Chapter 45
I find the ballroom mostly empty. Everyone is gathered in the adjoining room, where I can hear the sounds of laughter and mingling. I’m trembling and nauseous and I want to lie down, but I’m also coursing with rivers of pent-up energy.
“Poet!” Someone calls my name, and I turn to find Domino approaching. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I guess. What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to make sure you were all right. I was waiting for you to come out.”
“You were?” I ask. “Why would you do that?”
Her brows pinch together in confusion. “Because I was worried about you. Did the scion give you a hard time?”
I offer her a dry smile, grateful for her thoughtfulness. Maybe I’m not as alone as I think. “Just a few open threats. No big deal.”
She offers me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry. Things will calm down once everyone gets used to you.”
I return her smile. “That’s my hope.” I look around the room and then move a little closer. “About what you saw earlier. With Rook?”
At that, her eyes sparkle. “Yes? You looked pretty cozy.” She gently hip checks me and wiggles her shoulders, giving me a suggestive look. “Tell me everything.” She raises a hand. “Only if you want, of course.”
I exhale a long breath, running my hands through my hair. “I’m not sure how much there is to tell. I think it was just the heat of the moment or something. I was upset about my parents, and he stopped me. I was emotional; we got carried away. It was nothing.”
“Oh,” she says, her expression falling a little. “Well, maybe it’ll be something later. He’s very cute.”
I snort. “He’s way more than cute.”
Domino giggles and covers her mouth. “I didn’t want to say. He’s actually fucking gorgeous.”
I bark out a laugh and groan. “You don’t have to tell me. He’s also a very bad idea.”
“That hasn’t stopped you yet,” she says. I look at her as she widens her eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
I laugh again and shake my head. I love that she feels comfortable enough to tease me. I hope it means we’re becoming friends. “No, you’re absolutely right.” I lean in closer. “Could you not tell anyone? I think he’d prefer it that way. He’s kind of private.”
“Of course,” she says. “I would never. Someone else might have seen you, though. You weren’t exactly hidden from view.”
I run a hand down my face. “Right. Well, with any luck.”
My gaze bounces to the other room, where everyone is mingling. “What are you doing now? Are your parents still here?”
“No, they just left. I’m heading to the after-party ferry now. It’s leaving soon. You coming?”
I could go and hide. Remove myself from everyone’s scrutiny.
It’s tempting, but I also don’t want to be alone.
“Are my parents still here? Did you see them?” I ask.
“I think they are,” she says. “We could go the long way around to the dock. We don’t have to pass through.”
I heave out a grateful breath. “That would be perfect.”
Domino links her arm with mine as something warm settles in my chest. I might have lost everything tonight, but maybe I’m gaining something new.
We skirt through the quiet halls of the school while Domino fills me in on her crush, a guy she’s hoping to dance with tonight. My shoulders loosen as we walk. Maybe this isn’t so bad. Perhaps there’s a light at the end of all my questionable choices.
We exit through one of the doors and make our way around the school, arriving at the arched entrance curving over the canal.
Instead of the little gondola we used on the first day of school, a multi-decked ferry stands bobbing in the water, constructed of gold metal molded into filigrees and decorated with hundreds of flowers.
Dozens of people already fill each level.
The railings and pillars are strung with glowing white lights, and the strains of music float into the sky.
This will be fun, I decide. I don’t want to hide. I want to embrace this new reality.
The last few months have been tense, and I want to start enjoying my time at Amery.
This is what I wanted for so long. I’m finally free of Knox, and I kissed Rook.
I still can’t believe it. The feel of his lips on mine burns into my skin, and even if he regrets it and it never happens again, I’ll carry that memory for a very long time.
But I really, really hope it happens again.
“C’mon,” Domino says, tugging on my arm. We cross the gangway and hop on board.
“There you are!” Journey exclaims, approaching with a cocktail in her hand. “You found Poet!”
“Hi,” I say, bracing myself for whatever slew of questions she’s about to hurl my way.
“Let’s get you to the bar,” she says with a wink. “Something tells me you could use a drink.”
I exhale a shaky breath before she starts leading us to the far side of the main deck. There we find a bar draped in sparkly purple velvet. With glasses in hand, we look for a place to sit and find a wooden bench curving along the bow.
A dance floor sits off to our left, already packed with people who’ve cast off their dress coats, tossing them all into a pile.
I sip on my cocktail, happy to observe for now.
I try not to search for Rook, but something tells me this wouldn’t really be his scene anyway.
He’s probably off brooding somewhere and looking very good while doing it.
“So,” Journey says, turning to me. “How did that go? Did the scion lay into you? Threaten you? That was quite the scene with your parents. What’s it like having all your family drama out there for everyone to see?
Does your dad always get that vein in his temple when he’s mad? That was kind of scary—”
“Journey,” Domino says, cutting her off. “Enough. Leave her alone.”
“Oh!” Journey covers her mouth. “I was doing it again, wasn’t I?”
“You were,” Domino says, while I smile politely.
A moment later, a bullhorn sounds, and everyone belts out a loud cheer. The boat shudders and then starts pulling away from the dock. More cheers as the music pumps, and I turn to watch the ferry gently glide into the center of the canal.
We float through the city, down the main waterway, which is wide enough to accommodate dozens of boats.
Many of the buildings have been constructed to mimic the same great city that the gondolas and canals were based on.
Beautiful carved marble, colorful facades, and ornate gilded window frames all glow in the evening light.
From here, I can see hundreds of people walking along the shore as they head out for dinner and dancing or wherever their evening takes them. It’s a mostly clear night with only a few clouds in the sky, so everyone can relax without the fear of a storm.
I spot Trinity through the crowd, and she waves.
“Excuse me for a second,” I tell Domino and Journey before I head toward her. A press of bodies surrounds us as we throw our arms around each other and hug tightly.
“You’re here,” Trinity says. “What happened with Scion Beaufort?”
I shake my head, recalling how Domino waited for me. “She just wanted to remind me that she’s keeping an eye on me and I’m not to be trusted.”
Trinity gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I say. “We did it, Trin. We’ve pledged, and I get to be a Storm Guard and you—” My words cut off. She’s joined the E-squad, and the awkward truth sits on my tongue like a barb.
“And you’re still Society,” I finish, somewhat weakly.
If she notices my hesitation, she doesn’t show it. She breaks into a grin and hugs me again.
“What about you?” I ask. “Everything good?”
“Yeah. The scion barely noticed me, but what else is new, right?” she answers, a tightness in her tone.
A second later, someone snags Trinity around the waist and lifts her up, spinning her around. A guy who I’ve seen with her before. One of the E-squad. He’s cute with sandy-blond hair and slightly rounded cheeks.
“I missed you, baby,” he says, kissing her, his hand sliding over her waist and down to her butt before he squeezes it. Trinity shrieks as she playfully shoves him in the chest.
“Poet,” she says to me. “This is Jared.”
She leans against him, petting his stomach, as he throws an arm around her shoulders.
“The famous Poet Graves,” he says, holding out his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I wish I could say the same. Trinity presses her cheek to his chest, peering up at him with a dreamy look. Now she’s dating one of these guys?
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, shaking his hand, hoping my distaste doesn’t show.
He then grips Trinity by the back of her neck and tips her face up. “Can I get you a drink?”
She names a cocktail, and he nods, giving her another kiss before he walks off.
“Who’s that?” I ask. “You’re dating someone from E-squad?”
Trinity tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “We’ve been getting to know each other,” she says. “He’s funny, and Skies—” She cuts off, leans in closer. “Well, he’s nothing like Edward was in bed. He’s so . . . hungry.”
Despite myself, I snort and cover my mouth, and we both giggle.
“So that’s it? You’re done with Edward?”
Trinity shrugs. “I loved Edward, but we can’t be together anymore. He has his mom to look after, and if he stayed with me, it would cause too many problems.”
I suppose she does have a point.
“I don’t think he’d care. He’s been pretty miserable without you.”
She waves a hand. “He’ll get over me soon enough.”
“I guess,” I say, wondering if I know who this person is anymore. “So, you’re still sure about this E-squad thing? I’m worried about you. They’re not—”
Jared returns with Trinity’s drink, and I stop talking. He passes it to her and slides his hand to her lower back. “Sorry to interrupt, but Ruby wants to see all of us.”
“About what?” Trinity asks, taking a sip from her glass.
“Not sure, but she said we should meet at the far end of the boat.”
“Sure,” she says, turning to me. “Sorry. I gotta go. Let’s dance later?”
“Of course,” I say, and I watch as Jared hustles her through the crowd, disappearing from my sight. I don’t like this. I thought I could talk her out of E-squad, but she’s only becoming more and more ingrained.
I promise myself to talk to her more seriously tomorrow, then go searching for Domino, who’s now dancing with the guy she told me about earlier: Calloway, another Society-born Storm Guard cadet who also pledged to Aria tonight.
They’re moving together, his big hands on her hips and her arms looped around his neck.
He’s a few inches taller than Domino, with broad shoulders, russet skin, and natural hair, shaved on the sides and curly on top.
She spots me and grins. I return it, then find a seat, content to watch everyone having fun.
A few people are getting drunker. Someone climbs onto the roof of the boat, a guy from House Tera whose name I don’t know.
He rips off his shirt, swinging it overhead and shouting as everyone raises their glasses and cheers.
It’s fun, and it’s light; no one is paying me any attention, and maybe this could be my future. People are far more concerned with their own shit anyway.
As Domino said, everyone will eventually get used to this new reality.
Until then, I’ll do my best to blend in.
I sit back, sip my drink, and watch the sky, my heart lighter than it’s been in a while.
That’s when someone screams.