Book 5: Stood Up

Ingrid

Somehow, Kaloni manages to squeeze even more activities into my schedule after I pass that message to Cirocco.

The night of pampering is an absolute frenzy, noblewomen attempting to slip off to bed before Kaloni or one of the other women she has clearly deputized lassoes them back in for another round of primping. Lady Evangeline is there, of course, though she’s notably not one of Kaloni’s posse. I almost wish she was. Then, maybe every other woman in a fifteen-foot radius wouldn’t be compelled to talk about the exact same nothing as she does. Tucking myself in a corner with Sibel or Liwar or—during her brief appearance—Joli doesn’t even save me. People seek me out to drag me into new and worse inanities.

When I finally stumble out of that powder-choked room, the sun is rising, and Kaloni catches my arm. With a voice like she’s just had t