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“Thanks, Cyn,” I said dryly.
“I mean, you look beautiful, Miri, but—”
“I know what you meant,” I told her, laughing.
I was glad she was there. She was still selective about the parties that she attended, and considering the amount of people at this one, I was impressed she had lasted as long as she had.
“I’m going to get you some food and find that brother of mine.”
“Don’t fuss over me, Cyndella. Why don’t you go talk to that investment banker who’s been making eyes at you from the bar all night? What’s his name? Dyrk?”
Like a light had been flipped on, my sister-in-law raised her head toward one of the three bars and locked eyes with the honey-toned god who couldn’t keep his own stare off Cyndella’s curvaceous form in her mermaid tulle dress.
“Off you go. No need to babysit me,” I urged her.
“No, I’m not leaving you—”
“Cyndella, go before I make an ugly scene and call that hunk of meat over here to collect you.”
My sister-in-law eyed me skeptically. “If you’re sure…”
“I am.” I gave her arm a gentle push, and Cyndella almost tripped over her own feet rushing over to Dyrk.
I took another swig of water, and the shaking subsided enough for me to rise to my feet.
Endora materialized in front of me. “Why are you so ghastly pale?”
I swallowed a groan. “Why is everyone so worried about my complexion? Isn’t this supposed to be a party? Don’t you have better things to do than look at my makeup?”
“And you’re supposed to be the hostess. You weren’t at the safehouse again today, were you?”
“With the Order?” I asked automatically. Endora scowled lightly, and I grimaced. “Sorry, I mean, with the anti-Order?”
I couldn’t help but refer to my former sisters how I’d always known them. “I stopped by for a minute to make sure everyone was getting their runeshade peppers and doing their daily journaling.”
“You should take a breather from those faeries. They drain you emotionally,” Endora said. “That’s why we pay the big bucks for counselors and healers. There’s nothing more you can do for Agnan’s throwaways.”
I didn’t want to talk about them, but as I tried to explain that, Endora went on. “But that’s not what the problem is…”
The enchantress trailed off, her forehead raising as she stared at me, onyx eyes raking over my cleavage and along the clinging silk of my crimson ballgown.
“Well, well,” she purred. “Come along.”
My eyebrows rose, and I parted my lips to ask what she was talking about, but she didn’t give me a chance. I found myself being dragged across the floor of the ballroom, nodding weakly at random elites until we were in the back service hall.
“What are we doing?” I asked tiredly. “Endora, I’m really not in the mood for your antics right now.”
“I bet,” she chuckled. “Look at me.”
“I am—” A flame ignited between her fingers, and I flinched, drawing back as she peered into my eyes. “I wish you would give me a warning when you do things like that,” I grouched, slumping against the wall.
“Ah-hah!” Chuckling, she sashayed away, leaving me where I stood.
“Do you want to tell me what the hell—”
“A queen shouldn’t curse,” Endora cut me off, disappearing in her cloud of blue. Rolling my eyes, I headed back into the party, shaking my head.
The orchestra’s music ground on my nerves, and another wave of dizziness took me over as I searched the crowd for my husband. I really did need to retire from this party, early as it was.
