When Erik mentions Kerrie-uh in this chapter, it's referencing the masquerade ball in Expired. As I'm rewriting it, I decided to turn it into a holiday.

Erik~~

"Sto soleil," the Preeminence of Odalia thanks us. "We will discuss and call for you when we have reached a decision."

Standing in the center of the senate chamber, Rydersin curtsies while I bow. The Order seated in their thrones that circle us, dip their heads, their laurel-wreath crowns glinting. The chamber is arranged like the one in Elleany, but the structure, the materials are different. It's made of light gray stone and feels airier. But I can't keep my skin from prickling, half expecting someone to jump out and attack us.

Maybe growing up with rebel attacks messed me up.

I follow Rydersin out of the chamber, her dark green dress trailing the floor behind her, the gold sash tied around her waist—that is probably woven with real gold strands—swaying. Half of her braids are twisted into a bun on the top of her head. The rest hang down her back. A gold laurel-wreath crown adorns her head.

She radiates power even though I'm not sure the meeting went all that well. They are more likely to tell us no than yes.

There were a lot of promises on Rydersin's part. Apparently, Odalia's and Acquaellia's Orders are not all that friendly, and she promised to heal any wounds once she is Preeminence. An offer her father has been against making for years.

While Odalia's Order seemed to welcome that, they threw blistering questions at her for wanting to steal her brother's title. Her brother won't be of age to take the position for years. Were Rydersin to become Preeminence, they would not be able to wait for him to become old enough to be initiated as Beta. Her brother would lose any right to a title.

As we exit the chamber and step onto the stone veranda, two Konkursi close the doors behind us. We're left to the company of the waterfalls that surround the veranda and any Konkursi that are scattered among the columns that support the roof.

Rydersin faces me and without saying anything brushes off my blazer. She had me dress in a blue suit jacket, threaded with gold designs, and while I have to begrudgingly admit that the jacket is nice, I already feel as if I'm attractive enough without extravagant clothes. It's not like I want my face to clash with my clothes.

That'd be embarrassing.

"I think that went well," she says.

I arch an eyebrow. "You do?"

"If they weren't going to consider me, they would have told us outright."

She heads for the stairs that will take us down to where the waterfalls pool. The slight breeze ruffles her dress and feels nice on my brow.

The steps are slick, and we have to tread carefully lest we slip and fall over the edge into the water below. Amoria seems to enjoy tempting death. Well, maybe not tempt. We can't die until our Expiration Dates, so perhaps mock would be the better word. Like poking the window that keeps you separated from a lion at the zoo.

I glance back to get another look at the beautiful structure. Molly would have loved this. She would have been terrified of Amoria, but she still would have relished its beauty.

When we reach the bottom of the steps, we follow the path along the water, headed for the mansion that holds the dining and ball rooms of Odalia's Order. It's in the middle of the two cliffs where the Order members have carved out their own small palaces in the rock. They've also built onto the rock creating balconies and rooms. I liken the mansion to a clubhouse in a neighborhood. It's a place for the families to gather since they don't all live together in the same building like the Society does.

Up ahead on the path, two men are headed in our direction. They aren't dressed like Konkursi, which must mean they're either simply on a walk or they are on their way to meet with the Order.

"Even though we're no longer in the senate chamber, we're not done. At dinner every eye will be on us, and our actions there will affect the Order's decision." Rydersin's hand grasps at the skirt of her dress, opening and closing around the fabric.

"Right, of course. I know how these things work. How long—"

"Rydersin Torellae?" The two men are now only a few feet from us. I catch glimpses of handguns tucked into their waistbands.

Rydersin takes a step back. "And you are?"

"Preeminence Torellae sent us," the one on the right, dressed in a deep-red suit, says. "We've been ordered to bring you to him."

The man on the left steps forward, his brown hair glinting with gold highlights in the light of the sun. I don't hesitate, moving toward him, grabbing his arms and twisting him around. He grunts while the other man reaches for his gun.

Rydersin gasps.

I elbow the brunette in the side and grab his gun before slamming the butt of it into his head. As he stumbles, I aim the gun at his partner.

"Blackwood!" She places her hands on my arm, pushing down, trying to get me to lower the gun. I've had enough training that my arms don't waver.

The man in the red suit holds up his hands, crouching down toward his partner on the ground who's holding his head.

"Do you know these men?"

"No."

"What do you want?" I shake the gun for emphasis. Rydersin draws her arms back.

The man in red swallows. "The Preeminence wants to speak to her about her . . . goals."

"You mean he wants to lock her up until her brother is old enough to become Preeminence."

Rydersin gives me a strange look.

"No," he says quickly. "He just wants to talk."

"To convince me to stop?" Rydersin crosses her arms, her palms resting on the tops of her forearms. "I have no interest in speaking now. And you can tell him that. When I am ready to see him, I will. You can leave."

They don't budge, the one man still on the ground. He pulls his hand away from his head. Blood glistens on his fingers and palm.

"You heard the lady." I aim the gun between the both of them, and the man in red picks up his companion before dipping into a shallow bow. His arm slung around the bleeding Amoris, he helps his friend in the direction from which they came. The way we're headed.

I tuck the stolen gun into my waistband.

"That was excessive."

Shrugging, I adjust my blazer to cover the gun. "They would have hurt us."
"You don't know that."

"Then why did they have guns?"

Her mouth was already open, a retort ready, but she shuts it. "My father wouldn't . . ."

"And you're probably right. But orders aren't always carried out as intended."

"I have to begrudgingly admit that I'm impressed. You didn't hesitate at all."

I watch the men grow farther away, their forms shrinking as the distance takes them. "In the Society, we had to learn how to defend ourselves from rebels."

"I'd heard about your rebellions. They're not a thing here, so most of those in my . . . social status don't have to learn those things."

I think of Alastair and how he handled himself in the catacombs of France. He'd been trained. And well.

"My Veil has always been enough security." She bunches up the fabric of her dress again. "Perhaps I should have had them accompany us." There are three Veil members traveling with us, but they're back in the mansion. The fraternal twins Xiaozhi and Meilin, and Karn. None of them have talked much when I've been around them, and I hate that I can't help but think that it's because they don't like me. I don't know why I should give a damn what they think.

"No. You were right earlier when you said it would have sent the wrong message. Though will your father be a lost cause after the message you gave them?" I incline my head toward the two Amoris.

She must deem them far enough away to start walking again. "It was the only thing I could say. If I bowed my head and cowed, then I'd have lost his respect. He has to see that I won't be deterred."

*****

Once we return to the mansion, we see no more of the two Amoris, and we gather that they must have immediately departed.

Dinner goes smoothly, Rydersin answering any and all questions with grace and tact and also with authority. Even I manage to steal some of her tact. And when we retire to one of the lounges with her close friends in the Order and a few others, I find I'm relaxed. The two of us sit beside each other on an elegant beige couch designed more for look than comfort. Two Amoris sit on the other side of Rydersin.

Si-u, the Eta and one of Rydersin's close friends, hovers near a drink cart. Odalia's Order are newly initiated, being only in their first Amorian year. "What would you like?" he asks both of us. His black hair falls across his forehead at an angle, and with the top of his white-button shirt undone, he is the picture of ease.

"Water would be fine," she says and though nothing sounds better than the sharp burn I'm sure that amber alcohol in the decanter would bring, I'm worried I'd say something that would mess up this whole operation, so I settle for water as well.

Minutes later I'm swirling the clear liquid around my cup. If only my cousins could see me now. I lower my cup. Why am I thinking about them? Our lives aren't entwined any more. Their opinions mean nothing.

I now play the part of a courtier. Not a leader. Not a wayward son.

Music drifts from a golden speaker that looks like an antique but sounds crisp and clear. Si-u offers his hand to the other woman who sits on the couch with us. She takes his hand, and he pulls her to her feet. Laughing, the two start swaying to the music, the woman's ivory dress twisting around her ankles.

I set my glass on the end table and stand, understanding what Rydersin needs me to do.

I walk across the room to where a woman sits in a chair, her black hair cut in a bob. If I remember correctly, she's the sister of the Undici. Someone who is probably foolishly often overlooked because of her brother's lower position. But just because a number is lower, doesn't mean it has less power. From the Beta to the Douze, we all bow to the Preeminence.

I hold out my hand to her. "Would you care to dance?" She looks up at me, her amethyst eyes twinkling.

"I'd love to."

I pull her until we're beside Si-u and his partner, and I make sure I twirl and dip her, ensuring her brother sees the smile on her face.

Over the next half hour, I dance with three others before realizing Rydersin hasn't danced at all, too busy caught up chatting and discussing policies. She's just returned to her spot on the couch when I approach her.

"Dance?"

She arches a brow and glances at the other two pairs that are dancing to the soft music. Swaying really. It's hardly the dancing I'm used to. "Very well." She takes my hand, and I place a hand on the middle of her back as she places one on my shoulder. We're closer than most of the waltzes at the Society would have me be with a partner.

As we sway, I'm taken back to that night in Nevada where Iris and I danced like this right before everything went wrong. Right before I shot Iris and almost killed her. A lump forms in my throat that swallowing can't get rid of. Jonas took the blame for that until I was too drunk and threw the truth in her face. Maybe I never wanted Iris to like me. Maybe I wanted her to hate me from the moment I saw those eyes—some sort of penance for what I allowed to happen to Molly.

"Did you dance a lot back on Earth?"

"It was a favorite pastime for me and my cousins." I would never have thought the ball on Kerrie-uh would be the last I'd attend at the Society.

She chuckles. "I hate dancing."

"This is awkward then." I glance at her hand in mine and then the one on my shoulder.

"This is nice. But I fear I'm not that coordinated. A simple waltz, I'm fine at. But throw in all those twirls and dips, and it's a miracle when I don't fall on my face. And being the Preeminence's daughter, everyone watches me. So, falling is not an option."

Stepping back, I release my hand on her back and raise our joined hands. "There. You can go as slow as you want."

She gives me a curious look before spinning underneath my arm, which ends up being more her taking a walk in a circle than doing any sort of twirling. But baby steps. If she's going to be Preeminence, she can never fall.

Returning her hand to my shoulder, she says, "I think you've charmed at least half the people in this room so far."

"Funny considering I'm not the charmer of the family."

"Who was?"

I feel a pang in my heart. "Most of my cousins in the Order can be sickeningly charming when they want. But the best is probably Enzo."

"He's the Douze, right?"

"Yes."

"You must miss them."

"No. I don't."

She smiles sadly, and the song comes to an end. "Thank you for the dance, Blackwood."

*****

Later that night I'm returning to the mansion after a solitary walk that I needed to clear my head when I spot Rydersin leaning against her balcony, a glass of wine in her hand. She doesn't seem to notice me, and once inside, I make my way to her suite. I don't know why but the sight of her up there, outlined by the sky as if she were the constellation Cassiopeia, filled me with loneliness. And if I'm being brutally honest, maybe homesickness. None of the constellations here are the same.

When I reach her door, Meilin opens it. Behind her, Xiaozhi, her twin sits in a chair at a table inspecting her gun. Meilin's black hair is cut into a pixie style, while Xiaozhi has let her hair grow long. The latter's hair appears black but look close enough and in the light and it becomes brunette. Meilin, who's taller than her sister, doesn't move from the doorway.

"She's going to bed soon," Meilin' says.

Xiaozhi glances up before looking back down at her gun. I don't see Karn.

"It's all right, Meilin," I hear Rydersin say. "Let him in."

She gives me an icy once over before stepping aside for me to enter into the sitting room.

In the adjourning room, Rydersin sits on the edge of her bed, observing me. She still wears the dress from earlier, but her hair is out of the bun, and the laurel wreath crown is nowhere to be seen. I know from experience how uncomfortable they are.

"What can I do for you?"

How am I supposed to explain that I didn't want to be alone? I can't do that. "I only wanted to say goodnight." I glance around the room. "Where's Karn?"

"He went into the town to find a gift for his sister."

"Is he planning to get a souvenir on each stop?"

"If that is what he wishes."

I never paid much attention to those who served in our Veil. I never considered that they might want to buy things in the places the Society sends them. Our Veil was large enough that I usually didn't work directly with the same members more than twice. But from what I've gathered, Rydersin has been with her three Veil for a long time.

I guess I always saw our Veil as inherently evil; they worked for my family. But I was my family. And I left them. Broke away. Maybe I should have afforded them the benefit of the doubt.

I shouldn't have come here. I've been around people all day. Why couldn't I be alone for just a little bit?

Frowning, I bid her and then the twins, who hardly deign to look up, goodnight and leave for my suite, pushing back at the icy feeling crawling up my neck.