Chapter 14. A Little Drama Never Hurt Anyone

Xerina’s POV

[Four years ago: Xerina’s seventeenth birthday]

Tension rippled through my veins, and my heart pounded so loudly that I half-expected someone to ask if a drumline had crashed the party. I weaved through the crowd of invitees, plastering on my best ‘I’m-totally-not-freaking-out’ smile and deploying my extensive arsenal of polite small talk. A ‘hello’ here, a ‘how are you?’ there.

Naturally, I retained absolutely none of their responses. The opus of mindless chatter, empty exchanges, and phony birthday congratulations went in one ear and out the other. I wobbled a bit, adjusting my absurdly huge ruffled silk skirt that floated just above my ankles, and nervously checked my sparkling glitter top to make sure every tiny crystal jewel was still firmly attached. Tonight, everything had to be perfect. Absolutely everything.

Even if it killed me or, you know, just made me look like a very glamorous, very sparkly ghost.

“Happy Birthday!” a fe