Page 138 of Revenant

The second dress is everything the first isn’t. Whereas the former is heavy and strapless, this one is light, emerald green, and has two delicate straps to ensure it drapes over my body with precision. The silk is effortlessly soft, no embellishments, as if whoever designed it knew the dress would stand out on its own.

And they were completely right.

“That is…breathtaking.” Moriah gapes, drool practically trailing down her chin.

It really is. There’s something magnetic about its simplicity. But the other dress is stunning in its own way. The contrast between velvet and silk, the corset back and gems.

“With everything going on tonight, I didn’t think I’d have time to enjoy the gala. Let alone dress up for it,” I tell her, placing the green dress back into the box. Her shoulders slump with my admission. Then it dawns on me. “The green one might be from Koen. I told him at the blood drive that I didn’t have a dress. Pryce must’ve not told him he already got me one.”

“I bet he was confused when he came in here and there was already a box sitting on the bed…” Moriah takes a pregnant pause. “Actually, now that I think about it, it’s quite concerning how easily they have access to my room.”

I laugh. “You’re not wrong. You should probably change your locks.”

“As if that’ll keep them out; they own the school,” she deadpans. “Which one are you going to wear?”

I look between both dresses, the decision feeling heavier than it should. It’s just a dress, right? But what if me picking one is a catalyst for something bigger and I make someone upset? Or maybe neither are from the guys, and Moriah’s been yanking my chain this whole time.

Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone can fake the reaction she had when she saw them.

“I’m not sure yet,” I tell her truthfully, eyes moving between both boxes. “Let’s get ready and I’ll decide after.”

She slides off the bed. “For the record, you’re overthinking it. It’s just a dress.”

Maybe so. But the decision feels a hell of a lot more complicated than that.

Moriah stabs the last pin in my hair. “Ouch!”

“Oh, you’re fine.” She secures the bobby pin in place and grabs my shoulders as we both stare at her masterpiece in the mirror. “Damn, I’m good.” We both laugh, and she steps away, allowing me a moment to take myself in. My makeup isn’t anything crazy, light and minimal, aside for the eyeshadow Moriah did to match my dress. We decided it needs to be the focus, and anything too drastic on my face would’ve drawn attention away from the dress.

Despite everything going down tonight, I have butterflies in my stomach with the thought of being with them all. Dancing, laughing, as if we’re just normal students at a normal fundraiser—well, normal for this high society bunch—even if it’s only for a little while.

“Ready?” Moriah chimes from her closet.

“Yeah, just let me grab my things.” Thankfully, Moriah had a medium-sized clutch that matched my dress perfectly, and I had the shoes to go with it.

It was fate to say the least.

I wrap a scarf around my mirror and secure it inside the bag before grabbing the grimoire. The weight of tonight settles on my shoulders, and I feel it. Everywhere.

Moriah must sense my impromptu spiraling because she strides over to me and wraps me in her arms. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

“How can you be so sure?”

She sighs. “Because what’s the alternative?”

She’s right. If we dwell on the what-ifs, we’ll never try. We have to believe it will work. Manifestation and all of that.

“Okay, no pity party! We’re going to have a kick ass night, and hopefully by the end of it, those ancient losers can take you on a real date.”

I follow her out the door, heading down the hall I’ve walked countless times before. But this time it feels different. Maybe it’s a good sign. That everything is going to work out and this sudden feeling isn’t impending doom, but relief.

“I have a good feeling about tonight,” she says, practically skipping down the hall.

I can’t lie and say her energy isn’t infectious. “I think even if it doesn’t go to plan, the memories we make tonight will be ones to remember for a lifetime.”

“Who are you dancing with fir—” Her question gets cut off by a nearby door closing, pulling our attention.

Reyna steps out into the hall, my roommate I have guiltily forgotten about. Not that we were ever close, but still, I can imagine me moving out must’ve seemed more like rejection. And with all of this witch, vampire, werewolf curse bullshit, I haven’t found it in me to care.