Girls would wear stilettos, believe me.
So I go for the pair that best matches the surroundings.
When I finish, I take a moment to look at myself in the mirror.
I will probably freeze since the corset leaves my shoulders bare, but I am still not wearing a jacket over it.
I grab my phone and key card before making my way out.
For a brief moment, I consider stopping by one of the other girls’ rooms.
But I abandon the idea almost immediately.
Things between all of us have felt… off lately.
Especially with Eleanor still missing.
I hope that eventually we find our way back to each other.
But for now…
Perhaps it is better this way.
Because the truth is, there are things happening in my life right now that I can’t tell them about anyway.
And maybe it’s easier if they stay out of it, so I don’t have to feel guilty lying to them once they inevitably start asking questions.
It doesn’t take me long to reach the clearing.
The party is being held deeper in the woods on our side of the academy grounds, beside the lake where the Thirteen Circle cabin stands hidden between the trees.
Which is precisely why my presence here was unavoidable.
The party is hosted by the Thirteen Circle.
Even if every part of me would rather turn around and disappear back into my room, curl up in bed, and spend the night binge watching a show or reading one of my books.
But showing up is not really optional.
And father expects me to uphold the Ashthorne name.
I spot Adelaide nearby and nod at her before sitting down on one of the wooden chairs beside the fire.
At least the heat of it helps a little.
It is only the first day of September, but the air is already chilly.
Elaris Isle doesn’t really have much of a summer anyway. On a good day, temperatures barely reach the high sixties.
Instead of forcing myself into conversations that hold absolutely no appeal to me, I pull out my phone.
I open my reading app and focus on that instead.
I have no idea how much time passes before I feel the shift in the atmosphere around me.
A ripple moves through the crowd.
And I just know.
