Chapter 101

Elodie’s POV

The gala starts soft, like the night is trying to be polite before things inevitably go sideways.

I stand at the top of the grand staircase, trying not to wring my fingers together, trying not to think about how long it took to get my hair pinned the exact way the maids wanted, or how the dress Kiernan picked makes my heartbeat spike every time I catch my reflection.

Below me, the ba