Page 96 of Resurgent

The men smile and shake hands, though there’s a stiffness that doesn’t quite match either of them. Before the moment can linger too long, Emily is already moving—shoving open the front doors with perfect timing.

“To the bar!” she calls, and just like that, we follow her inside.

Stepping into the Thandroan Gallery of History feels both like stepping back in time, and entering an entirely new world. While the architecture is every bit as breathtaking as I remember—vaulted ceilings, soft light reflecting off polished marble floors—the space has been turned into a tropical wonder. Where mere months ago tables were filled with elegant flowers and tall candelabras, they are now overflowing with lush greenery and vibrant flower blooms. The deep green vines wrap around the iron-laced vaults, while lanterns glow in warm amber hues, casting shifting shadows along the walls.

“Okay,” Emily claps, taking charge.

“You two—” she gestures to the happy couple one step away from being indecent before the night’s even begun. “Go find an empty corner of the museum and get this tension out of you before Sasha’s parents get here.”

“Lee, Theo, you go find our assigned table and make sure I get a spot with the best lighting, please and thank you!”

“I’ll—”

“Come help me get drinks, because there’s no way I’m carrying all of them by myself,” Emily cuts in, shooting Matt a pointed don’t-even-think-about-arguing-with-me look.

“Fine.” Matt’s gaze shifts to Theo, sharp and unapologetically protective. “But I’m trusting you to keep an eye on her.” His jaw tightens as he glances over the growing crowd filing into the venue. “Gods only know what kind of trash will show up tonight.”

Theo lifts a brow, clearly debating whether to be honored or ask questions.

“Good to know I’ve made the cut.”

Matt claps him once on the shoulder—hard enough to make it feel more like a warning than affection. “No, just lack of better options.”

I gape as Emily successfully drags Matt toward the bar, Sasha and Antonio already long gone.

"Looks like the assignments are posted over there," I say, indicating to the same spot they were at the last time I was here.

“Should be…” Theo squints ahead. “There.”

I follow his line of sight toward the table in the third row, and immediately drop my arm from where it’s been looped through his since getting our assigned table number and trying to navigate through the crowds of people.

Someone is already sitting there.

Tall. Solid. Broad shoulders stretching beneath a fitted black shirt.

His dark hair catches the soft lights overhead as he sits there like he owns the whole damn place. Completely relaxed. Completely out of place.

“Dad? What are you doing here?”

“Ahh, there you are! As if I could miss my baby girls' Track Gala,” he says, pulling me into an uncomfortably tight hug as I plead to Theo for help with my eyes.

A look of confusion passes across his face, and I’m silently wondering how big of a scene is about to break out until his mouth opens, and his hand shoots out.

“Sir, it’s such a pleasure to meet you after all of the wonderful things Annalise has told me about you,” he lies, and every bit of hope I had disappears instantly.

“Still up for eating someone tonight?” I ask Tyr, though I’m not sure it would only be one person in this moment.

“You’ve only been alone with him for a few minutes. How can he already be that much of a disappointment?”

“Oh, and who might you be?” My dad asks, appraising Theo from head to toe.

“Theodore Stevens, Sir. And the lucky bastard your daughter is letting escort her around.”

My dad laughs, nodding in approval.

“It’s good to meet you, son. Now sit and unbutton your jacket, we’re here to celebrate.”

I send the last few seconds down the bond, and feel Tyr’s concern instantly.