“You look ridiculous,” Grayson says, switching the subject. He smiles at my getup. “Like a puffed pastry.”
I shove his shoulder, smiling despite myself.
“Your facial hair is worse.”
“Ouch,” he says.
My eyes find Ender over his shoulder. He is leaning against the wall, glaring at me so viciously, it’s a wonder I don’t drop dead from the force.
I uncurl my middle finger where it rests on Grayson’s back and feel a smug sense of satisfaction when his scowl deepens. I freeze. Damn it. My sister would not do that. She never swears or says anything remotely vulgar.
“Vee, your father mentioned something the other day.”
I sigh deeply. “Must we speak about that wretched beast?”
“He thinks Mercy and I should wed once she’s finished her training,” he says. “He says we are well-suited.”
My jaw clenches. It is rather obvious that Warrick wants to punish me for all my years of insubordination. He got Mercy enrolled in the Forge to spite me, and now he plans to wed her to the man he thinks I love.
I adore Grayson; he’s wild and humorous and charming. But I’ve never loved him. I’ve never loved any man.
“I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” he says.
My eyes snap towards him.
“You don’t?”
“I mean, you’re Mercy, aren’t you?” Grayson says. “It’ll be us.”
“I don’t want to get married, Gray,” I say, frustrated. “I just escaped one imprisonment and refuse to trade it for another. I’m not ready for anything else, even with someone as wonderful as you.”
I am not prepared for that kind of commitment. My focus is on working with the Resistance and finishing what my mother started.
“I just miss you, Vee,” Grayson says with a deep sigh. “It is impossible to get a minute alone with you, without the Commandant breathing down my neck. Even now, he looks like he’s going to snap my neck for daring to touch you.”
Grayson spins us, so I am forced to face Ender and be subjected to his hostility again. His jaw is clenched so tight it must hurt. For a second, I feel a sense of remorse for upsetting him. Our night wasn’t as terrible as I expected.
“I’ll speak to you later, Gray,” I say. “Good night.”
Grayson opens his mouth to resist, but I don’t want to deal with a sulky Ender for a minute longer. I swear my skin is half-flayed from the daggers his eyes are throwing my way.
“I’ll try to find a way to see you,” I promise.
“Fine.” He sighs. “Let me know when you escape your jailer.”
“Ha,” I say. “An apt description.”
Grayson releases me, and I make my way to Mercy. I am so done with this night. I need to get this horrendous dress off and wash my face with soap. I wish I could do the same to my brain. I don’t want toeverthink about this party again.
Ender approaches me, and I raise my hand, uninterested in anything he has to say.
“I need to speak with my sister,” I say, before Ender can get a word out. “Girl stuff.”
I dive between the crowd and quickly spot my sister at a table with Knox and the others. Knox is gesturing wildly with his hands, and to my surprise, Mercy is laughing. I haven’t seen her so relaxed in a long time. It’s a nice sight to see.
“Can I borrow my sister?”
I don’t wait for a response before I pull Mercy to her feet. I need to get out of this place as soon as possible.
