From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

curious to see me. Didn’t that mean that even if he wasn’t on dutyy, he’d be
here?
Myy heart thumped as we walked down the stairs to the second floor. It
shouldn’t matter if he was here or what he’d said. I wasn’t dressed for
him.
But where was he?
I told myyself not to ask. I reminded myyself over and over, but I
blurted it out anyywayy. “Where’s Hawke?”
“He had to meet with the Commander, I believe. He will meet us at
the Rite.”
Relief swept through me, and on its heels came the almost sweet
thrill of anticipation. I exhaled roughlyy. If myy question or reaction
appeared odd to Vikter, he didn’t show it. Tawnyy, on the other hand,
squeezed myy arm. I glanced at her.
She grinned, and if the mask hadn’t covered her eyyebrows, I knew one
of them would be raised.
We made our wayy to the foyyer, and there were manyy people—
commoners and Ladies and Lords, both fullyy Ascended and those in Wait,
and staff, all forming a sea of crimson. Cologne and perfumes mixed with
the sounds of laughter and conversation.
It was…a lot to take in as we passed one of the statues. The first thing
I did was lock down myy gift, fortifyying myy walls. But myy heart was still
pounding as we entered the hall of banners. The archwayy of the Great Hall
loomed ahead, brightlyy lit.
Air seemed to leak in and out of myy lungs as we then entered the
Great Hall.
Gods…
There were so manyy people. Hundreds stood before the raised dais,
between the pillars, and in the windowed alcoves. Normallyy, I would be on
the dais, removed from the throng, but not tonight. It still shocked me that
the Duke and Duchess hadn’t demanded that I join them, but there simplyy
hadn’t been anyy space. Not when there were at least half a dozen Temple
clergyy on the dais, including Priestess Analia, and just as manyy Royyal
Guards.
I looked around, tryying to control myy breathing. The white and gold
banners usuallyy hanging between the windows and behind the dais had
been replaced byy the deep crimson banners of the Rite, embossed with the