Rue’s POV

My reflection looked calm. Inside, I was not.

This banquet was not just a celebration, it was a declaration of succession, of everything that had been denied to me when I was nameless. I had walked through death and come back wearing scars no gown could hide. And yet tonight, the world would see only the heir.

A knock sounded softly.

Percy entered without ceremony, as if this room belonged to him as much as it did to me. He was dressed in deep black formalwear edged with silver ...