Page 123 of The Last De Loughrey Dynasty

My favourite colour is lavender.

I kept my mouth shut, just listening a little longer before I decided to let them fight about me and walk off without their notice. It was truly hilarious that they fought about who cares more about me, but won’t even note my disappearance for another ten minutes while they continued to let their inner lawyer hang out.

The orchestra was playing a slow melody, and several people danced while others talked about family, work, or just life in general. It was nice watching everyone. Even Jesse’s family had come. A little girl was riding piggyback while a boy around her age ran around him in circles. I assumed the girl with curly brown hair must be Ximena, his youngest sister, and the boy wearing glasses held in place by a band around his head must be Emiliano.

I knew that he had five siblings in total. Two of whom were his biological siblings and three, the younger ones, were his half-siblings.

Jesse waved at me, trying to stay steady as Ximena pulled on his shoulders like he was a horse. I laughed, waving back, but I wouldn’t join him in this mess by any means. Especially not when his little brother had cake all over his hands and face. My dress was too precious to me, and the night was too young to ruin it.

“Doe!” Someone called for me, and I turned towards the voice to find Naomi standing by one of the windows, facing the front of the school, which was equally decorated with fairy lights, golden stars, and celestial bodies hanging from the building.

“Have you seen any spirits tonight?” she asked when I reached her, and I hushed her despite the fact that probably no one could hear us over their own conversations. “Oh, please, they’re all too invested in talking about their bullshit business. I could tell you about my drug dealer, and no one would listen,” she waved me off.

I raised an eyebrow and frowned at her. “You have a drug dealer?”

Naomi snorted, sipping on her glass of champagne. “Don’t be ridiculous. I think nothing of drugs. If I need a kick, I’ll have Maisie run around my room with her incense sticks, and I’m high above the clouds.”

“Those incense sticks of hers are truly something else. I’m sure one of these herbs she makes them with is not meant to be burned,” I joked, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

“I’m advised to only serve alcohol to adults,” he said almost apologetically.

I demonstratively took a sip of the drink. “It’s fine, I’m overage.”

“My apologies,” he nodded and walked away.

“That was surprisingly easy,” I muttered to myself, but Naomi leaned over to me, having heard what I said.

“If I were to serve a good-looking girl like you, I wouldn’t ask questions either.”

I smiled at her. “It’s the dress. Thank you again, Naomi. If I can ever repay you for that, just let me know.”

“The best payment for a designer is to see their work worn by people who can perfectly embody the art. Besides, I don’t need money. I’ve got enough of it, and still, none of my problems are solved,” she shrugged, groaning quietly as a boy a few years younger than us approached her.

“Mama’s only talking about work stuff, it’s boring here,” the boy complained to Naomi. He wore a black suit that was nothing but neat. His shirt hung out of his trousers, and he wore neither a tie nor a fly. Messy was a description that sounded like it had been made for him.

Naomi sighed, annoyed, emptying her glass in one swing. “It’s one evening, Kenji. Sneak into the corridors and play a game on your phone or something. You’re twelve, not two.”

Kenji rolled his eyes at his sister, noticing me standing next to them. “Is this one of your quirky friends?”

“Yeah, the quirkiest of them all,” she snorted, hooking her arm with mine and patting it gently. “Kenji, this is Doe. Doe, that’s my annoying little brother, Kenji.”

Kenji gave me a tight smile, then turned back to look at his sister. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll search for something edible that doesn’t taste like soap,” he said, walking away towards the tables with the little appetisers.

“I love my brother, but he’s a pain in the arse,” she groaned when Kenji was out of sight. “He’s like a mini version of Rodrick fromDiary of a Wimpy Kid. Now, back to my question—have you seen any spirits tonight? I feel like they are…”

“Hiding,” I finished for her, looking around the room for only one familiar face to appear between the living.

Gwyneth was staring back at me from across the room. Even from this distance, I could tell that she was sad.

I’m sorry, she mouthed before she disappeared behind people dancing. Sadness tugged at my heart when I thought about how alone she must be—spending eternity searching for someone to give her company. But she had to face the fact that I couldn’t be that person.

I shrugged, emptying my glass of champagne. “Too many people, perhaps.”

“Could be. They usually hide during the ball,” Naomi agreed.

“Nao, Mama wants to speak to you. Something about the holidays,” Kenji informed his sister, with a muffin shoved half into his mouth. The midnight blue icing stuck to his nose.

“Will you be alright?” Naomi asked me, and I nodded in answer.

---