MIREYA POV
I stood there for a long moment after Zion left.
A ball dinner.
Tonight.
My mind struggled to understand it. Just hours ago people had been falling into the rift, screaming as they disappeared into the darkness. Now we were expected to dress up and celebrate, as none of that had happened.
Brasshall was strange.
Cruel.
My room was quiet, the soft glow of the crystal in the wall casting pale light across the floor. I walked slowly to the small desk and sat down, rubbing my arms as the exhaustion finally caught up with me.
My body still ached from the Riftwalk.
My hands were scraped, my legs sore, and every time I closed my eyes I saw the endless darkness of the rift opening beneath me.
A knock sounded at my door.
I jumped slightly.
"Come in," I called.
The door opened and a young servant stepped inside carrying a long black box. She bowed her head politely before placing it on my bed.
"Miss… Your dress for the dinner," she said softly.
Then she left.
Just like that.
I stared at the box for a moment before slowly standing and walking toward the bed.
Inside the box was a dress.
Dark silver fabric shimmered under the room's crystal light. I carefully lifted it out and held it up.
My eyes widened.
The dress clung tightly to the body, elegant but… bold. One side was slit high along the thigh, and the neckline dipped low, far lower than anything I had ever worn before.
"What kind of dress is this?" I muttered quietly to myself.
It looked slutty nothing-suited training academy filled with deadly trials.
But I didn't have a choice.
Zion had said the dinner was mandatory.
I slowly changed into the dress, adjusting the fabric carefully. The slit brushed cool air against my leg, making me feel strangely exposed. The neckline felt just as daring.
I glanced at myself in the small mirror mounted beside the desk.
For a moment I barely recognized the girl staring back at me.
She looked… different.
Not like the fragile girl who had nearly fallen into the rift.
I brushed my hair back, trying to steady the strange feeling building in my chest.
Just a dinner.
Just survive this like everything else.
I sat down on the bed for a moment, meaning to rest only for a second.
Just one second.
The room was warm.
Quiet.
Safe.
My eyes closed before I even realized it.
When I woke up, the room was darker.
My heart jumped.
I sat up quickly, my head spinning as I looked around.
Then I saw the clock on the wall.
9:30.
My stomach dropped.
"The dinner," I gasped.
Zion had said eight.
I was already late.
Panic rushed through me as I jumped to my feet, grabbed my shoes, and rushed to fix my hair in the mirror.
Great.
First day in House Aetheris and I was already late to a dinner hosted by the very people who could probably have me thrown out… or worse… kill me.
I took a deep breath and hurried toward the door.
"Please don't let everyone already be there," I whispered to myself.
But knowing my luck… they probably were.
The halls of Brasshall were quiet as I hurried through them.
My heels clicked softly against the stone floor, echoing down the long corridors. The note Zion had slipped under my door earlier was clutched tightly in my hand.
Grand Hall – follow the east corridor.
I had read it three times before rushing out.
Now I just hoped I wasn't about to walk into a disaster.
A warm golden light spilled from the large double doors ahead of me. Laughter and quiet conversation drifted through the crack between them.
They were already inside.
All of them.
I swallowed hard and pushed the doors open.
The moment I stepped inside, the room went quiet.
Every head turned.
My stomach twisted.
The hall was massive, lit by tall golden chandeliers that hung from the high ceiling. Long tables stretched across the room, filled with food and shining glasses. The survivors from the trials stood and sat around them, dressed in elegant clothing.
And every single one of them was staring at me.
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
I suddenly felt painfully aware of the dress clinging to my body. The slit against my thigh. The deep neckline.
Why had they given me something like this?
My footsteps slowed as I walked into the hall, trying to act as if I belonged here even though my heart was pounding wildly.
Then I felt it.
His gaze.
I didn't need to look to know who it was.
Jax Calder stood near one of the long tables, a glass of dark liquor in his hand. He leaned casually against the edge, his black jacket open slightly at the collar.
But his eyes…
His hazel eyes were fixed on me.
Completely.
He lifted the glass slowly and took a sip, never once looking away.
My breath caught.
The way he was looking at me made warmth crawl up my neck and spread across my face.
His gaze moved over me slowly, taking in the dress, the slit along my leg, the curve of my waist.
Then his eyes returned to mine.
Still watching.
Still intense.
Still unreadable.
My chest tightened under the weight of it.
Why was he looking at me like that?
Before the moment could stretch any longer, someone suddenly rushed toward me.
"Oh, Faye!"
Kaela grabbed my arm the second she reached me.
"What the hell?" she whispered quickly. "I tried knocking earlier but you weren't responding!"
"I slept off," I admitted quietly.
My voice came out softer than I meant it to.
As I spoke, my eyes drifted back across the room without meaning to.
Straight to him.
Jax was still watching me.
His glass rested loosely in his hand now, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp.
Unmoving.
Our eyes met again.
My stomach flipped.
Why wasn't he looking away?
I quickly forced my attention back to Kaela before my face could burn any hotter.
"I didn't mean to be late," I said.
Kaela looked me up and down suddenly.
Her eyes widened.
"Gods, Faye…" she muttered, lowering her voice even more. "Girl you look spicy."
I blinked at her.
"It's the dress they gave me."
"Yes, but…"
She stopped herself, glancing behind me.
I didn't need to turn around to know why.
Jax's presence felt like heat against my back.
Heavy.
Watching.
"Hmmm… that dress seems to be daring every man here to rip it off," she said, smiling