Page 68 of House of Marionne

“Doesn’t your family have, like, two homes? I would guess those stones in your ear are actual diamonds. What’s so impressive about going to dances with stuffy people?” I try to stifle the laugh, but it slips out.

“Four homes.”

“See!”

She rolls her eyes and loops her arm in mine. “My deda was brought here as a baby with nothing. He scraped together what he could and worked his way up to becoming a lawyer. He met my grandmother. She was a nurse at the time. Sometimes I lie and say she was a doctor, but don’t tell anyone.” She elbows me. “They did well. But then my dad got my mother pregnant before he finished high school. And around the same time, he showed signs of magic. Deda was ashamed of him. He and Grandmother took me and kicked him out. But then my father entered induction here, and everything changed. Quell, my father moved into this fancy gated neighborhood shortly after he debuted. I don’t know how, he hadn’t even gotten a job yet. He proposed to my mother with a fat rock literally the day after his Cotillion. Deda used to say my dad had gotten into drugs or was running with a bad crowd. He wouldn’t let me go live with them until he realized that wasn’t true.”

“I thought your dad was a banker.”

“Yes, now. Someone in the Order set him up with the position. But between you and me, he’s home more than he’s at his office.” She whispers, “He has framed degrees on his wall from colleges he never even went to.”

My eyes widen.

“The Order takes care of its own. It’s like a golden key that unlocks access to . . . options. You’re a Marionne, you must know what I mean.”

My skin turns to gooseflesh. “It was a bit different for me since I didn’t grow up here.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Because I grew up with Deda, I saw both sides of it. And I know which side I intend to land on.”

“Your parents must have money set aside for you.” Isn’t that how rich families stay rich?

“It’s not about the money, it’s the experiences, the circles you run in, the way people look at you.” She folds her legs under herself to face me more properly.

I shake my head, unsure what to say.

“I mean, what, do you suggest I not use the privilege my position affords me?” She folds her arms.

I can’t picture a future as gilded as Abby imagines for myself, but she is my friend and I want her happy. “You deserve everything you can imagine. I’m happy for you, Abby, really.”

“This one is tonight!” She shows me the invite before rushing to her closet. “I wish you could come with me.”

My stomach sinks.

“But you haven’t passed Second Rite, so you can’t.”

I exhale. “Rats.”

“You’re such a bad liar.” She snorts. “But enough about me, how was honing today?” She works her magic over her dress, adding detail to the corset and fiddling with the hem before laying out a matching pair of shoes.

I bury myself in my pillows, groaning. For a second I’d almost forgotten my own nightmare. I unfurl myself from my covers. It isn’t going to get any easier.

“There was this Dragun there from House Perl. He gave a demonstration.” I shiver, loading up my bag with anything I might need. “He was a creep.”

“Draguns are like swarming sharks. More of them around isn’t a good sign.” She fiddles with the dress, holding it up against herself in the mirror. “I wonder if it has to do with the Sphere. My parents still have their panties in a bunch about the Sphere cracking. Is this dress too much for tonight, you think? I don’t want to overdo it.”

“It’s perfect. But don’t add any more jewels. It’s already a bit over the top sparkly.” She holds her hands up and the magic buzzing around her fingertips dissolves. “Do you think it’s true Draguns dabble in dark magic?”

“No one knows how they do what they do.”

I nod my head and latch my bag closed. “I really should get to honing lab.”

“Good luck getting a table at this hour.”

“What time is it dead, usually?”

“Hard to say. The stoners like to wander in there at like two a.m.” She laughs. “Maybe try during dinner while everyone’s eating.”

I put my bag back down. I can’t exactly go to a crowded lab and get anything done.