Chapter 93

ELISE'S POV

I was pleasantly surprised when Alexandra arrived at my door that evening. She wasn’t one for unnecessary small talk. When she told me that I’d been rewarded with a meeting with the council, I almost didn’t believe her. It felt like a breakthrough—like maybe, just maybe, I was finally being accepted here.

I took the package from her and entered inside, though I started to feel a little confused. Alexandra wasn’t the type to play tricks, and I trusted her judgment. So why did the nerves, usually buried deep within me, stir a little stronger?

Once she left, I opened the package, peeling back the silver paper. My heart skipped a beat when I saw what was inside—an extremely skimpy, almost entirely see-through dress. The fabric shimmered in the light. It was black and revealing.

For a moment, I stared at it, holding it up in front of the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, half appalled, half confused.

Why would Alexandra give me this? It didn’t seem like a joke, and she