and urban planning, the city has crept up to the mansion’s tower walls and tiered gardens, preserving it as a fairytale cast

alace but packed

e tour more than once on school trips. It could easily be mistaken for a cathedral at first glance. There are spires on some of the coni

ved,” Mother repeats for me, as if I somehow forgot on the drive. “After that, da

r has fallen in line again. She

s across from me, get out first, before I, slightly carsick from the backwards facing ride, maneuver mysel

at, tucking the coat-check slip into the inside pocket of his tuxedo jacket. Though werewolves are more tolerant of the cold th

much I might shake my head. A delicate halo of spun silver wire studded with winking white diamonds weaves through my soft curls, matching the crystal rhinestones clus

uld have worn my hair, and this is v

e, nudging me forward to join the line of party

an predict where the blisters will be tomorrow morning. That

ask. In the past, we’ve all been together when m

ad to make sure I’m not ill. “Tara and Clare are married, Bailey. They

ceptions had been one of the few sacrifices I deeply regretted making when I le

for the kill. “And next year, if the f

g. Whether or not I’m w

can’t wait to see Tara and Clar

rs and I have always been rule breakers. Tara’s husband, Josh, went to school with us and now owns a social media company valued in the hundreds of millions. Clare’s mate, Jul

room, but we’re not close enough that I can make them out. Everyone in the foyer is joyous and

hanged that I don’t recognize

lars and pause beneath the enormous glass and steel chande

e man’s voice booms. He’s a different majordomo than the man who previously held the position m

an standing

th a well-groomed beard and a slight paunch, like an extra

ncept of tuxedos was invented because of him. I can’t look away from the sharpness of his clean-shaven jawline or the intense