Smoke and Wishes (Best Wishes #1)(69)

“Did you get this too?” He held up his phone and I nodded, knowing full well my sweats were tented. “Did you notice where it was sent to?” I pulled my messages back up. Oh, shit.

“Well, that will certainly get everyone’s attention,” I added. Nothing had been sent back to Lucie, but I knew that everyone in the group had looked at it, including Hudson.

“Hey, maybe it’ll help him get his head out of his ass,” Landon supplied as we swapped spots. I hadn’t stopped staring at the photo, finally acknowledging her new body jewelry.

“Yeah, but this could come back on Lucie, so we’ll need to keep an eye out,” I added, Landon nodded his agreement before shutting the door. I quickly sent her a private message as I laid down on the couch, finding myself staring at her photo again after I hit send.





20





October 26th

Friday Night

Lucienne





Standing in my bedroom looking into the full-length mirror I had hanging on the back of my door, I was still amazed by the sheer beauty of the dress Sadie had found. It complimented my skin tone nicely, which was a feat in and of itself considering how pale I was in the overcast Washington weather. My wish token was on full display, sitting prettily under my cleavage. Tonight would mark the first time I had ever worn it so openly, having previously chosen tops that kept it from view. Only the guys, Sadie, and Benji, along with Char and my mom, of course, knew my supe type. It was a risky decision to wear it so blatantly since Djinns were rare, but I was tired of hiding. In my ears were two small gold fleur de lis studs to match my necklace.

My usually straight hair was curled and pinned into a fancy bun at the nape of my neck, several strands loose in the front, framing my heart-shaped face. Sadie had arranged for us to get our makeup done professionally, the dress and the hair were much too elegant for my usual mascara and chapstick. The artist went with a fairly vintage style; soft natural eyeshadow, subtle winged eyeliner, and a deep red lipstick to compliment my gown.

I slid the delicate gold bracelet Sadie had gotten me onto my left wrist. It, along with the heels she had chosen, went well with my necklace. She and I debated over shoes for a while, I had wanted to wear a simple flat, the dress was so long it would cover whatever shoes I chose anyway. However, when she showed me what she had picked out, I couldn’t say no. The pump itself was sheer but had small gold beads that were concentrated around the closed toe and dispersed up the sides. The heel was only two inches. Thank goodness. Otherwise, I’d be sure to fall on my face, but the heel was solid and plated with shiny gold. I tossed my phone, ID, and lipstick into a small gold clutch and waited for the signal that Sadie had created for when we would walk out of our rooms. After a few more minutes, the knock on her door sounded. I stepped into our shared living space.

Sadie looked stunning in her deep blue dress. The lace was feminine, and the princess skirt accentuated her tiny waist while enhancing the rest of her curves. Her hair had been curled and left down, small silver studs in her ears matched her silver clutch and shoes. Silver frames took the place of her usual purple ones, she had found them buried in her room somewhere. Today, she had chosen to coordinate, instead of looking like “a walking rainbow”, her words not mine.

“You look amazing, Sadie,” I was genuinely in awe. If she didn’t find a girl to dance with tonight, I’d be surprised.

“Holy shit, girl! You look like a damn model! Let’s get a picture and go show those guys of yours what they’re in for,” I laughed at her suggestive eyebrow wiggle. We took several selfies and pictures in our dresses before heading out of the dorm and into the cold air. I hadn’t thought of getting a coat or shawl for the walk, so I was shivering, my teeth chattering loudly, by the time we made it.

The dining hall had been closed all day for preparation of the All Hallow’s Eve Dance. They decided to have it the Friday before Halloween to allow the supes that celebrated Samhain to do so. I made sure to send my pictures to mom and Char so they could see my dress. I felt a pang of sadness knowing this was the first dance Char wouldn’t be going to with me, but on the flip side, I could actually enjoy it because Noah wasn’t here.

The warmth of the entryway in the dining hall soothed my shivering. Sadie and I walked towards the double doors that had been propped open. We had arrived about 15 minutes late, so the majority of students and faculty had already taken their seats or were out on the dance floor. I looked around once we reached the top of the small staircase inside the double door that led to the dance floor. Tables and chairs were situated on the outer edge of the room, several serving tables held drinks and food while the center of the room was emptied for dancing. The DJ was playing an EDM mix as we walked down the steps and into the madness that had already begun. Strobe lights flashed as the crowd moved in time to the electronic beat. The thud of the bass pounded through my chest the further we pushed into the dancing students.

Camden





“Everything still on track for tonight?” Logan’s question brought me out of my inner musings. Taking the drink Landon held out for me, I looked over our little group. What we were doing tonight wasn’t exactly ethical, but I would do anything to get Hudson back.

“Let them enjoy the dance for a little while. When Dante gets them out to the quad or into the back hallway, we’ll follow. Once the girls talk, hopefully, Hudson will snap out of whatever it is he’s dealing with,” I cliff-noted the plan to the guys, taking a sip of my drink.