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I shot away so fast, my wind flipped up a woman’s skirt. I didn’t breathe, or stop, until I was on the other side of the room—as far away as I could possibly get fromhim.
“I want to thank you all for coming out tonight,” Alex said, kicking up applause. “These last few days have been eye-opening. Life-changing.”
Sirena ran up and grabbed his arm, beaming from ear to ear.
“I’ve realized something,” Alex continued. “I have no backbone.”
I stood straight as the clapping slowed. The same words were on all our lips.What did he say?
“I’ve been a coward. Not speaking up against wrong. Not fighting back for what I want, and that’s why you”—he swung on Maximos—“have never respected me, Father. Why would you? Whenever you say jump, my feet are in the air before you finish the command.
“You’ve treated me like a child because I’ve acted like one. A man lets no one control his life, and a ruler is no one’s puppet. It’s past time I grew a backbone...” He faced Sirena. “And it starts by telling you we’re not getting married.”
She wasn’t smiling anymore. She dropped his arm, backing away. “I don’t understand. What are you saying?”
“You’re my friend. My closest friend. But I’m not in love with you, and you’re not in love with me. Up till now we’ve done everything they’ve asked, but now they ask too much. We deserve love. True love.” He found me through the crowd as if he never lost track of me at all. “I promise you, it’s worth it all.”
“But I—I have no idea what you’re talking about?” she cried. “Of course I love you. This is real, and so is the contract we both signed promising ourselves to each other. I love you.”
He didn’t react.
“I do!”
“Sirena,” he said softly. Seriously. “Be honest. It’s time.”
Bright spots of color lit up her cheeks, glowing neon under the glow of the ice chandeliers. Her eyes flicked off him and onto someone in the crowd. It was fast. So fast I would’ve missed it if I blinked, but undeniable.
I didn’t see whoever she looked to, but I clearly watched her gaze travel up, up, and up to a woman out of her seat andwatching from the council’s perch. Her reddish-blonde hair and frown screamed Sirena.
Tearing away, Sirena said something to Alex—too low for anyone to hear. He nodded.
“All right, everyone.” Alexander clapped. “If you’d like to form an orderly line out the door, this party is over.”
People actually turned to leave—their expressions masks of confusion.
“No one move,” Maximos boomed. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, boy, but this marriage and this contract stands. We’ll have words about your disrespect later, nowsit down!”
“I’m afraid not, kiri.” Alexander whipped around and brought his fist down on the glass case.
It shattered into a hundred flying shards—the noise of its demise competing with Maximos’s bellow.
Sirena snatched the contract.
“Sirena, no,” Lia Cirillo screeched. “Don’t you dare—!”
Eagle talons shredded it to pieces.
I didn’t have a chance to shout my joy. Sirena puffed up—literally. Like a cockatiel fluffing its feathers, she shifted into a strange, oversized fluffy, feathery creature.
Feathers propelled out of her—flooding the room.
“Hey!”
“What is this!”
Feathers. Feathers everywhere.
I couldn’t see the nose on my face, let alone a foot in front of me. People were shoving, shouting, panicking.
