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“There aren’t too many balls in Efra, normally,” Amity said. “And usually, we’re in the kitchens preparing for big parties like this. Getting to see the gowns up close is a little more fun.”
“It’s time,” Rue said. “Unless you’d prefer to be late.”
“Absolutely not,” I said. Nerves crawled into my throat. I had the sense that this trial was going to the hardest of all of them. I was much more comfortable in the arena with a sword in my hand. But facing the council, arguing my ‘case’ for why I was the right choice—maintaining my pack’s dignity while ensuring I didn’t sell myself better than Fina or Adora—felt like I was walking a tightrope with a bucket of water in each hand. I took a steadying breath. “Lead the way.”
My handmaidens led me through the manor, which bustled with activity of both guests and servants. We garnered no attention, though, not until we were standing in front of the doors to the great dining hall. Amity was in her human form while Rue was in her wolf shape at my side. Rue nudged her nose into my palm, and I took another breath.
Amity opened the door and led me inside. She swept into a delicate curtsy and announced to the room, “The Lady Reyna of the Court of Daybreak.”
Briefly, all eyes in the room turned to me. And there were a lot of eyes. This was a far bigger ball than the prior gala. There was no dining room table, just tall consoles for hors d’oeuvres; the lush curtains were pulled closed against the windows and the room was lit in warm candlelight. In the corner, the band played a slow, delicate song as the guests milled about.
At the back of the room, the king, the duchess, and the council were all seated at a long table atop a dais. The king was in the center, and his dark eyes found me immediately. He was dressed in a dark shirt and pants with an equally dark cloak, and for the first time, I saw him wearing the simple, delicate gold band around his forehead that was the king’s crown.
It was striking. It suited him. Internally, my wolf perked up, easily ignoring the presence of all the other shifters to focus on the king.
Maybe she was interested in him, but all I could think about was how easily he’d wrapped his hand around Lord Cazzell’s neck and broken it.
Lady Glennis stood in front of the dais, facing the crowd. She tapped her champagne glass with her fork, and that delicate motion was all it took for the band to cease playing and to draw the attention of all the elegantly dressed shifters in the room, as well as the guards in wolf form patrolling the perimeter.
“The final trial will begin in an hour,” Lady Glennis announced. “Until then, please enjoy yourselves.” She smiled and gestured broadly around the room, then to the band, who began again. The delicate music filtered through the space as conversations picked back up.
I’d never seen this many members of the Nightfall pack elite in one place. All of them were dressed in the blacks and deep purples of their packs: the women in flowing, elegant gowns with glinting silver jewelry and the men in fine slacks and jackets. I stood out like a sore thumb amid the dark colors, my pale moonstone-embroidered gown catching the dim light like icicles.
Luckily, it made it easy to pick out Fina and Adora from the crowd. Both of them were standing by a small table near the center of the room, talking to each other while occasionally being graciously interrupted by lords of the Nightfall court. I hurried to join them. I’d need all the support I could get before I faced the council for the final trial.
“Wow,” Adora said as I approached. Her eyes widened. “Your dress is incredible.”
“So is yours,” I said with a smile. Adora’s gown was blue and pale green, with a tighter skirt accentuating her gorgeous curves. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, with crystals sparkling in the loose waves. Her eyes shone with delight as I approached.
“They kind of went a different direction for me,” Fina said with a grin. She was dressed in the rich navy of her court, so she didn’t stand out quite as much, but they made up for that with incredible jewelry, including her gleaming tiara, and an extravagant necklace that was more like a collar.
“Check this out.” She waggled one foot at me.
“Oh!” I gasped. “For a formal event?”
“I know!” Fina beamed. She wasn’t wearing a gown at all—it was a jumpsuit. When she stood with her feet together, it looked similar to a floor-length gown with a cinched waist, fastened with a long navy ribbon. But when she walked, it was clear they were pants. “Seems like there are some parts to the Nightfall culture that aren’t so bad.”
“Do you think we’ll have to answer questions about the culture?” Adora asked quietly. “I’ve been studying, but I’m so nervous—I did so poorly in the last trial.”
“You did fine,” Fina said. “That one was more a show for the city, anyway. This is the kind of stuff that matters more.”
“What do you think they’ll ask, then?” I asked. My stomach clenched. A waiter drifted by with a plate of delicious-looking canapes, but I was too nervous to eat anything.
“My escort says Nightfall wants to solidify their power,” Adora said. “The king’s reputation is a good way to get power, but not to keep it.”
I glanced up at the dais, and for once, the king wasn’t looking at me. He was in deep conversation with Lord Elfriede, looking as serious as ever even with his sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms. Internally, my wolf whined, knocking against my ribs insistently. She was getting more demanding these days, craving his attention and wanting to be let out. I wasn’t used to it. I was used to her being relaxed, sleepy, forgettable. The longer I spent in Nightfall, the more she demanded my attention.
“So,” Adora continued, “I think what I’m going to do is try to talk less about myself, and more about what my pack could bring to the Court of Nightfall. Less about me fitting in, and more about our power consolidating. At least, I think that’s a good strategy.”
“Seems it,” Fina said. “That’s Starcrest’s strength, anyway.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Adora said. “We have moonstone, sure, but moonstone doesn’t matter a bit if there’s no food production. Without Duskmoon’s resources, the country falls apart.”
Fina raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure you want to be giving me talking points?” she teased.
“That seems like it makes sense,” I said. “I hope they ask some questions though… I’m not great at just giving a presentation. And in front of all these people!”
“You’ll do great,” Adora said. Then she winked. “Hopefully not as good as me, but great nonetheless.”
