Chapter 50.
The Lower Falls Town Hall had been transformed into a gilded cathedral of military tradition and small-town pride. Hundreds of crystals caught the light of flickering candles, reflecting off the polished marble floor and the endless rows of brass buttons. The air was a thick perfume of expensive cologne, florist-fresh lilies, and the underlying scent of floor wax and history. When Briar stepped through the heavy oak doors, the hum of five hundred voices didn't just dip- it died. The gold silk was no longer a secret hidden in a garment bag; it was a statement of war. The dress was a deep, liquid gold silk that seemed to flow around her like molten metal. It was floor-length, but as she moved, a daring slit reached her mid-thigh, revealing a glimpse of pale skin and the elegant line of
- Writer
