Cress

Chapter 49

Cress was getting antsy. 

The royal nuptials were slated to being in a mere

 twenty-seven minutes, and as far as she could tell, 

all guards and security personnel were still very

much at their stations.

 On top of that, she and Wolf were running out of ways to

 make themselves inconspicuous without having to relocate

 to their seats. 

So far they'd each nibbled at the prawn hors d'oeuvres being

 waiter-passed.

 (Cress: one, Wolf: six), taken turns excusing themselves to

 pretend to use the washroom while really trying to discern 

if any of the guards appeared concerned about a potential

security breach, and three times Cress had had to laugh

 dreamily and hold Wolf's hand in  order to get some loitering

female admirer to mosey on.

 It was the most impressive acting she'd ever done, because

touching Wolf made her uneasy and it was difficult 

to imagine him making any jokes.

"Maybe we should start thinking of a Plan B," Cress

 murmured Cress murmured when she noticed that

 the symphony had begun replaying their set.

"Already done." said Wolf.

She peered up at him. "Really? What is it?"

"We continue on to the security center as planned. 

I just have to knock out a lot more guards between

 here and there."

She chewed on her lip, not terribly enthusiastic 

with Plan B.

Then— "There. Look."

She followed his gesture. 

Two guards were speaking with their heads lowered.

One had badges indicating a significantly higher rank.

 He pointed down a corridor, in the direction of the

 research wing.

Well, it was really in the direction of just about anything, 

but Cress hoped he was talking about a disturbance in

 the research wing. 

That would mean that the others had made it inside

and raised the alarms.

A second later, the two guards left the ballroom.

"Do you think they've done it?" Cress said.

"Time to find out."

Wolf offered her his elbow and together they meandered

 out into the main corridor. 

The remaining guards paid them no attention as they 

turned down a connecting hallway.

 Cress kept repeating the instructions that she'd memorized