Etiquette opened the floor with a silence that felt almost sacred.
The Sangre Antigua elite had formed a wide ring around the center of the hall, looking all expensive with careful faces. The musicians had started only moments ago, soft at first, then louder as the room settled. No one spoke above a murmur, nor did anyone move without purpose.
I stood near the edge of the gathering with my shoulders straight and my back painfully aware of the makeup and jewelry holding my secret in place. The dress fit like a warning, and every glance that slid over me felt too aware of the skin it left exposed.
Bastián stood at the center of the room, still as stone.
He hadn’t said much since we arrived, that was not new but tonight the silence around him felt different, more intense, like he was keep
