Cindra’s POV
I stood in front of the mirror, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. It was suddenly all so much more real. For some reason, the maids hadn’t been ordered to come to help me, but I was grateful not to have to see them as I tried to calm myself and get ready for the ceremony.
The rejection ceremony. I grimaced at my reflection, smoothing the skirt of the sapphire blue gown I’d chosen and wishing again that I had just run away.
Maybe it would have left an open door for the rest of my life, but at least I wouldn’t have a firm rejection to deal with either. I took a deep breath and turned to one side.
“So glad to see the color did exactly what I expected.”
I turned around as Kalinda came in, eyeing my head. “Now, about that hair…”
She pulled me away from the mirror and
