Lara had never trusted mirrors.
They encouraged vanity, exposed weaknesses, and had an unfortunate habit of revealing exactly how nervous someone looked when that someone was desperately pretending not to be nervous.
The mirror in front of her was currently committing all three crimes.
She stood in the center of the dressing room, staring at her reflection while three different people watched her pretend not to stare.
The suit fit her even better than it had during the final fitting.
Deep black, without the blue undertones Celestian formalwear usually carried. The jacket was sharply cut, fitted across her shoulders and waist without restricting movement.
Silver embroidery traced one side in constellations inspired by Sarisa's markings, while dark red thread formed restrained flames along the opposite cuff and collar.
Demon and Celestian.
Fire and stars.
The trousers were cleanly tailored, the white shirt beneath open at the upper buttons exactly as Lara had demanded.
She had refused the decorative neckpiece.
Then refused it again when the tailor claimed it symbolized dignity.
Lara had dignity.
It simply preferred breathing room.
Her hair had been cut that morning.
Not dramatically short, but enough to change her whole appearance.
The black strands, streaked with red, were shorter along the sides and back, leaving more length on top in a style that looked effortlessly sharp despite requiring three servants, two combs, and an argument about hair wax.
It exposed more of her horns.
It sharpened her face.
It made her look, in Raveth's words, "obnoxiously attractive."
Lara suspected that had been praise.
Behind her, Malvoria leaned against a carved pillar in a white suit, looking far too pleased with herself.
Raveth stood beside the table, also in white, adjusting one cuff with the seriousness of someone preparing for combat.
Neris sat on a cushioned chair near the window, his small white suit perfectly fitted, his dark hair combed neatly despite his obvious desire to touch it.
All three of them stared at Lara.
Lara stared back through the mirror.
"What?"
Malvoria smiled.
"Nothing."
"That is never true when you say it."
Raveth tilted her head. "You look expensive."
Lara turned slightly. "Expensive?"
"Yes."
"That is your best compliment?"
"No. I have worse ones."
"Keep them."
Neris continued watching Lara quietly.
His eyes moved over the suit, then up to her hair.
Lara noticed.
"What do you think?" she asked him.
Neris hesitated.
The hesitation was smaller now than it used to be. Months ago, he might have lowered his eyes and said nothing at all, afraid that the wrong answer would bring anger.
Now he considered the question seriously.
"You look strong."
Lara's chest tightened.
She crossed the room and crouched in front of him, careful not to wrinkle the suit Malvoria had threatened to have magically preserved.
"Strong?"
Neris nodded.
"And handsome," he added softly.
Raveth made a sudden choking sound.
Lara looked over her shoulder.
Raveth covered her mouth with one hand.
Malvoria had turned away, shoulders shaking.
Lara narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"Nothing," Malvoria managed.
"You are laughing."
"I am moved."
"You are absolutely not."
"I am deeply moved."
Raveth recovered enough to speak. "He called you handsome."
"Yes."
"Are you going to cry?"
"No."
Neris looked worried.
Lara immediately turned back to him. "I am not going to cry."
He studied her face.
"Your eyes look strange."
Malvoria lost control completely.
She laughed so hard she had to brace one hand against the pillar.
Lara slowly stood.
"I am surrounded by traitors."
"You are emotional," Raveth said.
"I am not."
"You nearly cried because a child complimented you."
"I did not nearly cry."
Malvoria wiped beneath one eye. "Your voice changed."
"My voice did not change."
"It became softer."
"I can throw both of you out before the ceremony."
Raveth adjusted her cuff. "You could try."
Lara looked at Malvoria.
Malvoria raised one eyebrow.
Lara decided not to begin a fight in wedding clothes.
That felt like growth.
She turned back toward the mirror.
The woman in front of her looked ready.
That was the unsettling part.
Lara had spent most of her life avoiding anything that resembled permanence. Duties could trap you. Titles could swallow you. Promises could become chains if made to the wrong person.
But this did not feel like a chain.
It felt like choosing where to stand.
She reached beneath the jacket and checked the small velvet ring box hidden safely in the inner pocket.
Still there.
The motion did not escape Malvoria's notice.
"You have checked that box seven times."
"Six."
"Seven."
"You were counting?"
"I was bored."
"You could have helped."
"With what?"
"Anything."
"I provided emotional support."
"You insulted my hair for twenty minutes."
"I said the first version made you look like an angry horse."
"That was not support."
"It prevented tragedy."
Raveth nodded. "The horse comparison was accurate."
Lara turned toward them. "You are both wearing white. Why do you still look evil?"
Raveth looked down at herself.
The white suit was sharply cut and immaculate, though she had somehow added black gloves and a silver chain that made her look less like a wedding guest and more like a very elegant assassin.
"Talent," she said.
Malvoria's own suit was softer in design, white with fine gold details at the collar and cuffs. Her red hair made the color appear brighter around her.
She looked royal.
She also looked like she might hide a knife under the jacket.
Which meant she looked normal.
Neris slid from his chair and approached Lara.
He stopped directly in front of her.
Lara looked down.
"What is it?"
His fingers curled briefly against his sides.
"Are you scared?"
The room quieted.
Lara could have lied.
She nearly did.
Then she remembered Sarisa's hands shaking before the tribunal. Aliyah's blunt honesty. Neris learning, slowly, that fear did not always mean punishment.
"A little," Lara admitted.
Neris frowned. "Because of the people?"
"Partly."
"There will be many."
"I know."
"And they will look at you."
"I know that too."
He considered this with great seriousness.
Then he reached for her hand.
Lara let him take it.
"You can hold my hand before you go."
Something warm and painful moved through her chest.
She crouched again, ignoring Malvoria's warning noise about the trousers, and pulled Neris into a careful hug.
He stiffened for only a second before hugging her back.
"Thank you," Lara murmured.
His arms tightened.
Behind them, Raveth cleared her throat loudly.
"This room is becoming unbearable."
Malvoria's voice was quieter. "Agreed."
Lara looked over Neris's shoulder. "Leave, then."
"No," both women said.
Neris pulled back and looked at Lara's suit again.
"Will Sarisa like it?"
Lara glanced at the mirror.
"I hope so."
Malvoria snorted.
Lara straightened. "What?"
"She will like it."
"You do not know that."
"She has eyes."
Raveth gave Lara a slow look from shoes to collar. "She may tackle you before the vows."
"She will not."
"Would improve the ceremony."
"Nothing about that would improve the ceremony."
"It would improve my experience."
Lara rubbed one hand over her face.
Immediately, Malvoria slapped it away.
"Do not touch your face."
Lara stared at her.
"You will ruin the work."
"What work?"
"The powder."
"There is no powder."
"There is."
Lara looked horrified.
Malvoria smiled sweetly.
"It is subtle."
"I said no makeup."
"You said no visible makeup."
"That is the same thing."
"It is not."
Raveth inspected Lara's face. "You do look less tired."
"I am tired."
"We know."
Lara turned toward the table, searching for a cloth.
Malvoria moved faster and blocked her.
"No."
"Move."
"No."
"I am washing it off."
"You are not."
"I am a grown woman."
"Then behave like one."
Raveth quietly moved the water pitcher farther away.
Lara pointed at her. "Do not assist."
"I enjoy survival."
Neris watched all three of them with growing amusement.
Lara saw it.
That alone made the chaos worth tolerating.
"You are laughing at me too?" she asked.
Neris quickly hid his smile.
"No."
"That was a lie."
"A small one."
Malvoria placed a hand over her heart. "He is becoming part of the family."
Raveth nodded. "Corruption complete."
Lara sighed.
The bells began outside.
One low note, then another.
The sound traveled through the palace walls, deep and luminous.
Everyone stopped.
The ceremony bell.
Lara's heartbeat changed instantly.
The room no longer felt warm enough.
She touched the ring box again.
Eight times now.
Malvoria noticed but did not comment.
For once.
Raveth picked up Lara's abandoned formal gloves and handed them over. Lara took them, then decided against wearing them. She wanted to feel Sarisa's hands when she held them.
Neris moved closer to Lara's side.
Another bell rang.
Lara looked at Malvoria.
Her younger sister was smiling, but not mockingly now. There was pride in her eyes. A quiet kind. The sort she rarely allowed to remain visible.
"You are sure?" Malvoria asked.
Lara thought of Sarisa in the hidden house.
Sarisa laughing above the Demon capital.
Sarisa standing against her mother.
Sarisa tired in Lara's arms.
Sarisa saying my fiancée with warmth in her voice.
"Yes," Lara said.
There was no hesitation.
Malvoria nodded.
Raveth opened the door.
Beyond it, the corridor stretched toward the ceremonial hall, lined with white flowers and silver flame.
Neris took Lara's hand.
Lara looked once more at herself in the mirror.
Not trapped.
Not running.
Ready.
Malvoria stepped beside her and smiled.
"Let's go."