She makes a face. “It feels like a very classy version of an arranged marriage.”
“It’s not arranged.”
“Blair,” she says dryly, “you’ve been raised your whole life knowing some vampire was eventually going to pick you. You’re a twenty-three-year-old virgin because you’re literally saving yourself for the bigbonding nightthat Mom’s talked about for years.”
“What does my virginity have to do with anything?” I question, but then my eyes go wide when realization hits me. “Bonnie, you are only fifteen years old. I swear on everything, if you let that prick boyfriend of yours take your virginity, I will murder him.”
“Relax.” She snorts. “I wouldn’t let someone named Josh get my V-card. I’m saving myself for Harry Styles, and anyway, this conversation isn’t about me, Blair. It’s about you and your soon-to-be arranged marriage. Which is weird. Like, really weird.”
“It’s tradition, Bon.” I laugh despite myself.
“Tradition,” she mocks immediately. “The generational skips are the best thing that’s ever happened to my future. I don’t want to be married off to Count Dracula.”
I shake my head and fold another shirt. “You say that now.”
“No,” she says. “I mean it. You get the fancy vampire husband and the mysterious elite life. I get to marry a normal human who eats pizza and doesn’t drink my blood.”
“Dang, sis. Dramatic much?”
Her sarcasm fades a little as she watches me toss another shirt into my suitcase. “You’re not nervous?”
“A little,” I admit. “But that’s normal.”
“I guess.” She shrugs, but the edge of concern lingers in her voice. “I just don’t love the idea of you flying off to meet some man none of us actually knows.”
“He’s part of the inner circle,” I remind her.
“That’s the part that makes it weird.”
I walk over and bump my shoulder into hers. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“You better be.”
“I will.”
“Well, I guess I’ll let you get back to packing, then.” She turns to leave but hesitates in my doorway. “Blair?”
“Yeah?”
“If he turns out to be creepy, just text me and I’ll come to New York and drag you home myself.”
I grin. “Thanks, Bon, but I’m certain everything is going to be good.”
“Whatever you say.” She rolls her eyes at my confidence but smiles a little before disappearing down the hall.
Once I finish packing my suitcase and get ready for bed, I lie back against my pillows and stare at the ceiling.
Tomorrow, I will be one step closer to being chosen.
And that’s a privilege…right?
Right. Yes.Of course,it’s a freaking privilege.
I’ve been waiting mywholelife for this.
Kane
The sky is still slate gray. There are no birds chirping yet and no cars moving about on the road. Just morning frost clinging to hedges and a house too large to feel real in this light.
