Too late

The inlaws

Haley's point of view.

"Haley?" Alishia asked from the door to my room before entering.

"Ready?" She asked with a kind smile while she studied me. I was wearing a long silver-colored gown that had small capped sleeves made of pearls to a sweetheart neckline. It was hardly inappropriate, but I was sure someone would get their panties in a twist anyways.

"Almost, I just need to get one thing," I told her and searched in my jewelry box. Finally, I found what I had been looking for. It was a delicate silver chain with a cut-out heart with a small band of shiny stones across it.

"Miranda De grey, Gregor's wife, sent me this after the incident. I figured it would be a good occasion to wear it since she and her husband are hosting this dinner," I explained, slipping on the necklace.

Alishia nodded approvingly. "You are learning these things quickly," she observed, and I shrugged.

"I have been watching you for years."

She smiled and took my hand. "I am here if you need me," she told me comforting and the look in her eyes told me she meant it. If I needed her by my side every minute, she would be there. I let out a small laugh at how absurd this all was.

"It feels so ironic. You were born for this, yet somehow I am the one holding a chair on the council, while you are still being refused yours."

She smiled a little sad at the thought but shrugged. "I'll get mine when my grandmother thinks I am ready. That is how it is. She was chosen in place of my father and she will hold the seat till she either dies or gives it up. That is the law. And Paulina can make up seats as she wants. That is the law too. If she truly wanted me there, she would have found a way, but right now, I think there might be a reason I am not where my ancestors were. Anyway, we should get going, don't want to be late to your first dinner as a council member." She blinked at me and beamed with pride, as she tugged on my hand so I would follow her.

Outside Kian stood, blowing irritated at the cold air. "Finally, you took forever!" He growled.

"Perfection takes time, Sidekick, not that it is anything you would know about," I snarled, as I took in his usually messy hair. He had dressed in a suit, but that was about the effort he had put into it.

"In that case, I don't think you spent enough time Hayhay," he countered, and I stuck out my tongue.

"You two!" Alishia scolded and rolled her eyes, then grabbed us both by the hand and dragged us along like naughty kids while we made faces at each other behind her back.

***

"You are doing great," A strong feminine voice called to me, as Alishia left me to go to the bathroom. We had luckily had the chance to stay together for most of the night. I turned around to see the kind face of Hillery Arrent.

"Oh hi Hillery, I didn't see you there. Thank you," I told her, and she just smiled wryly.

"I am sure you did. I can see the way you strive to keep track of everyone in the room. It is wise, but be careful not to exhaust yourself. You might lose important details if you try to keep track of the big picture." I frowned a little at her words, unsure what to make of them, but she moved up beside me and lightly touched my shoulder, turning me towards the moving crowd. "You are doing wonderful things, Haley. Much needed changes. Unfortunately, not everyone likes changes as much as I," she leaned in closer, having to bend a little to whisper in my ear and I felt her perfume overflood my senses. "Don't take anything from anyone, Haley. Everyone has a plan with everything they give. Politics is a game and the stakes are high. Please be careful, you and Rufus both," she warned me, but when she pulled back, that brilliant smile was back in place.

"Hillery, my dear!" A voice boomed as Goat beard, aka Gordon Arrent, came towards us and placed an arm around his wife. Then he turned to me with an expression I hadn't seen on his face before. It was almost as if he was glad to see me. "Ahh, I see you have found Miss Wright! A pleasure to see you again," he held out his hand and I took it slowly.

"You too lord Arrent. Please call me Haley."

He laughed, a loud booming laugh, and even Hillery flinched a little back. "Then you can call me Gordon! Where is Tristan by the way? He should be here by your side," he stated looking around the room. I exchanged gazes with Hillery before I smiled apologetically at Gordon.

"I am sure Tristan has more important matters to attend to than keeping me company, lord Arre- I mean Gordon."

He shook his head and grabbed a glass from a passing tray. "Nonsense. He could learn a lot from you! I'd look for him," he told me, and Hillery clapped his arm softly.

"We'll both do – oh isn't that Estelle Voda over there? Didn't you need to talk to her husband about that estate in Barcelona?" She coed and I smiled at her way of directing her husband around without creating drama. They left together, leaving me alone yet again. Not for long tho:

"Well, looks like my mom has her hands full." Tristan came up beside me. "You look beautiful princess," he complimented, and I smiled.

"You don't look bad yourself. It seems your dad thinks we would make a nice couple," I almost laughed and he scoffed.

"He thinks it will heighten my status to hook up with a council member. You know nobles: They always want something on everyone."

I laughed at his expression. "How funny. When everything was against us you wanted me more than the stars. As soon as you get your family's approval, you suddenly scoff at the thought." I found it amusing, Tristan really did have a teen rebellion still going on.

"I'll always want you Princess, but I'll admit, it was more fun when you had that shock-factor to you," he joked and I slapped him on the arm.

"Create your own drama, Arrent."

He held up his glass. "I am trying, Wright, I am trying."

It was late, almost morning when we finally left the party. Alishia and Kian said their farewells before happily skipping off. Rufus promised Tristan he would get me home safely. I tried arguing I was fine and would be taking care of Rufus, but thanks to way too much champagne, my words were slurred. Rufus laughed and asked for a temporary guard to help me, as he was still worried about my leg. I told him, that if I could walk in heels all night, I could walk home, but he just shook his head with a smile and the guard put his arm around me to help me walk straight.

"Thank you," I told him as he placed me on my bed in my room and took off my shoes.

He smiled up at me. "It is a pleasure, councilmember Wright. You serve all of us now - it is an honor to give a little back," he told me, and I frowned.

"You don't need to. I am fighting for what I believe in."

He smiled as he went to the door. "And that is the best thing you can do," he told me simply, then slipped out.

I leaned back on the bed and thought about tonight. Of course, he had been there all night, as Kian's guard. Jack. My hazy mind kept lingering on him. The structure of his chest, the way his blazar had framed his board shoulders. How his usually unruly hair was sleeked back. Suddenly, I was grabbed by an urge to go to him. I would tell him a piece of my mind! It wasn't right that he had all the control, and I had none!

And so I slipped on my shoes and crawled out the window, suddenly much soberer than before.