“What is wrong with you?” I hiss at Jace.
“Me?!” he shouts, flinging an accusatory finger in Eaton’s face. “Do you haveanyidea what you’ve just done?!”
Zadyn grasps Eaton’s collar, shoving him backward.
“Are you kidding me, Eaton?!” he bursts. “I didn’t bring you here so you could hijack this wedding!”
“Don’t you think Iknowthat?” He tosses Zadyn off so that Sorscha can fuss over him. Some of his hostility eases as he peers down at her with intense adoration. “This wasn’t planned.”
“Can someone please explain what in hell is going on?” Mar barks, tossing up her hands.
“We’re mates,” Eaton replies, rubbing his jaw where Jace hit him.
“Oh my god,” I sputter, taking a step back.
Jace’s chest heaves as he coughs a bitter laugh and turns away. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly relieved in this moment.
“It all happened so fast,” Sorscha rushes to explain. “Eaton and I got to talking at the rehearsal party. I honestly thought nothing of it. But then last night as I was heading to bed, we bumped into each other in the hall, and I knew right then and there. We didn’t mean to worry you all. Jace, I’m so sorry—” She moves toward him. “I didn’t mean to run off like that. But I couldn’t marry you.”
Jace is quiet for a long time, bracing his hand on the window frame.
“Sorscha, I’m glad you found your mate, I really am. But we had a plan.” He finally lifts his gaze to her.
“I know.” Sorscha’s eyes fall to the carpet, a twinge of regret turning her pink lips down. “I know my father wanted it to be you, but you know this was the right thing. For both of us.”
She takes Jace’s hand, and slowly he begins to thaw. No one can withstand the warmth of Sorscha’s touch. There is nothing—not even an ice storm—that would not melt before her.
“Gronwen is going to take a fit when he hears,” he murmurs.
“This doesn’t really change anything,” Kai pipes. “You’re both royals. You perform the Bloodfast and we gain two more weapons. Big ones. Win-win.” He gestures between Sorscha and Eaton.
He’s right. Still, an awkward silence falls over the room.
“Well, are we going to just stand here staring at each other, or head downstairs?” Kai looks around expectantly.
“What?” Jace hisses, annoyed.
“We’ve got a thousand caskets of wine and enough cake to feed a kingdom. Why waste a perfectly good celebration?” He waggles his brows, his lips parting into a mischievous smile.
Dover’s mouth twists as he surveys us. “He kind of has a point.”
“Kai is right,” Sorscha says, turning from Jace. “Today may have been unexpected, but there’s been so much gloom lately, so much sorrow…I want tonight to be different. I want to celebrate with my friends, like old times.” She reaches for Mar’s hands. “I’m sorry I’ve been distant. But I’m starting to feel like myself again.” She slides a grateful look toward Eaton. “So please, for this one night, can we all justpretendto be happy?”
“Sorscha, wearehappy for you.” Mar’s face softens. “Of course we are.”
“Then let’s go downstairs and party like only we can.” She tugs Mar’s hands, making her shimmy.
“Last one downstairs has to break the news to Gronwen!” Kai yells, swinging around the bedpost and sprinting for the door. Dover dashes after him, shoving him into the frame and barreling past.
Zadyn looks at me, shaking his head. I shrug, giving him a half-smile.But the weight of Jace’s eyes has me turning to find him watching the two of us intently.
The room has emptied, leaving only the three of us behind. The silence screams in my ears.
“Shall we?” I force my feet to move toward the door.
I don’t have to look back to know that they’ve followed behind me.
77
