Chapter 24: The Helipad

The winter ball was held in the Hall of Houses, with the benches cleared and a hundred candles lit along the stone.

I wore the black dress and Darian's coat.

That afternoon I had paid him back for the coat with a scarf I'd bought on Harbor Street.

He wore the scarf under his collar all night.

Four hundred people stood when I came down the aisle.

I had walked that aisle once to be judged.

This time the old woman from the third row met me at the bottom with both hands out.

"Child," she said. "You look well."

"I feel well."

"Good. I told them to put you at the High Table, and they didn't argue."

She patted my cheek with a dry hand and went away, tapping her cane.

I sat at the High Table between Darian and a Council member.

He wanted to know how I'd read the boatyard contract so fast.

"I read it slowly," I said. "I read it nine times."

He laughed so hard he spilled his wine.

My brothers were in the third row, in borrowed suits.

Perry gave me a small wave.

Hugh held up two thumbs and mouthed, *Scary.*

My father sat between them with his hands on his knees.

He caught my eye and nodded, once, and I nodded back.

It was a start, and I let it be one.

At the far end of the hall, in the dimmest corner, stood Alaric in a dark suit with his mother beside him.

He did not come forward.

He raised his glass to me an inch, and I raised mine an inch, and that was all we needed.

Then the servers brought out the dessert.

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Abandoned Vampire Bride Walked Away from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.