PENELOPE'S POV

The stairs felt endless as Hayley guided me down. My hands stayed locked together in front of me, a shield against the nerves clawing inside my chest. The gown they gave me felt too heavy, too strange on my body. I tried to keep my breathing steady, but each step sent my heart racing harder.

The sound of voices reached me before I saw the room. A low hum of chittering and laughter floated from below, rich and casual, the kind of noise made by people who felt too powerful to fear ...