Page 159 of A Sin So Pure

“They were never very good to begin with.”

“But we’re here anyway.”

“We are here anyway.”

Silas sighs at my side, shifting on his feet. His wings bristle with the movement, feathers brushing against my back. Immediately, I stiffen, all joints in my body locking as the soft plumes graze against the exposed tops of my scars.

“You seem calmer than last night,” Silas murmurs softly, ignoring the way my body reacts to his.

“I—”

Any retort I might have uttered back to the Unseelie King is cut short by fanfare, a line of sprites carrying our first course to the dinner tables.

“That’s our cue,” Silas says. “Dance with me after dinner, yeah? Patience will take the bait.”

He stalks off to the table, leaving me staring after him with phantom pains running down my scars.

Whoever made the seating chart was an idiot.

I glare at the sprites that flitter between each of us, making sure our drinks are topped off as we take our seats.

Benevolence shoots me a kind smile as he takes the seat across from me; the mousy woman to his right must be his second. To his left sits the Seelie Queen and across from her—meaning right next to me—is Silas.

Relief washes over me when his wings dissipate into shadow, revealing the smooth expanse of his suit jacket.

Magic works in strange ways, our fabrics enchanted to work around our wings when we wish—if we have wings.

My scars still haven’t stopped itching.

To my left is Imogen, and I place a hand on her thigh. I squeeze it, the sensation of my fingers digging into her flesh is a lifeline, mooring me to shore. Josie and Leo are to her left, and the rest of the Sins spread out evenly on either side of Silas and I. On the other side of the table sit all the Seelie, at least, the important ones. The queen’s courtiers are sat at the table onthe other side of the room. Though, two important players are noticeably missing: Patience and Alexander.

A thrumming kind of energy shakes my leg, my heel tapping repeatedly against the marble floor. My magic perks, anticipating what’s to come.

I just have to get through dinner.

The Seelie double doors finally swing open.

“Late,” Silas scoffs to himself, but I’m close enough to hear it.

My thought exactly.

Hehadto make a dramatic entrance.

Patience is followed by his other son—my younger cousin—and they take the two empty seats directly to the left of the queen.

“Ah! Great, now we can start.” Oonagh claps, the Seelie all digging into their plates after she stabs a piece of salad with her fork. “Patience, dear, this must be so nice for you. Your first Solstice with all your family in years.”

My stomach instantly sours, any bit of appetite I had gone.

Patience laughs. “Yes, it’s nice to have both of my sons here with me.”

His cold eyes cut my way; a shark-like grin spreads across his cheeks that sets a storm rolling in my belly.

Benevolence clears his throat, addressing Silas. “This is my brother’s first Solstice as Patience’s Second.”

“Is it?” Silas’s brows flick to his forehead, vacant eyes landing on my younger cousin. His tone is unamused, lacking any actual interest.

An awkward beat passes, the only sound the scraping of forks and knives against the ceramic plates. The air is tense, most eyes are firmly set on their food. But I know each set of ears is tuned to the conversation between the center seats.

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