ApplauseJunkie

The final Session ended at three o’clock on Friday afternoon, and DiPaolo and I walked out together. Our train back to Old Delhi left at five, so I had only a few minutes at my mansion to say goodbye to Abdul and the staff before DiPaolo’s black SUV rolled into the driveway to pick me up. This time, though, he wasn’t simply escorting me safely back to Old Delhi; he would be joining me there until we could get to the bottom of the outbreak in the Northeast District. Ever efficient, Abdul had had my luggage sent ahead of us to the train station, where it was already safely packed into the baggage car. The only thing I had to

Monday morning, I lingered with the other Counsel members around the coffee bar outside the conference room on the ground floor of Nasrin’s mansion. I could barely contain my excitement at the thought of my first Counsel Session, but as I looked around I noticed that everyone else looked as though it were just another day at work. Of course, for them it was just another day at work. DiPaolo noticed my eagerness and smirked at me. I fought the urge to roll my eyes back at him, instead lowering them respectfully and looking away. When we all trickled into the conference room, I was relieved that the customary seat of the Southwest Quarter

 Cassandra Pentaghast. That woman was intoxicating. From the first moment he laid eyes on her, his life had been in her hands, and it turned him on. She was so powerful, so completely in control. None of his lies fooled her. He had no idea how she did it, but he loved it. It made him want to spin more stories for her, just to watch her pick them apart with that incredible mind of hers, and to see that fiery temper flash behind her eyes when she found him out. He didn’t fear her blade, not really, although he knew even Bianca couldn’t save him if the Seeker wanted him dead. If she had wanted him dead, he would be at Andraste’

“You want me to what?” Sofia asked, her giant blue eyes blinking up at me incredulously. I sighed. “You don’t have to look so surprised. You’ve danced with me for other enchanted ice dancing championships.” She had danced with me in most of them, actually, because most of them required at least one partner dance. Sofia was staring at me as if I had asked her to punch me in the face. “This isn’t The Tri-Kingdom Area Skating Festival, Hugo! All one hundred and thirty-eight kingdoms compete in the Disney Olympic Winter Games! This is the biggest competition of all!” “I’m perfec

His freckles form a map of tiny stars, And galaxies are hidden his skin. Faint stardust clouds do decorate his arms, Arms warm and safe, to wrap a lady in. And I, with tongue so harsh and glance so cold, How is it that I came to be the one Those beautiful and starry arms enfold Each time dark night doth swallow up the sun? His love for me I'll never understand But far be it from me to question why I will accept his freely offered hand And love him with devotion all my life.

Catalina and Hamid stayed at my side making final adjustments and touchups until I closed the door of the limousine to leave for the Dinner. It was only a short drive to the Gardens, and I was grateful. The roads around the Square were backed up for miles with guests. The paparazzi had been here since last night, some of them even camping out on the manicured lawns to be first in line tonight. The masses of cameras were already stationed in the Gardens to catalog all of the notable persons who attended the gala and what they were wearing, while the reporters were ready with their microphones to record who spoke to whom and what they said. Fo

I was awake before my alarm went off; I had hardly slept all night with excitement. My bags were already packed and loaded into the car, my apartment was spotless, and I had run out of tasks to keep myself busy until it was time to leave for the Capitol. I paced from the kitchen to my bedroom and back again, alternating between drinking too much coffee and checking my appearance in the bathroom mirror for the seventy-fifth time. I hadn’t consciously counted how many times I looked, but somewhere I knew it had been seventy-five times. I was still discovering new things I could do with the new Wildblood. For the seventy-sixth time, I lea