Darius Bello crashed the Mating Ball at the exact moment Jaxon dipped me.
We were mid-dip - badly, because Jaxon learned to dance three minutes ago and he was holding a ladle Mama River gave him as a dance prop - when the crystal doors burst open and Alpha King Darius walked in with ten Silverpine guards.
He was supposed to be under house arrest.
He wasn't.
He had his black suit, his Alpha King cape, and in his hand, the same silver collar from the border. Bigger now. Humming louder.
"THIS BALL IS ILLEGAL!" he shouted, and the music screeched to a halt. Lizzo stopped mid-lyric.
Every pastel girl stopped dancing. Every Alpha son turned.
Elder Mira grabbed the mic. "Darius Bello! You are under house arrest by order of seven Alpha Kings! You cannot -"
"I can, because this -" he pointe
