apartment. They hovered, their apol

u okay,

e so

er is a

he door, shutting them out. The next day, they were bac

Alaric said, his tone serious. "You can't

Darrius insisted. "For the

privileged boys who had participated in m

said, my voice as cold and

ing, that my love for Alexander was a force of natu

orway, looking handsome and confidant, as if the hor

s voice smooth and condescending. "Are you ready

ut," I

was not used to being rejected. "You're still choosing that

lmost made me laugh. "Yes," I sai

elief in his eyes. He shook his head and left, still

g me like a physical blow. The fight was dr

ang. It wa

oice strained. "Everyone will be there. Darrian

a small leap

ged. "Don't do anything rash. T

ice, Mother," I s

s the social event of the season, my 22nd birthday party, the nigh

. It was a statement. I was a blank slate, a new be

he room. I was a ghost at my own part

e on me in an instant, their comp

breathtaki

is your

ted. A wave of silence

rived. And on hi

lue dress. My dress. The one t

ated, brutal act of humiliation. She was wearing

rting between me and her. It was a scandal,

way, not wanting to be caught in the c

in my chest, the phantom

"See, Azalea?" he whispered, his voice a venomous cares

ee me break. I stood t

digging into my skin. "You're

rab, ill-fitting dress at me. "Change," he co

fiance and don the gray garment of submission. When

strained. "And now, the moment we've all been waiting for. A

the stage. Alexander, preening and confident. Alaric, Dar

d

had paid a distant, unremarkable cousin of the Goldens to stan

her voice trembling slig

tep forward, ready

voice quiet but clear,

chelors looked at me, their smiles f

oors of the ball

hallway. He was tall, dressed in a sharp black suit, h

an Golden. T

ed against my r

eyes locked on him. I ignored the gasps, the

man I had despised my whole life,

ing eyes, and said, my voice ringing with a strength I didn't kno