Their grins faded.
“Girl, haven’t you looked at your emails?”Alex asked.
“If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been avoiding the outside world.”
Margo rolled her eyes.“They asked everyone to vote for nominees weeks ago.”
She sniffed.“It’s just a nomination.”
“That you are going to win!”Alex said with her entire body.
Lilian gave her friends an appreciative smile.Their optimism was much needed among the stressful days.She held up the package and gave it a shake.“That’s nice of you to say, but it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.B&B won’t be at the faire next year.”
“But itwillbe back,” Alex corrected.“Just open the box!I’ll wait.”
Lilian gave her friends one last scrutinizing look before she pulled open the box’s lid.Whatever she’d been expecting, it wasn’t the familiar silvery fabric of one of Russ’s dresses.“No,” she whispered as she got a better look at the material.
It wasthedress.
The one she’d coveted since the moment she’d seen it.The one that looked exactly like Penelope’s for the Dark Elm Ball.
She carefully pulled the fabric out, holding it high enough the hem wouldn’t touch the ground.The silvery threads absorbed the artificial light of the room, making them glisten like diamonds.It was just as gorgeous as she remembered.The plunge down the middle was as deep as she remembered, down the front and the back, making it the definition of sexy.Whoever wore it would be exposed but would look like a million bucks while doing so.Russ had added thin, vine like fabric down the long sheer sleeves.
Thick emotions choked her at the sight of it.“I… can’t afford this.”
“It’s a gift.”Margo reached into the box where a crème-covered envelope lay under the dress.“And so is this.”
Her fingers shook as she flipped the envelope open.Inside was a slender piece of paper, not a card but a ticket.To the Dark Elm Ball.The wordsYou’re cordially invited…shimmered metallic green.The letters curled across the page on top of a beautiful rendition of the Great Oak from Nightingale’s series.
“You can’t accept the win if you’re not at the ball,” Margo said.“And Cinderella can’t go to the ball without a dress.Russ wanted me to tell you the dress is only a loan, but I say he won’t be back in the local area until next year, so you can keep it until then.”
A strange sensation threatened to overwhelm her.Carefully, she put the dress back inside the box.“I can’t go.”
Margo’s smile fell, transforming into a no-nonsense stare that surely had been pointed at one or two uppity elementary school students.“Lilian,no.No excuses.I’ve already talked to your mom.You need—and deserve—a break.We are all getting a hotel in Kansas City, we’re going to get our hair done, wear amazing poofy dresses, and we are going to have the best fucking night of our lives.No ifs, ands, or buts about it.Do you understand?”
“But I don’t know if I can see him.”
There was no need to explain whohewas.The king was always at the ball.It was another court for him to rule over.Even if she was receiving an award, the thought of being in the same room as him made her chest tighten with anxiety.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Alex said.“No one’s heard from King Asshole since the last night of the faire.Apparently, there’s an investigation going on for his behavior.I don’t know all the details, but Hawk is doing everything he can to fix the damage Marcus caused.”
Lilian closed her eyes at the mention of Hawk.She remembered how he’d been helping his parents.How she’d asked if he was going to the ball.
He’d never answered the question.
“This ball is themed forThe Raven Kingbecause ofyou!You gave the queen the book that inspired it.You can’t let your broken heart steal a moment that’s a once in a lifetime thing.”
Margo’s words were as strong as steel.Unbendable.Lilian knew better than to try.
She nodded mutely, still in shock that her friends had gone to such lengths.“Thank you,” she whispered, but it didn’t feel strong enough to express the momentous wave of emotions rushing through her.
Margo pulled Lilian in for a hug.“When our hearts are broken, we only need to take care of one person, ourselves.That doesn’t mean not showering and wallowing in pity.It means wearing a revenge dress and living our best life.I know things feel hard right now, but I want you to feel some magic again and not give up.”
“I’m not giving up.”She sniffed.“Really.I’ve never been more excited in my life.”
The words were true.She’d given up on going to the Dark Elm Ball, given up on Bodice and Brawn, and now both of those things were within reach again.Something she hadn’t felt since those first few weeks of faire blossomed inside of her.Hope.
She could do this.
