BY THE TIME we returned to the lingerie store, it was swarming with paparazzi.
“We need to get out of here,” I said as I sank down in the backseat of Dane’s car.
“No. This is exactly what we want. There’s nothing the council hates more than publicity, but Lucinda’s not the only one with media connections,” Dane said as he put on his cuff links.
“You did this?”
“We’re making a statement.”
I glanced down at the blood on my clothes, smeared all over my hands and neck. “But look at me—”
“Already taken care of. While I distract them out front, my driver will take you around back. I have people waiting inside. They know what to do.”
“Dane,” I said as I squeezed his hand.
“You can do this,” he assured me as he arranged my hair around my shoulders, giving me a breathless kiss full of blood and sorrow, lust and remorse, and all I wanted to do in that moment was to give myself over and get lost in him, but he pulled away, emerging from the car with a broad smile on his face.
It brought a lump to my throat, watching him work the crowd. He was putting everything on the line for my brother and me. I didn’t really deserve his devotion, especially after the way I’d behaved with Coronado, but we were going to have to lean on each other to get through this. To get Rhys back.
The driver pulled around to the alleyway. The door unlocked, and it startled me. As much as I wanted to curl up in a ball and hide from the world, I took a deep breath and got out of the car, running to the back door of the shop. I had to be brave for Dane . . . for Rhys.
The moment I stepped inside, Camila introduced me to a team of stylists, and I was rushed to the bathroom. They took off my clothes, threw them in the trash, and then they washed me up. No questions asked.
They went to work on my hair and makeup. Normally, I would’ve hated this much attention, this much fuss, but I was in a daze. I was so tired of fighting everything all the time—fighting my feelings for Dane, fighting my fear about Rhys, fighting the other immortals—and the truth was I couldn’t do this alone.
They dressed me in a nude balconette bra with matching panties and a cream-colored fitted tank dress with a pair of beige heels and a jeweled clutch. When they were finished, I looked in the mirror and realized this was what a Dane Coronado love interest should look like. Polished and buffed to perfection.
After piling up exquisitely wrapped boxes into the two Arcanum guards’ arms, Camila handed me a small bag with their logo prominently displayed. I got it. It was a nice plug for their store. And God only knows how much Dane had to fork over for this degree of discretion, but I was grateful. “Oh, your sunglasses,” I said as I started to give them back, but she placed them firmly on my face.
“Keep them. They look better on you anyway.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t worry. It’s reflected in the bill,” she said as she tucked his credit card and a receipt as long as my body length inside the bag. “Little tip,” she whispered. “When you reach the bottom of the stairs, take off the glasses. They’ll want to see those eyes.”
All I could do was nod.
As she stepped outside to open the door, the cameras started flashing.
The guards hurried out, deftly maneuvering through the crowd.
As I stood on the threshold, I took in a jittery breath. It felt symbolic, as if stepping over this threshold meant that I was choosing to embrace Dane Coronado and everything that came with him.
I wasn’t sure if someone nudged me or if I took the first step, but as soon as I emerged into the open air, a barrage of flashes and questions awaited me.
I focused on Dane, who was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs. And that’s all I needed. I breathed him in, focused on his emotions, leaning on his confidence, his love, his strength to get me through this.
As soon as I reached his side, Dane slid his arm around my waist. “Just smile,” he whispered. “We’re nearly there.”
He kissed my cheek and turned to the reporters. “This is the woman I’ve been telling you about. May I present Miss Ashlyn Marie Larkin.”
The sound of cameras clicking, pens scribbling on paper, made my head spin.
“How does it feel having the attention of the most eligible bachelor in the world?” a reporter asked.
“Are you planning a trip?”
“Are there wedding bells in your future?”
“I certainly hope so.” Dane grinned. “Believe me, it’s not from a lack of trying. You’ll put in a good word for me, I hope?”
The reporters laughed. He was so charming, so effortless. I guess he’d had a year to practice. I couldn’t imagine how difficult that must’ve been for him. He was forced into the limelight from day one, while a war was being waged inside of him. And he still managed somehow. The least I could do was stand here and smile.
The woman from the shop was waving at me from the stairs, reminding me to take off my sunglasses.
The flashes went crazy.
“Where did you meet?”
“Does your family approve? What about your twin brother?”
“It was love at first sight,” Dane offered in an attempt to deflect the questions. “At least on my part, but I think I’m starting to grow on her.”
“Is that true, Miss Larkin? Is he starting to win you over with lavish shopping trips?”
Dane squeezed my hand. He knew that would set me off. I could make enough gold in a month to buy this store out ten times over, but I strangled the thought.
“And how do you know all of this isn’t for me?” Dane grinned. “Now, if you’ll excuse us,” he said as he motioned for me to get in the car. “As you can see, we have more pressing matters to attend to.”
A low chuckle swept through the crowd as he slipped in next to me and shut the door on the world.