I spin and find Franco and Milton Sol blocking the way, with Felix behind them. He’s been really quiet about this Pack Maker stuff, and as much as I’m curious why, now is not the time.
“Turn around, Daughter,” Franco says menacingly. “You made a deal with the pack-maker beast. And we are here to enforce it or else.”
“Pops!” Asher gasps at the betrayal. “How could you?”
He has the decency to look guilty. “She is very persuasive,” he whines.
Ew.
“Every year in the middle of June comes the shortest day of the year, when we have a day of equal light and dark, and we have come up with a wonderful way to celebrate. A lantern festival where a whole crop of new singles will decide if they want to be matched with their new loves. Light Knot Night is a month away, and we have bigger and better dates, all of them celebrating the intricacies of new love.”
A lantern festival? I have always, always wanted to see one. I hope no one looks closely at me; they will see the hearts in my eyes.
There is a loud cheer from people, and when I look at them, I don’t recognise them at all.
“Felix!”
Felix sighs heavily and then walks up reluctantly. He’s handed a stone.
I peer over his shoulder when he comes back, looking at the beautiful painting. It’s a night sky, and it’s incredible.
“Whoever painted that needs a spot in your gallery.”
Felix doesn’t answer, but his eyes follow the form of a person as they disappear down to the beach. Someone the rest of us don’t pay attention to. I should know her name, but I don’t.
“No, no, no. I don’t want to. Don’t make me.”
“Asher, it will be okay.”
“It won’t be!” Asher says through gritted teeth.
We watch person after person get chosen, then Asher goes up. She is given a stone that she barely looks at.
“Cordelia!”
I approach Lorelei. She hands me a stone with a painted lantern on it. It’s beautiful. She winks at me.
“Sebastian!”
He grumbles and holds out his hand. His mother drops a stone in it and smiles, but it’s a dark threat. We both melt away in different directions, but suddenly, the stone doesn’t feel good, and this seems like a huge mistake.
I just want him.
“All right, everyone has their stone. Now find your matches.”
I walk into the group of people, desperate to have it over with. People match up and wander off, and the crowd gets thinner and thinner until, finally, I see Sebastian.
There’s no way. She wouldn’t have done that.
“Lake.”
“Sol.”
I lift my chin and stare at him with my best haughty look.
He holds out his stone.
I gape at the matching lantern. “Your mother is evil.” But I’m giddy. I’m melting. My brain is officially fried. Sebastian is mine.
