Chapter 178

Iris

“Hold still. I don’t want to burn you.”

I make a face at my reflection in the vanity mirror but obey my mother’s command, stilling my fidgeting hands in my lap. We’re in my bedroom at my parents’ house, which has been transformed into a styling headquarters for the day.

“Are you sure about this?” my mother asks as she wraps a strand of my hair around the hot iron. “The Solstice Ceremony is the biggest social event of the year. Everyone who’s anyone will be there.”

“Including the press,” Alice adds from her perch on my bed, where she’s meticulously painting her own nails a deep burgundy color. “You know they’ll be watching you two like hawks.”

“I know,” I sigh. “But Arthur says it’s our chance to show a united front. To prove that all the rumors about us are just that—rumors.”

My mother exchanges a glance with Alice, and I can tell they’re both skeptical. Neither of them is particularly fond of Arthur right now, but they respect my decision.

“Well,” my mother says, releasing a curl and moving to the next section of hair, “if you’re determined to do this, we’re going to make sure you outshine every other woman there. Including Veronica, if she shows up.”

“She won’t,” I say quickly, perhaps too quickly. “Arthur says she’s going to Bo’Arrocan.”

“But she’s not leaving for another three days,” Alice points out.

I shrug, unwilling to think too much about it. “She’ll be gone soon, and that’s what matters.”

“And good riddance,” my mother mutters, surprising me. She’s usually more diplomatic than that, especially when it comes to family—which, despite everything, Veronica is still family.

Alice stands, crossing to the window to check on the weather. The mid-autumn sky is overcast, the smell of rain in the air. “Perfect weather,” she comments. “The darker it gets, the more dramatic the lighting of the final flame will be.”

The Solstice Ceremony is one of Ordan’s oldest traditions, marking the final day of autumn before the official start of winter. It’s meant to symbolize the last ray of light disappearing behind the horizon before the “long night”.

Now, of course, it’s just another excuse for the elite to gather, show off their pretty outfits, and rub elbows. The only part that remains true to the original ceremony is the lighting of the final flame—a massive bonfire that burns throughout the night, symbolizing hope during the darkest time of year.

“I always loved the Solstice when I was little,” I muse as my mother continues styling my hair. “The headmistress would take us to the public celebration in the park. We’d watch the official flame ceremony from a distance.”

Alice’s face softens as she turns to me. “Do you remember the costume parties we would have for the Dead Ceremony a week after? Those were always my favorites.”

Despite myself, I can’t help but smile. The Dead Ceremony is exactly one week after the Solstice. It’s another ancient tradition that has been altered over the years; once, it was meant to represent the very last harvest of the year, when the crops would wither and turn brown and eventually fade away.

Humans and werewolves alike would gather under the orange moon and dance on the fallow fields in handmade cloaks and masks in the hopes that the next year’s harvest would return.

Now, it’s just an excuse to put on fun costumes and throw parties. But I do remember our parties at the orphanage, when we would make costumes out of whatever we could find. Giulia would bake cookies that looked like ghosts and pumpkins and we’d be allowed to stay up late for once, drinking orange punch and playing scary games in the common room.

For the next hour, I sit patiently as my mother finishes my hair and makeup. She leaves my curls loose down my back with a delicate crown twist around my head, then adds golden shimmering eyeshadow and supple red lipstick for my makeup.

Finally, it’s time for my dress. My mother pulls out my gown for tonight, which is a masterpiece of burnt orange silk, fading to deep red at the hem. The bodice is intricately beaded with amber crystals that catch the light, creating the illusion of flickering flames.

“You’re always spoiling me with these nice dresses,” I muse as I slip into the gown.

My mother grins as she laces up the back. When it’s cinched in like that, especially with the voluminous skirt, it makes my waist look slender and perfectly curved.

“I’ve got to make up for lost time. But… something’s missing,” my mother says softly, stepping back to look at me. “You need jewelry. Gold, I think, to complement the beadwork.”

“I have just the thing.”

The voice from the doorway makes all three of us turn. To my surprise, Nora is standing there with a jewelry box in hand.

“I thought perhaps Miss Iris might like to wear this tonight.” She steps forward, opening the box to reveal a stunning sapphire necklace nestled on dark blue velvet.

The necklace is clearly an antique—a large oval-cut sapphire surrounded by smaller ones, all set in what looks like white gold or platinum. It’s beautiful, and the deep blue color looks brilliant when my mother holds it against my autumnal dress.

“The flame burns brightest against the night sky,” Nora says. “Orange and blue are complementary. It will be striking.”

My mother smiles. “Try it on.”

Turning, I allow Alice to fasten the necklace around my throat. The stones are heavy and cold against my skin, but when I turn to look in the mirror, I have to admit the effect is stunning. The deep blue of the sapphires makes the orange of my dress seem even more vibrant, like flames leaping against a twilight sky.

“It’s perfect,” Alice agrees. “Where did you get it, Nora?”

“It belongs to me,” Nora says. “It’s been in my family for generations.”

I turn to her, startled. “Nora, I can’t possibly borrow something so valuable—”

“It’s not a loan,” Nora interrupts. “It’s a gift.”

I stare at her, completely at a loss for words. Why would Nora, who’s barely spoken ten sentences to me in all the time I’ve known her, give me a family heirloom?

“I… I don’t understand,” I finally manage.

Nora’s eyes, so strangely like Selina’s, hold mine for a long moment. “You’re going to need it more than I will,” she says. “Please. Take it.”

I look to my mother, who seems equally puzzled. “Nora, are you sure? This must be very valuable, both monetarily and sentimentally.”

“I’m sure,” Nora says firmly. “It should belong to Miss Iris now.”

Something about her words makes my throat tighten. “Thank you,” I say, stepping forward to hug her. “I’ll treasure it, I promise.”

Nora goes rigid in my embrace, arms splayed out to the sides. But after a moment, her hands come up to pat my back awkwardly. “Yes, well. It suits you.”

I pull back, and she clears her throat. “I assure you, these sapphires won’t cause any trouble. Not like the diamonds.” I blink, surprised, but she’s already gone without another word. I have to admit, I feel a bit strange accepting unknown jewelry after what happened with the blood diamonds, but Nora…

I think she’s just trying to make up for what happened at my birth. In her own strange, shy sort of way. I don’t think she would ever even consider doing something cruel.

And I’d be a fool not to accept such a meaningful gift.

Just to be safe, though, I look to my mother for guidance. She senses my apprehension and shakes her head. “Nora would never,” she says firmly, and I believe her. She has known Nora for a very long time. If she trusts her, so do I. And besides, what would Nora have to gain from sabotaging me? I still don’t even know if Veronica intended any harm with the blood diamonds. She’s certainly adamant that she didn’t.

With a final glance in the mirror, I head downstairs to meet Arthur.

He’s waiting in the foyer, looking impossibly handsome in a formal suit that complements my dress perfectly—deep burgundy with gold accents. He’s talking to my father, and the conversation must be intense, because my father is angrily jabbing his finger into Arthur’s chest and Arthur is nodding with deference like a scolded child.

But when he hears my footsteps on the stairs, Arthur looks up, and his eyes widen.