Chapter 34

Larissa’s training accelerates; by Monday she can briefly turn her hair brown. Toven summons them to a tense family dinner where Serena pointedly ignores Larissa and coolly “evaluates” the table, underscoring Larissa’s alienation. Through the week, Larissa pushes her limits, reaching twenty minutes of green eyes by Friday but still falling short of the required duration.

On Friday morning, Toven confirms Larissa will not attend Biltmore and postpones their debut, angering Larissa. That evening, Larissa invades Briony’s suite to fulfill her bargain: she meticulously styles Briony, instructs her on posture and presentation, and warns that failing the act could endanger the Hearsts. During the makeover, Larissa reveals her “death” tattoos involved an elixir forcibly administered, implying a possible antidote path; she also confirms she knows why Toven bought Briony but withholds the reason.

Larissa shares intimate performance tips about Toven’s preferences and enchants Briony’s heels for stability. Briony dresses in black lace and descends to meet a distant, unsettled Toven. En route to Biltmore, Briony confirms that Juliana’s captivity coerces Southern Camly’s leadership.

Inside Biltmore, Ilana greets them. Briony surveys the crowd more strategically, noting Carvin without Phoebe. Caspar Quill introduces Minister Bagis of Starksen and loudly boasts that the heartspring tattoos are unbreakable, outdoing ancient traditions. Toven pointedly needles him about needing the Hearst library, and Briony infers Quill created the tattoos and notes his mention of the Durlings.

As Toven leads Briony upstairs, they are intercepted by Lag Reighven, bringing Briony face-to-face with her buyer-tormentor for the first time since the auction, sharply raising the immediate danger.