. “What kind of mask is Devon wearing?”

  “Like a Zorro kind of cover. There's a mic inset so he can communicate with Curtis and Maria.” Molly gestured for Rae to go behind the screen and start getting ready.

  “Cool.” Her hair and make up were done; all, she needed, was her fancy dress. “Aren't I going to be ready too early?” She couldn't imagine sitting around in the dress for three hours waiting to go.

  “I'm going to need to make sure it doesn't need any taking in or adjustments. Try it on and then I'll have the seamstress take in or let out whatever needs to be done. We can hang out while we wait.”

  Rae obeyed and sure enough, Molly had called it. They needed the seamstress. The little adorable lady was at the flat in less than twenty minutes with her sewing machine and everything else she needed. She fixed the dress so that it fitted Rae perfectly.

  “You look like a princess,” she told Rae as she finished up a few hours later.

  “It is very pretty.” Rae looked down, not recognizing the body connected to her head. “You did an excellent job.”

  There was a knock at the door, and Devon called from the other side, “Everyone decent?”

  Molly scampered over and opened the door. “How's the tuxedo?”

  Rae turned to see what he looked like as the seamstress handed her the mask she would be wearing.

  Devon stepped in, his eyes going straight to Rae. His eyes grew big as they travelled down and then up Rae.

  Rae did the same. Devon wore a black tuxedo that fitted him perfectly. It accented his muscular shoulders and fit hips. Rae had never seen him look so handsome. She grinned. “You clean up nicely.”

  He gave her an appreciative smile. “So do you.” He cleared his throat. “Molly you outdid yourself. Thank you.”

  Molly nodded, her face solemn. “I take my job very seriously. I won't mix personal with professional again.”

  “Really?” An eyebrow rose on Devon's face. “Stay you, Molls. Don't change for anyone, even me.” He pulled a black string out of his pocket. “I need a bit of help with this.”

  Molly took it and grabbed Devon's hand, pulling him toward the couch. She climbed up on it and turned Devon, so he faced her. She spun him around, showed Rae her handiwork. “Dickybow done to perfection!”

  “A bowtie?” Rae tried to look at it, not Devon's striking face.

  “How's it look?” Devon asked.

  “Great. Perfect.” Rae sat down to get her shoes on. The billows of the dress made it next to impossible while sitting in a chair. It would have been easier to do sitting on the floor.

  Devon dropped down in front of her before she could slip off the chair. “Let me help.” He slipped the first shoe on and adjusted the strap. “Okay?”

  She nodded, the warmth of his hand distracting her.

  Molly held her phone up and snapped a picture. “You look like Cinderella and Prince Charming.”

  Devon put Rae's other shoe on and set the strap. He stood quickly. “Good to go?” He held his hand out for Rae.

  She reached for it and let him pull her up. She picked up her fancy mask and slipped it on. “Let's go save a princess.”

  Chapter 16

  Outside Devon and Rae bumped into Curtis working in the back of his van.

  “Everything okay?” Devon asked.

  Curtis jumped. “You scared me, lad.” He clutched his heart. “Aren't you two a pretty picture?” He grinned at Rae. “You look lovely.”

  She curtseyed. “Thank you.”

  “You have a job to do, but promise me you'll have some fun while you are there as well.”

  “I'll try.” Rae nodded toward Devon. “I'm not sure about mister serious, though.”

  Devon pulled his mask out of his pocket and put it on. “There is a saying, a very old saying; when the pupil is ready the master will appear.”

  Rae stared at him. “Pardon?”

  Curtis chuckled. “Don Diego de la Vega?”

  “Yes.”

  “Who?” Rae looked back and forth between the two boys.

  Devon grinned. “Zorro, Rae, Zorro.”

  He started walking toward his car.

  Rae picked up the skirt of her dress and followed him. “Are you calling me the pupil?” She heard Curtis laugh behind her. “I heard you, Curtis!” She turned around and smiled at him, trying to speak with a nasal voice, “I'll get you, my pretty.”

  “Wicked Witch of the West?” He hopped back into the truck, poking his head out. “You'll never get the part, dear Rae. You are much too sweet.”

  She paused by the car door Devon held open for her. “Where's Maria?”

  “Inside getting a few things organized. She'll be sad she missed seeing you dressed up.” Curtis waved his hand. “We'll see you there. We'll be parked out of sight but within distance. Be careful.”

  “You, too.” Rae said the words out of habit.

  Devon closed her door and walked around to the other side. He looked like James Bond with his impeccably fitted suit and fast car. Rae felt like a bubble of lace and material as she sat in the low seat. She pulled her mask off and flipped open the sun visor to check her hair in the little mirror. It was fine, perfect actually. The spa had done a phenomenal job. Sarah had told her this morning they were amazing. She couldn't disagree.

  They drove to the ball in silence, both seeming lost in their own worlds. As Devon pulled into the large parking area and waited in line for the valet parking, Rae tried to quietly clear her throat. “What do you think is going to happen tonight?”

  Devon tapped his thumb against the steering wheel. “I don't know. There's a chance nothing will happen.” He pulled the car up as the vehicles in front of them rolled forward. “I think what is going on is going to climax tonight. The attempt on Sarah during the luncheon was almost like they were scoping the building. I spoke with Philip earlier and he has the Queen's Guards on high alert. If anything happens, we'll all be there to stop it.”

  “Who could do this? Sarah is such a nice person.”

  “Sometimes it's not about the person.” Devon put the car into park. “Mistrust everyone tonight. We'll catch whoever is doing this.”

  Rae's door opened. A valet dressed in black pants and a white jacket held his hand out to help her. Rae let her tatù choose what was the safest ability to use and settled on one with strong hearing. She watched other people getting out of their cars. “My mask!” Her tatù switching automatically, she grabbed the car door with lightning speed before it slammed shut and pulled it open. She leaned in and picked up the mask. She slipped it on and ignored the surprised look of the valet driver.

  Devon came up beside her, his Zorro mask perfectly in place. “You ready?”

  “Yuppers.” She forced her shoulders back and tucked her arm inside Devon's, mimicking the couples around them.

  TV cameras and paparazzi were in full force leading up to the building. Rae automatically ducked her head down, forgetting that the mask gave anonymity until they neared the building. She switched to Maria's tatù and sent her a message. We're entering the building now. Will keep you guys informed if anything is up.

  Maria's quiet voice came through Rae's thoughts. Curtis said you looked unbelievable. I can't believe I missed it! I'm going to have to figure out a way to catch a glimpse of you dressed up. Too bad we can't send each other mental images!

  That would be super cool. Molly took a picture. Get her to email it to you. I have to go, but I'll stay in touch. Rae wanted to keep the inner chat line open for their job, not chitchat. She didn't think the Privy Council would approve.

  “Wowza,” Devon murmured once they pass
ed through security and stepped into the main hall. The place had been transformed and the people standing around talking, drinking and dancing added to the atmosphere. The costumes ranged from simple to pretentious.

  “I hear ya,” Rae whispered to him. “How are we going to find Sarah? Or the prince?”

  Devon slipped his hand into hers and pointed with them. “See the peacock?”

  “Oh no! She didn't dress Philip up as a peacock did she?” Rae's gaze ran down their arms to the emerald green and blue fancy tail that had to be at least four feet wide. The peacock turned around and Rae let out a breath when she saw it was a woman.

  “Behind the peacock.”

  Rae had to wait for the lady to move before she saw Sarah. She didn't recognize her immediately but the man standing two feet behind gave her away. Alfie.

  Sarah wore an emerald green dress with feathers on her shoulders. Her hair set in a bun, hidden by a cap that also had an exotic feather. She was a princess through and through. Philip stood at her side, wearing a mask similar to Devon's but in the same colour as Sarah's dress. Everyone else in the room wore their costumes, but the two of them, they belonged in them.

  Orchestra music floated from the stage where a massive ensemble of instruments sat.

  “Shame we have to work,” Rae told Devon. “This is the kind of night little girls’ dreams are made of.”

  Devon nodded, his eyes scanning the room. “Yes. It's lovely.”

  She wanted to poke him in the gut. He wasn't even listening. Then again, he was doing his job, like she should be.

  The center of the room had been set up for dancing. Rae watched couples twirl and dip in perfect time with the music. It was beautiful.

  “Do you want to dance?” Devon asked.

  Rae nodded, realizing a moment too late that he wasn't really asking her, he wanted a better position to see everyone there and the dance floor was the perfect spot to move in circles and notice everything.

  “Watch everyone.” Devon led Rae to the dance floor.

  “I will.” She looked down at her feet hidden under her dress. They had taken two dance classes leading up to tonight but it didn't stop the swirls inside her stomach. What if I screw up and draw attention to us?

  “Let me lead, okay?” Devon looked down at her as he slipped his hand around her back. “It's my job. The guy is supposed to lead.”

  Rae nodded, her voice lost somewhere as he twirled her around. She thought back to the dances at Guilder and how so much had changed since those days. Focus, Rae. Save the Queen. I mean, save the princess… The almost princess.

  Devon twirled her around and led her through the dance steps perfectly. Their bodies fell in natural rhythm with each other. Rae's gaze settled on Devon's strong, handsome face. She felt like a princess herself, floating around a dance floor with her Prince Charming. If only he would look at me the way he used to. That seemed to have happened too long ago. She knew she should be focussing on their surroundings, not him. Devon guided her to the left and Rae mis-stepped. She tripped, her heel landing on Devon's toe. His face scrunched up in pain but he lifted her in the air to correct her position and continued on dancing as if nothing had happened.

  She looked away, anywhere but his face. She could feel her cheeks burn but did not want to acknowledge why she had gotten lost in the music. Just then, her brain flashed a warning, a brief glimpse into the crowd. She thought she saw someone across the dance floor she knew, but couldn't be sure.

  A familiar feeling tingled on her back where Devon's hand rested. Rae almost misunderstood it. A movement by one of the archways along the ballroom walls caught her attention. The halls around the main ballroom were like a maze around the building. Rae had studied the blueprint to the building last night. She was fully aware that the layout of the building was a bad guy's dream. She and Devon had resolved to pay extra attention to people coming and going from the edges of the room.

  She stopped moving her feet to focus on the archway again and switched to Devon's tatù for better eyesight.

  Devon tried to get her to turn. “Everything okay?”

  Rae squinted. “You have got to be joking!”

  “What?” Devon lifted her and spun around to catch a glimpse of what Rae was looking at. “I don't see anything.”

  “Anyone.” Rae stepped out of Devon's arms. “It's Maria. I bet she snuck in to see my dress.” Rae moved again so she could see the arch where she had just seen Maria. “She sent me a mental message before that she wanted to see my dress.” Rae stiffened. “There she is again. She just smiled and waved at me.”

  Devon huffed. “Get her back outside. She's going to blow our cover.”

  Rae chewed the inside of her cheek. “I'm sorry.”

  “It's not your fault.” Devon frowned. “I don't think she's meant for this kind of work.”

  Rae felt bad for her friend, but she knew Devon was right. “I think Curtis might have put her up to it. I have a feeling something's off. I'm going to find out.”

  Chapter 17

  “Maria! What are you doing in here?” Rae lifted her dress and hurried over to her friend. She glanced around to make sure no one else would see Maria. “You can't be inside the building.”

  Maria shrugged. “I just want to see the hall.”

  “You aren't dressed.” Rae's eyebrows pressed together. “You know you can't blow our cover.”

  “How am I going to?” Maria stood on her tippy toes and tried to see over Rae's shoulder. “Your dress is massive.”

  Thanks. Nice compliment. “How did you get in?” A sick feeling settled in the bottom of her stomach. If Maria could sneak in unnoticed that meant anyone could, especially someone with a shifter tatù or… worse.

  “Curtis helped me.”

  “He did?” Rae spun around to check for Sarah. She needed to warn Devon. “Go back to the van.”

  “In a minute.”

  “No. This is serious. Something's going on. If Curtis isn't there, let me know. Go now-” Rae turned around. Maria was gone. Rae glanced down the hall but didn't see her. She switched her tatù to Maria's to speak with her friend. Be on the lookout and be careful on your way back. Something's off. I just can't figure it out.

  Maria didn't reply, but Rae wasn't worried. Maria was probably racing back to the van. Rae hurried back to the hall and scanned the crowd for Sarah, Philip or Devon. The live band and orchestra were playing a ballroom dancing song. It must have been a popular song because it looked like everyone was dancing. The swirls of dresses and moving masks made it next to impossible to spot anyone. The lights had dimmed and dry ice floated off the stage to give the room a more historic affect.

  Rae switched to Devon's tatù to get better vision. It didn't help as much as she liked. The smoke blurred her vision. She pushed through the dancers trying to find Devon and switched to another tatù. She tried to manage the panic building inside of her. She wished it was Riley's tatù inside of her making her feel out of control.

  Devon! She saw him dancing with someone wearing a dark amethyst ball gown. She grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. “We have to go.”

  It wasn't Devon. The man wore a similar tuxedo like Devon's and had the same dark hair but the minute her hand grabbed him she knew it wasn't him.

  “Sorry. I thought you were someone else.” Rae pushed her way through the dancers to escape the dance floor.

  Prince Philip stood beside a tall window talking to Alfie. The scene was wrong. Alfie always stood by Sarah, he never left her side.

  Rae hurried over, ignoring the fact she shouldn't be using her tatù to be noticed. “Where's Sarah?”

  Lines creased Philip's forehead. He stared at her wide-eyed and then at Alfie. “I thought you said she was with Devon and Karen.”

  Alfie blinked before raising his arm. Rae deflected and stopped him, holding his arm with the strength of one of her tatù abilities.

  “What the hell do you think you are doing?” He scowled at her.

 
“Stopping you.”

  “From speaking to the Queen's Guard?” He jerked his arm free. “I have a job to do.”

  “So do I.”

  He leaned down, his face inches from hers. “And what's that? Take down the future Queen of England?”

  Prince Philip stepped between the two of them, his hand pushing Rae back. “What the hell is going on? Where is Sarah?”

  Rae could feel the panic in his voice and the shaking in his hand against her as he tried to control himself. “I am not here to hurt Sarah. I'm here to protect her!”

  Philip's head swung in her direction. “What?”

  She sighed. Cover's blown. Doesn't matter now. “I work for the Privy Council.”

  “What?” Philip blinked. “You said you took classes with Sarah. I remember you from school.”

  Oh crap. “I just started with the Privy Council not too long ago.” She waved her hand. “We don't have time to discuss this now. We need to find Sarah.” She shifted her weight to see a very angry-looking Alfie. “Sorry for not including you in the loop. It was just easier. Now where did you say Sarah was?”

  Alfie pressed his lips together, his jaw line twitching. Finally he spoke, “Devon was going to get her… with you. He said you and Sarah were going to the lady's room. I turned around and they were gone.”

  “Then Devon is with Sarah. She's safe with him.” Rae turned to start looking for them.

  Philip held her arm. “I don't trust you. Everything you've said is a lie.” He motioned to Alfie. “Take her to a room and lock her in. Don't let her out until I know Sarah's safe.”

  Rae's mouth fell open. She felt her jaw drop. “I'm trying to help!” She didn't know what to do. Using a tatù would attract dangerous attention and people were beginning to stop and stare at them.

  Alfie grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. “Let's go.”

  She did not resist. She let him lead her out of the hall toward a stairwell. Devon! Serious mess up going on over here. I need your help. Fast! She sent Devon a mental message and switched over to let Maria know as well. Maria! Get Carter on the phone and clear this mess up. They think I'm the one after Sarah. Hurry!