Chapter 5: The Feast Kiss

On the night of the Founders' Feast, Lottie braided my hair with her tongue between her teeth.

"Hold still. If he's going to use you for a show, you're going to be the best show he ever saw."

"It's one kiss, Lottie."

"It's one kiss in front of three hundred people, and you're wearing Cordelia's green dress."

The green dress was soft and had no back to speak of.

Cordelia had brought it to the den herself, with pins in her pocket to take in the waist.

"Jasper will hate it," she had said. "Good."

Lottie tied off the braid and looked at me in the mirror.

"I still think you should've let me lose my rank."

"I know you do."

"I'd have been fine in the cells. I like cold."

I laughed, and it came out shaky.

The great hall was lit with a hundred lanterns.

Three long tables ran down its length, and the whole pack sat at them with their cups raised.

I walked in one step behind Jasper, and every head turned.

He wore a black jacket.

When he looked back at me, his eyes went over the dress and stopped at my bare shoulders.

He looked away fast.

"Sit," he said.

I sat, and I ate after he ate, and I held a cup I did not drink from.

The Alpha made a toast about the founders.

The Beta made a longer one.

Across the table, Cordelia lifted her glass to me with a small, warm smile.