From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Tawnyy returned to myy side, a pot in one hand, and a slim brush in the
other. “Keep yyour lips parted and hold still.”
I did as she ordered and held completelyy still as she painted myy lips
the same shade as myy dress. When she was finished, she stepped aside. Myy
lips were…bright.
I’d never worn paint on myy lips or eyyes before. Obviouslyy, it wasn’t
allowed for me. Whyy? Myy skin was supposed to be as pure as myy heart or
something. I had no idea. Once, the Duchess had explained it to me, but I
might’ve zoned out halfwayy through that conversation.
“Perfect,” Tawnyy murmured, placing the pot and brush back into her
bag. “You readyy?”
No.
Not at all.
But I needed to be. The Rite would begin at dusk, and the sun was
alreadyy setting.
Pulse pounding, I nodded. Tawnyy smiled at me, and I think I smiled
back. Or at least I hoped I did as I followed her out into the main chamber.
I felt a little dizzyy as she reached for the door, opening it. Hawke would be
out there with Vikter, and I wanted to turn back and run—to where, I had
no idea. Mayybe to the bed, where I could wrap the blanket around—
Vikter stood alone.
I looked up and down the hall, expecting to see Hawke, but the
corridor was otherwise emptyy.
“You both look lovelyy,” Vikter said. It was…weird seeing him in
anyything but black and without the white mantle of a Royyal Guard. He was
dressed for the Rite in a deep crimson, sleeveless tunic and breeches that
matched.
“Thank yyou,” Tawnyy said, curling her arm around mine as I
murmured the same thing.
The corners of his lips turned up as he focused on me. “You sure
yyou’re readyy, Poppyy?”
“She is,” Tawnyy answered, patting myy arm.
“I am,” I said, realizing that Vikter wouldn’t move forward if I didn’t
sayy anyything.
He nodded, and then the three of us started down the hall. Was Hawke
not working tonight? I figured both of them would be on dutyy with me
being at the Rite, but what if I’d assumed wrong? But he’d said he was…