by Alexia Purdy
“I’m so sorry, Star. It’s all my fault,” I whispered to myself.
Nothing had prepared me to face Star in such a state of fury. She hated my guts, and I couldn’t say or do anything about it. I had never wanted to hurt her, but I had. How had I gotten it so wrong? Had I truly expected her to run back into my arms, everything water under the bridge? How foolish was I? Always the optimist when nothing was clear. I could see she despised me with every bone in her body, but I knew there had to be something left of our love lingering inside. I’d only have to pull it back out and wrap us up into it. Then, maybe she’d love me again.
Sighing, I looked up at the clock hanging on the wall. It was barely ten in the morning, and I was exhausted. Debriefing had fortunately been short and to the point. I was to continue my search for Gigi. She’d been in the Glass Sky mere days ago, and I had barely missed her. Now she was aboveground and had been moving from safe house to safe house until she’d disappeared off the radar altogether. I hoped she was okay. She was still my fiancé, even though it was an engagement of convenience. She knew that as much as I did. Maybe. I had never really inquired to see if she loved me or not. She’d accepted my proposal with grace, but I didn’t know if her heart was truly invested.
I hoped it wasn’t. I wasn’t planning on going through with the wedding. There was only one girl I loved, and she had just rejected me with extreme bitterness. I knew I was to blame for her dejected outlook on things. She was right; I had assaulted her when I stabbed her with the sedative, quashing her chance for escape.
You betrayed me.
Her venomous voice echoed in my head over and over again until I wanted to slam it into the wall to make it stop. I stood and yanked open the closet which held my suits, clothes, and coats while I spent time in the underground. Sliding over a garment bag I had picked up from the dress shop, I unzipped it and tugged the bag away.
A new tuxedo hung inside, a rich, dark navy with satin lining decked out with blue sapphires along the edges and on the buttons. The material was the softest I’d ever touched, which complemented the rich sapphires. I’d chosen it for a reason. I’d sent messages to the events coordinator who had done costumes for the upcoming Crystal Ball, an annual dance mandatory for all residents of the Glass Sky to attend. I’d asked about the dress they’d made just for Star and had them match my suit to complement her dress.
I’d wanted to take her to the ball. I was such a fool to have expected she would accept my invitation to be her escort. I pressed the palm of my hand to my left eye, which had throbbed with pain since seeing Star at her workshop. I’d found her in her dirty coveralls, but she’d remained gorgeous, feisty, and so very much alive. I felt dead inside knowing she no longer favored me. I had ruined everything between us. There’d never even been an opportunity to ask her to the ball.
Would Gideon be taking her?
I racked my brain to remember what task the general had assigned to Gideon. We’d both been in a roomful of soldiers for the rebellion, and I hadn’t realized he would be there, but when I heard his name called, I knew it had to be him.
Commander Gideon Everlee. I hadn’t heard that name in years. I had hoped to never see him again.
“Everlee, you’re to arrange the watch detail in Lionel. See what the lookouts are doing over there and make sure everything is ship-tight. We can’t afford another attack. We need to make sure we’re ready for any advance on the city so we can prevent a massacre like in Petra. Got it?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Everlee had responded. “How long do you want me there?”
General Yu had scratched the stubble on his face. “Probably two weeks. Just clean up the mess up there. I need order if we’re to keep it protected.”
“Yes, sir.”
I was surprised I’d even caught the conversation. That meant Gideon wasn’t going to be at the Crystal Ball, which would be in a week.
“VanWright?” General Yu had waved me over before Gideon left. I’d approached them and faced the general.
“Yes, sir?”
“Once you find Miss Parsons, I have another mission for you both.” The general had glanced between us. I’d wondered if he knew we had a history.
“Of course, sir. What do you need me to do?”
Gideon’s glare had dug into me. The crease between his brows and tight frown told me he hadn’t been the one to suggest a cooperation between us. Well, that made two of us.
“I need you and Commander Everlee here to set up a plan to reinsert him into Farlan’s regime. You’re still a trusted advisor to Farlan, correct?”
“Yes, sir.” Please don’t, please don’t—
“Good. Devise a plan to get him back into the ranks of the Insurgents. I need more people on the inside. When Miss Parsons ran away, we lost a lot of time. Sending you out to look for his daughter put a dent in our plans. Get something put together and an update on my desk by morning. Dismissed.” General Yu had waved us away as another soldier moved in to talk to him.
Groaning, I’d found Gideon throwing me an equally annoyed look.
“Hey, I didn’t ask for this.” I’d put up my hands and shrugged. “Let’s just keep it professional.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Gideon had narrowed his eyes in my direction before flicking his gaze elsewhere.
“So, I need to get you back in. Why would you want to go back?”
“It’s complicated. I don’t want to go back in. Nobody wants to go to hell,” he’d grumbled, rubbing his temples as he moved toward one of the nearby conference rooms. “Come on, no need to delay the inevitable.”
We had to come up with a plan that day. I hoped it wouldn’t take long to outline it for General Yu.
I blinked, finding myself in my suite again. My eyes burned from staring too long. I hated zoning out so much lately. There was so much on my mind and things which were far out of my control. Plus, the lack of sleep was not helping.
I was still standing in front of the closet, and I wondered how long I had stood there, lost in my thoughts. I unhooked the tux and held it out at arm’s length. I would go to the ball and talk to Star again. She couldn’t hate me forever, right? I had to fix the damage between us. There had to be a way to repair what was broken, and I was determined to find it. If anyone was worth making up with, it was Star.
I hung the suit back up and closed the closet, feeling my determination spark up again. I’d win her back. I’d start at the ball and dance with her the entire night. I had to remind her why she loved me and that I loved her too. I’d been gone far too long. It was almost fortunate that Gigi had run away from the mansion, because it had given me an excuse to leave and look for Star. Gigi was a priority too, yes, but not as important as Star’s forgiveness. When I’d found Gigi, it would be time to return to Farlan. I wasn’t ready to go back yet, and I was betting Gigi wasn’t either. Things would just move at a slower pace for now, and no one could say anything about it. Slow and steady won the race. I was pinning all my hopes on that alone.
Chapter Twenty-one
Star
The New Year’s Crystal Ball festival was in full swing when I stepped into the ballroom. It wasn’t like the fancy coupling balls aboveground. It was far different than any dances I’d been to before. If it wasn’t required to attend the ball, my previous trauma with dances would’ve gotten the best of me, and I would’ve happily retreated to my cavern instead.
The entire room sparkled from gems, geodes, and carved crystals displayed on pedestals along the edges of the room and scattered throughout the dancefloor. The prisms sprayed rainbows and glowing colors all throughout the room. Crystal chandeliers, along with crystal goblets, dishware, and fountains, littered the room, with their exquisiteness brightening every corner. Long swaths of sheer curtains hung from the ceiling. It created a luxurious look with only elements found in the caves surrounding the city.
I’d never seen anything so grand. I felt insignificant next to it.
I smoothed down my dress, a
requirement to attend the annual Crystal Ball. The deep, royal blue material wrapped around my middle tightly like a corset and then bloomed outward near my feet, flowing like liquid. My hair was swept up, accented with tiny crystals along with a gorgeous tiara, courtesy of Janis’s sister, Mal, who was the underground’s go-to beautician. I wasn’t sure how she made the crystals stick, but I was certain it would take a good hosing down to get them out.
“Star! You’re here!” Tannen smiled, bowing in his elegantly tailored suit. His black tux glimmered with gem accents on the satin trim. Rubies encrusted the edges of his sleeves and shoulders, running down the lengths of his arms and making the black disappear into the background.
“Hello, Tannen,” I answered, holding my hand out as he reached for it.
He kissed the top of my hand and then held out an arm. “May I have the pleasure of escorting you to the ball, miss?”
Heat spilled across the bridge of my nose and cheeks as I nodded. I’d never seen Tannen outside the workshop. Without the coveralls and grease constantly smeared across his face and hands, I barely recognized the guy. He always had a beautiful smile, brilliant white teeth, and deep chocolate eyes. His smooth skin gleamed under the lights, brightening the sleek mocha color. He didn’t even look like the same person.
“I have to say, you clean up well for a mechanic,” I said.
“It’s just a magic trick. My fairy godmother told me I’d turn into a pumpkin after midnight.”
“Well, I guess you’d better make sure you set an alarm and make the most of it.”
He laughed and held out a pocket watch. It was black with tiny red rubies at each hour mark, with the arms of the clock in strips of red as well.
“I’m all set.”
“I never thought you were big on color coordinating.”
“Oh, I’m not,” he chuckled, smoothing down his jacket. “We’re required to attend this ball every year, and everything was chosen for me already. I had nothing to do with it. It’s a service provided for those who are fashion challenged. Like me.” He winked.
I beamed. “Well, whoever had that task did a fine job.”
Tannen did look amazing. The longer I stayed in the Glass Sky City, the more things surprised me. I laughed, hooking my arm in his and giving him a genuine smile. He looked dazzling in his suit. At least I could count on him. He’d never let me down.
He guided me down the steps as I took in the vibrant atmosphere. The crowd was dressed to the nines, all looking miles from the hard-working class they represented. Long gowns of all colors, fierce hairdos, and striking suits made the place feel like a dream. I’d never been to a dance in the underground, but from what I could see, this was the one ball to not miss.
Steadying myself by holding on to Tannen as we reached the landing, I nearly walked right into someone. Apologizing profusely, I stepped back, coming face to face with none other than Gideon. He had been waiting at the bottom of the bannister, an amused look on his face. His eyes flicked between me and Tannen, taking us in with a long, drawn-out look.
“Gideon… hello.” I blushed even more as I let go of Tannen and stood on the last step of the grand staircase, fumbling. “I thought you weren’t going to make it to the ball tonight.”
His dark eyes reflected the gleaming lights of the prisms hanging from the walls of the ballroom. His gaze lingered on Tannen before flicking back toward me. He kept his face expressionless as he watched me. My heart jumped as I slowed my breathing. I had nothing to hide. Tannen and I had a platonic relationship, and that was all.
“I was fortunate enough to finish my business in Lionel faster than I thought.” He continued to scrutinize us as we listened, his expression impossible to read. “I have to say, I am most impressed with the turnout. I’ve never seen the ball this packed. Record numbers, I see. I wonder if they had to threaten anyone to come.” He pursed his lips, and I wondered if he was just rambling for something to say.
“There are rarely any repercussions for those who skip it,” Tannen answered, “but because of the war, they’re even stricter about it this year. You know, for morale.” He held out his hand to Gideon while loudly clearing his throat. “I’m Tannen Jackson, by the way.”
“Hello, Tannen.” Gideon took his hand and shook it gently. I doubted his grip was just as kind. “I’m Gideon Everlee. Good to meet you.” He angled his head toward me as his smile remained frozen on his face, his eyes glued to me. “So, Star… how do you two know each other?”
Tannen straightened. I felt the crackle of a challenge spark in the air, tasting a lot like jealousy as they glared at one another. I rolled my eyes; I didn’t see what the problem was. We all knew I was with Gideon.
I glanced at Tannen, taking in his demeanor, and felt my heart stop. From the look he was giving Gideon, maybe he didn’t know Gideon and I were together. How had I messed this up so badly?
“We work together in the machine shop,” I answered. I stepped down and looped my arm into Gideon’s. “Tannen is my coworker and friend. He offered to escort me into the ball since I arrived alone. Right, Tannen? He’s a true gentleman.”
Tannen grumbled under his breath, still focused on Gideon. At the mention of his name, he broke away to look at me, a twinge of hurt in his eyes. My stomach tightened as I watched disappointment flood his face.
Had I said something wrong? My chest ached as he lowered his gaze in defeat but caught himself halfway, stiffening with pride.
“Yes. I was genuinely surprised a beautiful girl like Star didn’t have a date for the ball, so I offered to escort her.”
I let out a slow, centering breath. The challenge died, with Gideon nodding and smiling widely at Tannen. I was over it all.
“Will you excuse us, Tannen?” I asked. “Gideon and I have some catching up to do. He’s been gone a long time. Thank you so much for offering to be my escort.”
Tannen eyed Gideon up and down once more, studying him more closely than before. He finally threw him a chagrined smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Of course, Miss Star. I’ll be here if you need anything.”
Before heading off with Gideon, I curtsied at Tannen, mouthing a “thank you” to my friend. He bowed, refusing to look at me before turning and walking away. I hadn’t realized his return to formalities would sting as much as it did.
From the looks of it, Tannen didn’t like Gideon, which threw me off. Tannen was agreeable with everyone. Most times, it was another person who would mouth off first, not him. I sighed. It’d been a long three months since I’d come back to the underground. I’d never thought Tannen had any sort of feelings for me until that moment, but I couldn’t dwell on it while Gideon was with me.
“I’m gone but a week, and the vultures have already settled in.” Gideon glanced my way, a wicked gleam in his eyes.
“I have no idea what you mean,” I responded.
Gideon bobbed his head back toward Tannen, who continued to watch us from across the room even though there was already a pretty young lady trying to chat it up with him. He barely paid her any attention, but that didn’t stop her.
“That guy, Tanner,” Gideon said.
“It’s Tannen,” I corrected him.
He brushed it off. “Okay, yeah, Tannen. He’s smitten with you. Did you know? You’ve never mentioned him before.”
“That’s because there’s nothing to mention. He’s my coworker in the workshop. We work on big projects together and smaller ones on our own. That’s it.”
He lifted an eyebrow, but the dimple in his cheek told me he was amused. “Well, I don’t think he looks at it that way.”
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks. I’m here with you.”
“Only because I showed up, or else you’d be here with him.”
I dug my heels into the floor and crossed my arms. I wouldn’t stand for this. “Are you jealous?”
“Of course not.”
“Are you sure? You sound pretty jealous to me.”
“
I’m not jealous. I’m just… I don’t know… intrigued. I guess I never really thought about other guys entertaining the idea of getting together with you.”
“Why? I’m not good enough to attract other guys?”
“That’s not what I mean,” Gideon backtracked, but I was enjoying watching him squirm.
“Well, what do you mean? You know you’re not the only guy around here, but you have nothing to worry about.”
He smiled, stepping forward and pulling me into his arms. My heart raced as I looked into his dark eyes, black endless circles I could get lost in. Even though the rebellion had called him away for long periods of time, it felt as though he hadn’t left at all.
“I’m glad to hear that.” Gideon beamed. “What else has been going on around here that I don’t know about?” He glanced around the room as he began swaying to the music.
I wondered if I should tell him about Clyde’s visit. It wasn’t something he truly needed to know. Maybe he would get angry about it. Either way, I decided it didn’t matter. Clyde was out of my life for good. Only the future with Gideon mattered.
“Not much, really. How was your trip?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.
“It went well. I met some of the advisors to the general and was teamed up with one of them for the next mission.”
I turned, my interested heightening. “What sort of mission?”
“Well, I’m going to return to Farlan’s mansion.”
“What?” I let go of him, taken aback. “But they’ll kill you. You’ve been branded a traitor.”
“Actually, I haven’t. I’ve learned that they believe I’m a strategic prisoner of the rebellion.” Gideon tugged his sleeve up and held out his bare arm to show me a small diamond-shaped scar with a line through it on his inner forearm.
