*Kryzen
I finally got my tie to lay flat against my chest, the knot snug but not constricting. It was a deep blue, echoing the serene hues that cloaked the people of Astral Haven. I exhaled slowly, letting the tension ease out of my shoulders. That's when I turned my attention to her.
Briella was poised by the vanity, her fingers deftly twirling and pinning her dark hair into an elegant arrangement atop her head. She wore a dress that clung to her like a second skin, mermaid green with a shimmer that made me think of sunlight filtering through leaves. Gold glinted at her throat and wrists, delicate jewelry that seemed to accentuate rather than compete with her natural beauty.
"Wow," I murmured, unable to keep the awe from my voice as she adjusted a final pin. "You look incredible."
"Th
