Page 106 of Saints & Sinners

A nauseating swirl of anxiety rose in my throat at the thought of him. “Where is he now?” I asked, my trembling voice betraying my ability to act calm and collected.

“London. With his family. They... he doesn’t remember any of this. He believes in another life, one where he went to school,university...”

Guilt twisted my stomach, making me stir uncomfortably on my feet. Matias had no idea. No memory of this world. Of what he was. Of whatIwas to him.

Joe cleared his throat and pushed the box toward the end of the counter. “I got you something.”

I frowned, walking up to the delicate frill decorating the white box.

“I know it’s a crappy way of apologizing, but—”

My breath caught as I opened the box and saw a gown inside. “You didn’t.”

“I know how hard I’ve been on you, not letting you go out when others could, forcing you to change dorms. The least I could do was gift you a dress.”

I looked at him, the corners of my eyes stinging.

He smiled softly. “You never did get to celebrate your school prom.”

“That’s because wehadto move.”

He nodded slowly. “Yes, but even then, I had already bought you this dress, just in case.”

Oh.

I didn’t know what to say.

If I spoke, I might risk crying like an absolute fool in front of him, not that it would be the first time doing so. But this meant a lot... a lot, a lot.

He rose from the stool and leaned in, kissing my forehead softly. “I’ll see you down there,” he said before quietly slipping out the door.

I stared at the gown, my heart heavy, as I wondered how much disappointment there would be if he knew everything I’d done behind his back.

Chapter Fifty-One

Music echoed through the main hall as Celestials played renditions of songs on harps and violins. The sound was still soft and distant beneath the swell of voices and laughter as gold and silver lights shimmered from the chandeliers onto them.

Silas stood beside me, unmoving, his eyes locked on Veronica as she drifted through the crowd in a midnight gown, its lace details hugging her frame in a way that made Silas freeze.

“You’re staring,” I said flatly.

“I’mobserving. There’s a difference.”

I suppressed a smirk. Silas and I were still feeling tense from when he figured out about Grace and me, but that was the thing with Silas. He could be mad or hurt or feel betrayed and he’d cover it up easily, like nothing happened in the first place.

“Speaking of observing...” Brandon’s voice cut in as he elbowed me lightly. “Is Grace coming or what?”

I shifted my weight, my fingers brushing the edge of my brother’s crumpled letter in my pocket. “Doubt it,” I said, keeping my voice casual. “She wasn’t exactly excited about this whole ball thing.” I was going to wait for the competition announcements and then head to her dorm.

I wanted nothing more than to see her, and being in this hallwith a bunch of people that I didn’t want to see bored me.

“Excuse me,” Silas muttered, not having listened one bit, as he straightened his bow tie and waltzed his way up to Veronica.

Before I could roll my eyes and turn to Brandon, he had already been called across the room by someone and excused himself with a wink.

Which left me alone.

I didn’t mind.

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