We didn't have to wait long for dinner.

I tried not to think about all the eyes that were on us. While Harror and my father had floated through the crowd, talking to various important people, a Root had escorted the three of us to the largest table by itself on the far side of the room.

Nine places were set, with all of them facing the rest of the room. Gesai sat on the left end, with me on her right and Ether on my right. Trent's place was next, then an ornate golden chair that I assumed was for Harror. Four more places were set farther down, but without anyone seated yet.

"Well…" I swallowed as I looked out at the crowd of people in fancy clothes. "Should we stay here or mingle?"

Gesai shook her head. "I'm related to everyone here." She nodded at the table to her left. "There's Justia."

Justia had on a simple yellow dress similar to the strapless one Gesai was wearing. Aelin was on the Healer's arm, her pink dress standing out amongst the sea of greens, yellows, whites, and blacks.

Hye's brown hair had a hint of gray, signaling that he was much older than his wife. Suna Publian looked a lot more like Ether, with her ivory-white skin. Her black hair was down, and fear pleaded to be released as she clung to her husband's arm. The yellow dress that she wore matched Justia's, and I had a feeling it had something to do with being part of Trent's class color considering how they were the only ones wearing the floral pattern.

"Hello, sis!" A silver man cut out of the crowd and walked over to the Publians.

Gesai shifted in her seat as the woman who had been on his arm marched over to us.

"You quit the family!" The golden woman in a black spaghetti strap dress stormed over to our table. "We've been trying to reach you!"

The woman on my right flinched back in her chair and looked down at her hands in her lap. "Sorry, Mom."

"You bet you're sorry! We're going to get this whole thing cleared up tonight, then you can come back home." Gesai's mother walked around the table to where her daughter was sitting. She wrapped her arms around Gesai and squeezed. "Have you been eating enough?" She held her daughter back. "You look like you've lost weight."

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"I'm fine, Mom." Gesai twisted and broke the older woman's hold on her. "And I don't want to go back. I like where I am." She grabbed my arm. "And who I'm with."

"Clearly." Her mother scowled at me. "Aryn Alard." She held out her hand with the back pointed towards me.

"Atlas Vowler." I put emphasis on my last name as I took her hand and gave it a small shake.

"Vowler…" Aryn pulled her hand back and let the name roll on her tongue. "I'd heard rumors that Trent had a secret child, but assumed it was just a desperate attempt for a has-been to remain relevant in a world that he abandoned."

"I don't blame him." I smiled. "From what I've seen, the world didn't have near as much to offer him as he does for his students."

"You'll have to excuse my wife." Her companion walked over with Suna and Hye behind him. "She doesn't want anyone to realize how happy she is that our little Gessy is okay." He held out his hand across the table. "Yorn Alard."

I took his hand and was surprised that he didn't squeeze. The difference in our levels was exponential, which meant that he could have crushed my fingers with less effort than it took to swat a fly.

I took my hand back and motioned to the woman on my left. "This is Ether Vowler, my wife."

"Wife?" He took her hand and kissed the back of it. "I'd hoped Gessy would get a prime seat since I'm not in line for succession." He straightened. "But second place with a Vowler is better than anything we could have offered her."

"Her place is with her family." Aryn huffed.

"Her place is wherever she finds happiness." Yorn clicked his tongue. "Though it would be nice if she remembered to call home once in a while and let us know she's alive."

"Sorry…" Gesai kept picking at her gloves.

"It's okay!" Yorn motioned around. "We're at a party! He motioned at his wife. "Why don't we find someone to show us to our seats?"

Suna and Hye moved back into the crowd to mingle, leaving Justia and Aelin on the other side of the table.

"So…" Aelin glanced around as she lowered her voice to a whisper, which for Aelin was about the same volume as most people spoke. "Do you know why we're here?"

"Harror wants a baby." Ether chuckled.

Aelin's eyes widened. "Seriously?! You're okay with that?" She looked at me, mischief filling her brown eyes. "A Goddess is a big step, but I'm glad you snagged one for the harem!"

"Trent, not me." I shook my head.

"Boo…" Aelin glanced over at where Trent was talking with some well-dressed people.

"Well, look what we have here…"

Justia and Aelin both tensed as they turned to the pair walking towards us.

"You're way out of place, aren't you, street rat?" Gileon Alard sneered.

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