of desire, pulsed with laughter that was always half a lie. But at night-true night, when t

es. Her cigarette burned low between two fingers, the ember a small, smoldering heart. Below her, candlelight flickered across sa

outside the gate flickered like it was deciding whether to survive the night. Jasmine took another drag

y curtains swayed in the night breeze, revealing glimpses

enjoy the show?" a voice murmured from the

dangerous, but didn't t

selves, but the rough bark of a man whose wine had finally begun to wear down his edges. The s

egs in the west wing window. Her eyes were closed, lip

a ribbon of smok

footsteps. The weight of someo

ra

cou

golden comb shaped like a serpent, but wisps had fallen loose around her throat. Jasmine didn't have to

id, settling beside her. Her voice

ine said. "I ju

ace tipped to the wind. Below, someone moaned

on the mirror," she

ft. "Then you know I'm no

your name in lipstick. Jasm

er mouth like a kiss denied. "It's mine. The

itched. "Elora w

choke on he

like a priestess from prayer. She pressed her fingers to

. "You ever wonder what they

ink," Jasmine said. "Which is

wet soil. Her hand drifted to her thigh, where the skin still bore a faint mark-a scratch, a

atching the sky lately," Sarah murm

do

to her shar

this-" she swept a hand toward the house, the candles, the perf

not a pr

ound. "We're all prisoners. Some of

Her eyes searched her. "Don't do this. Don't romanticize pa

not into a smile, but som

ere between agony and bliss. One of the girls-Mira, maybe-licked

r get bored of howling?"

linked.

ntion?" Jasmine tilted her head. "Maybe they're just screaming

e been reading your m

books still breathed. Some in languages even Elora wouldn't recognize. Some

far wall. Just a shadow. But her spine stiffened.

he?" Sarah asked, softer now. "

didn't

dn't n

, bloated with something unsaid. It hun

. "You're goi

o see what's

is full o

, and her eyes glitte

r floor. Laughter followed. Drunken,

of the balcony, her silhouette

een. Desired but not known. Do you have any

didn't

se sh

of survival. Jasmine's hand drifted to her hip, where a long silk sa

harp. Ce

for

mons

me

shoulder. "Whatever's calling you out th

ned, kissed

lan

string snapped. A girl cried

d back into the shadows of her room.

to remember m

ooked u

mile was no

ho sent me

lk and smoke, and the bal

gardens, som

wasn'