The sighs. At least rest it for a few minutes?"


    I nod and ease back in the chair. The ice feels good against my throbbing ankle.


    There''s a sharp knock at the door, and Ezra pokes his head in. "Sorry to interrupt, sir, but there''s an urgent matter that requires your attention."


    Arthur frowns. "Can it wait?"


    Ezra''s expression is grave. "I''m afraid not, sir. Security issue."


    Arthur looks torn, ncing between me and Ezra. I wave him off. o. I''ll be fine. I''ll just rest for a few minutes and then head back to the party."


    "You''re sure?"


    "I''m sure. Go y Alpha President." I offer a smirk.


    He leans down to kiss me quickly. "I''ll be back as soon as I can.".


    And then he''s gone, following Ezra out the door,


    I give myself ten minutes with the ice before deciding that I''ve hidden away long enough. Carefully, I slip my shoe back on and stand, testing my weight. It hurts a little, but it''s bearable, and the painkillers haven''t even kicked in yet. I just need to be careful not to twist it again.


    The hallway outside is empty, and I make my way slowly back toward the ballroom, admiring the artwork as I meander by. Just as I step through the main doors, a woman steps into my path. She''s vaguely familiar-one of the many people I was introduced to earlier, although I can''t recall her name.


    "What a performance," she says with a sharine smile. "Quite the dramatic fall. Some might say the dance symbolizes your entire rise to prominence-shy but ultimately unstable."


    I blink, caught off guard by the direct attack. "Excuse me?"


    "Oh, don''t y innocent. You may have fooled everyone else with your little lost heir story, but some of us know better." She steps closer, her voice dropping to a hiss. “Selina was-is-twice the woman you''ll ever be. You think you can just waltz in and take her ce? Please."


    So she''s one of Selina''s friends. Probably the one who greased the floor, judging by the satisfaction in her eyes when she mentioned my fall.


    "I didn''t take anyone''s ce," I reply. "And I certainly didn''t ask for any of this."


    She scoffs. "Right. Just like you didn''t ask to be the Alpha President''s mate? Just happened to fall into that too, did you?"


    I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, another voice cuts in


    "Margaret, darling, there you are." Veronica glides up beside me, luking her arm through mine as if we''ve been friends for years. "I see you''ve met my cousin Iris." Margaret''s smile falters. “Veronica. Yes, we were just getting acquainted."


    "How lovely," Veronica says, narrowing her eyes. "Although I must say, Margaret, your husband was looking for you rather desperately. Something about the credit card you maxed out without his knowledge?" She tilts her head slightly. "You should probably look for him. He''s in quite the state right now."


    Margaret''s eyes widen, and she hurries away without another word.


    As she leaves, Veronica nces at me. "Word of advice, cousin? Never engage directly with vipers like Margaret. They''re not worth your time or energy."


    "Was she the one who


    Atmost certainly," Veronica confirms as she leads me further into the ballroom. "Slie was Selina''s sorority sister. She''s been making noise about you since rumors of your existence first surfaced. There are others you should be wary of as well."


    Quietly, Veronica points out various guests-people who were close to Selina, who resent my sudden appearance, who might try to undermine me in ways both subtle and overt. Once she''s finished-and there are more people than I''d hoped for-she turns to me with a gentle smile.


    "The best thing you can do is continue to carry yourself with grace and try not to show how their actions shake you," Veronica says. "In this world, appearing weak is often more dangerous than actually being weak."


    Standing next to Veronica, with her perfect poise and effortless grace, I can''t help but feel weak. She basically had toe to my rescue. But I manage a smile and thank her for her help, and with that, she glides away as if she''s not even walking, but rather levitating slightly from the floor.


    I look around for a moment, and then spot Arthur across the room, deep in conversation with Ezra. Curious, I make my way toward them. As I get closer, I can hear snippets of their conversation.


    "-confirmed it was her? You''re absolutely certain?" Arthur is saying.


    "Yes, sir," Ezra replies.


    "Fuck," Arthur mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of all the nights for her to..."


    "Sir,” Ezra interrupts, his eyes suddenly fixed on something over Arthur''s shoulder. "She''s here."


    Arthur spins around, and I follow his gaze to the main entrance of the ballroom.


    My stomach drops as the crowd parts to reveal the veryst face I expected to see tonight.


    Selina.