Allissa
My favorite hour of the night had no ceremony in it at all.
The formal dances opened and dissolved into real ones. Evette and James took the floor like the world was young, until Finn cut in and my mother, to the eternal delight of every witness, taught the Vampire King the steps to a Lume Pack harvest reel he performed with offensive, immediate competence. Ivan danced with three duchesses at once because subdividing him was impossible. Squall spun Eira until her unsettled quiet finally broke into laughter, Dayanara taught Ciera a sorcerer’s charm, and the twins slept through all of it in the family alcove, Soren sprawled on his grandfather’s chest while James swayed him absently and argued trade routes over his head. Mira surrendered at last in Hessa’s arms with one fist still c
