House of Shadows (Royal Houses 2)

Her black skin was lathered in some sort of slight sheen so that it glowed like a moonlit night. Her dress was the softest swath of fabric Kerrigan had ever seen, and she owned every single step she took down those stairs. Everyone stared at her in that moment. The hint of gold on her lids, the long sweep of her black lashes, the enchanting light pink atop her lush lips. The swish of her lithe hips and the command she acquired in just a head tilt. Her deep curtsy was perfection. She’d always been spectacular at the show of it all, but this was something else altogether. Kerrigan had been practicing sword play and magic work, and Darby had honed her own craft.

Whispers broke out as she took her place at the front of the line. An approving nod from one of the assembled royalty said all that needed to be said—Darby was the star of the Season.

Clover’s lips were pressed so hard together that they practically disappeared. “Well, she did all right.”

“Better than all right,” Hadrian said.

Clover huffed. She downed the rest of her wine. “I need another drink.”

Hadrian shot Kerrigan a pained look. “We’ll find you later.”

Kerrigan waved him off. “Have fun.”

“What’s with them?” Fordham asked. “I thought they were together?”

“They’re complicated.”

Like us. That was what she wanted to say.

Luckily, she was saved from having to hide that look from her face by Audria appearing. “Oh my gods, your friend is the talk of the night!”

“She did great,” Kerrigan agreed.

She fluttered her eyelashes at Fordham. “You don’t mind if I steal Kerrigan for a minute, do you?”

For a split second, he looked like he very much did mind but then came back to himself. “Of course not.”

“Great,” Audria gushed. She linked arms with Kerrigan and pulled her across the room. “I have so many people I want you to meet.”

“Meet?”

“Absolutely. Friends of mine. People you would have known from Bryonica had you stayed in the tribe. Important introductions for you to have.”

Kerrigan bit the inside of her cheek to keep from telling Audria exactly how much she wanted to make these people’s acquaintances. But it was one night, and Audria was so happy. It couldn’t be that bad.

Except it was. It was worse.

Kerrigan desperately want to escape the clutches of these women, but she had no chance of doing so. Audria tugged her around as if she were anxious to impress her friends with her new toy. It was exhausting, and after over an hour of it, Kerrigan had a headache.

It would be one thing if it was just mindless prattle, but it was also the number of these women who continually said uncomfortably offensive things about her being half-Fae. How she’d accomplished so much despite her blood. How she was so brave for showing her ears. How they couldn’t believe that someone like her had snagged a prince like Fordham. And on and on. The endless microaggressions made Kerrigan wish she were back in the Wastes, where at least her heritage wasn’t a topic of conversation.

She was so close to fleeing that she startled when Darby appeared at her side. She glowed inside and out. “Kerrigan.”

They embraced quickly. It had been weeks since Kerrigan had seen her. The longest the former roommates had ever gone. She hated that they were separated but loved that Darby was coming into her own. Even if it meant this absurd spectacle.

“Well, aren’t you the toast of the Season?”

Darby grinned and ducked her chin. “You make quite a sight yourself.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” she said with a laugh.

Darby looped her arm with Kerrigan’s and tugged her away from Audria.

Audria was chatting with a blue-eyed Fae male she’d had her eye on for the last three dances, giving them the perfect escape route. Kerrigan had no intention of ever returning. She was already planning a way out. She needed to find and tell Fordham before she did so. And she hadn’t even danced yet. Pity.

“Thank you,” she said to Darby. “You did that effortlessly.”

“As if I didn’t know that you were ready to escape.”

“I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you,” Darby said. “It’s not the same without you. I honestly thought I’d always want my own room, and now that I have it, I miss having you right across the room to gossip with until the early hours of the morning.”

Kerrigan giggled. “We weren’t that bad.”

“Yes, we were, and I miss it.”

“Me too. Though you seem to have captured the attention of all the gentlemen this Season.” The only indication Darby was displeased was a fluttering of her fingers, something she’d done since she was a child. Kerrigan gripped her hand. “You do know that you don’t have to go through with this.”

Darby nodded. “I do though.”

“You don’t.”

“I can take lovers, Kerrigan. It doesn’t have to be that bad.”