na's

d off to the study. I knew every sound by then, the leather crackling as

r family events and said, "Mother expects us at seven." There w

der the wheels, everything around you going quiet. Inside, her dining room could have staged a minor coup, seats for twenty but only five ever filled. The table set

I saw her. She kissed both my cheeks, hair loose in this way that made her s

t for..." What? A different dinner, a different n

ngers pressing reassurance i

next to him, Vaelora across from me. Down at the far end, one empty se

thick chops for Rykar. Octavia glanced over, poised, all concern and cold steel. "

ned on the rocks. I tossed out a comment about the Hartwells. Octavia barely grunted, eyes fixed on the tab

b into the crust, spread butter in deli

king at me, just dissecting a green bean with surgical foc

met,"

e a nutritionist. I could make a call." She paused, as if kind

the candle flames jump. Just for a second,

thanks,"

course you are. I only mention it because of the cameras on Saturday. They're cruel to cer

ed her fork. "Mother

dn't, darling." All

me, didn't look at anyone. I waited, maybe hoping for old Rykar, the one who'd once drawn a line for me at this very table, eight years ago in a tinier dining room, when I

er. "Say that again and we leave. I'm serious. We get up,

ging the bread toward me, inch by inc

small. He looked up. No

e," Octavia said, lik

Gave it to her, no hesitation. Mrs. Dunmore, halfway in wit

aking, a surprise in itself. Underneath the table, I dug

lways carefully measured so your protests seem unreasonable. I'd weathered hund

and clamped around the glass, the cufflink catching the candlelight. The blank side faced out. He heard every word. His jaw sh

"Vaelora. Did I mention Ela

move. W

. "She's taking the Pruitt penthouse. S

d a glance at

knife. "Good. It'll

The week of my wedding, she mailed me a card, her writing slanted and perfect: En

ted the place card, and for a moment the candlelight caught the name writ

ord:

t rehearsal for this moment, this table, this humiliation. And Rykar, who once would have