Saundeiah looked back at me.
Whatever she saw glimmering in my eyes made her frown.
“Your face is colored with mischief,” Saundeiah said.
“Andyouare going to help me achieve it.”
I grabbed her ephemeral hands and tugged her out of the kitchen.
“Show me the biggest ballroom in the manor.”
Saundeiah gave me a long, peculiar look.
“The biggest... ballroom?” Her eyes narrowed at the edges. She looked confused. Caught off guard. And also annoyed that I was about to overwhelm her already full plate with more work.
“Yes,” I said resolutely. “The largest we have. We’ve a masquerade to host this evening.”
“Pardon?” Her eyes widened, colored with fear. Her shoulders trembled.
“Roièssa, the last time?—”
“I know, my friend,” I said somberly. “But the only way to remove that stain is to start wiping it away with newly made memories.”
Her eyes glistened before she returned to her usual stoic self.
“You’re right. This will be good for us to... begin moving on. Finally.”
I smiled, taking her arm in mine. Then she began floating, her ghastly body fading in and out of sight. She looked like a ghost wafting through the halls. Our arms remained linked, which kept me from losing sight of her.
Saundeiah brought me from the east wing and into the southern wing. She flew around no fewer than seven corners and down their halls. We came to two massive, wrought iron doors, carved from shining midnight glass with indigo mosaic tiles and gilded trim. I took in all the ornate Victorian details, and I gasped, dumbfounded at the beauty of the doors.
“These doors are nothing,” Saundeiah said with a slow, crawling smile. “Look inside.”
Coralai did the honors, shoving the doors wide open. I looked inside the ballroom.
My jaw dropped. Saundeiah watched my expression, waiting for my approval of the space.
“RoièssaNahomie,” she said. “Will this do?”
A slow grin spread across my face.
“It’sperfect.“
Chapter 30
Nahomie
I brushedmy hands down the length of my gown. I almost didn’t recognize the angel in the mirror looking back at me. Stars. Saundeiah had outdone herself. My ears twitched with the chatter of excitement buzzing through the manor as angels from most of the Twelve Ranks poured in. In hours the Gargorètti had spread word of the masquerade throughout Mortevain. How the gargoyles had managed such a feat, I would probably never know. The response of attendance was overwhelming. There would be Angelkind, Shifterkind, and Faekind present.
Several of the Merkind, from their homes beneath the Ouanaviel Sea’s surface, politely declined. It was too short a notice for them to leave their homes at the bottom of the sea, but they would send gifts out of gratitude for the invitation from their king. I was baffled by how diverse Mortevain Island was. Now, the voices of those attending carried through the walls, the vents, and down into the lair.
“Saundeiah,” I breathed. I was speechless. The work of art she’d created with my hair, my gown, and even my cosmetics was masterful.
“You’re a vision of Pasaille and her Ellelights themselves,” Saundeiah whispered, smiling at me in the mirror. Herdiaphanous hands pinned the final braid in place. She’d fashioned my hair in this beautiful, intricate style that looked like a waterfall of vines entwined with my gold beads throughout every strand as they fell down my spine in a braided river. She’d meticulously fashioned tiny jewels between each, making the style look alight with lavender starlight.
“Roièssa Clarèssa would be beside herself if she could see you in this gown. She had it tailored for whoever would be Roi Tassarion’s wingmate one dawn. It’s fate you only need a few tweaks for it to fit like a glove. And it’s the perfect color for festivities. For anything that spills. Whether wine or blood.”
Saundeiah snorted, and I burst into an outright cackle.
