The question struck a chord inside me, remembering how Stone’s lips felt wrapped around my finger, and the way he looked at me as he drew out my splinter.
My heart raced, and my gaze turned to Ivy for help out of habit.
A silent knowing passed between us as we stared at each other. Something that said,regardless of you marrying the love of my life, I’ll still be here. At least, this was what I hoped to hear from her.
Viola exchanged glances between the two of us. “I understand, Adora. I do,” she began, sincerity in her eyes. “Though you should know Cyrus has always been smitten with you. If anything, this marriage will be the most ideal for both families. I couldn’t have chosen a better daughter-in-law.”
My gaze lingered back to Ivy with panic.
She looked away, stayed silent, her black hair attempting to hide her misery, and peered into her empty wine glass with a heated gaze.
The maid appeared at Ivy’s side and poured more red wine into her glass.
Ivy never broke her stare.
I turned back to Viola. “Since we’re on the topic of the wedding, I’d like to be the one to choose the date.” Viola’s brows shot in the air, and she rolled her wrist, probing me to continue. “If it must be in January, then I’d like January thirty-first.”
Cyrus sat up straight in his chair. “The absolute last day of the month.”
I smiled. “That’s right.” The Crimson Eclipse was on the twenty-eighth. If I were caught, I would die before I could marry him. If I weren’t caught, and Mom awoke, there was a chance she could stop the wedding from happening.
“Adora, I prefer sooner than later.” Cyrus leaned in, lowering his voice. “We should talk about this first.”
“Nonsense,” Viola interrupted. “After what happened in the chamber, this is a positive change in attitude, Cyrus. If this is what makes Adora happy, then the thirty-first should be the day.”
I grabbed my wine glass, sitting back in my chair with a victorious smile.
Cyrus’s eyes turned navy. He was bothered.
Viola continued, “The reason for this dinner is because I had a conversation with Ronan. We’ve come to an exciting decision.” She clapped her hands together, stealing all our attention and bringing the rest of the table back to life. “You will move into the manor to allow time to prepare for the events and adjust to your new home. It will be quite a change in such a short time, and we should all be together as much as possible.”
My spine sprang straight again. “Me?”
Then a suddenshattertook us all by surprise.
Ivy’s wine glass had exploded in place without her ever touching it, red wine spilling across the silk tablecloth and dripping onto the floor. Her emotions had won, allowing magic to slip through. Her chair screeched against hardwood when she pushed backward. She jumped from her seat and darted out of the dining room without a word.
Dad, Fable, and I stood to go after her.
“It’s fine,” Viola waved her hand as if it were no big deal. “Sit, relax. She just needs more time to come to terms with this new arrangement. The maid will make sure she’s all right.”
The maid rushed to the spill and began cleaning. “Of course, Mrs. Cantini.”
Dad returned to his seat with a worried expression. “Perhaps you’re right.”
The rest of us followed suit.
Cyrus was distracted, swirling wine in his glass with his eyes on me.
Viola adjusted her posture. “Where were we?”
“Adora moving in,” Camora said, lifting her glass.
“Ah, yes.” Viola nodded. “Alice is preparing your room as we speak.”
I choked on my wine. “This is happening tonight?”
Cillian, one of Cyrus’s younger brothers, chuckled behind his napkin.
