“Mom wanted…” Ryker cleared his throat. “She thought it would be good to have the service take place somewhere where everyone could come and pay their respects.”
There was something about his tone that had alarm bells ringing in River’s mind. She sat up straighter and leaned forward. “What does that mean?”
Thetick-tick-tickof the signal filled the car as he took a left turn, and a long moment passed in silence.
Ryker gritted his jaw. “It means we’re going to The Lily.”
River blinked. “For the memorial?”
One of the fanciest hotels in the Republic, the building was the picture of wealth. It was usually the location for elaborate fundraising dinners, parties, and holiday celebrations.
Not… this.
A terse nod.
River’s mouth dried. “That’s…”
“A choice,” Brynleigh said, speaking for the first time since they left the farmhouse. She looked over her shoulder and met River’s gaze. “One that neither of you made.”
River ground her teeth and stared out the window. For a moment, the heaviness lifted, replaced with a bitter anger that swirled in her stomach.
She was angry at her mother for making this decision. Angry at the Stillness for taking her father. But also, she was angry at herself for not asking these questions earlier.
“This isn’t going to go well,” River predicted.
“Probably not.” Ryker peered at her through the rearview mirror. “But it’s for Dad. Not us.”
“You’re right.”
For her father, River could do this. Shewoulddo this.
River looked down, straightening the hem of her dress. The awful fabric seemed to suck in the light, a reminder of their purpose today.
That made her angry, too.
Soon, The Lily loomed ahead of them. A study of gold, it was even more extravagant than she remembered. The last time River had been here had been right after the attack on the Choosing, the night Ryker had proposed to Brynleigh.
Of course, this was where Tertia had chosen to host the memorial. It was whatshewanted, but River didn’t think it reflected her father at all. She was fairly certain that Cyrus would’ve been happy with a memorial outside of Waterborn House. A quiet service attended by his children, wife, and a few close friends.
Clearly, the Representative had other plans.
Any hope that River had of this ceremony being a quiet, family affair dissipated as Ryker drove into the underground parking garage. They were surrounded by vehicles that even the wealthiest citizens of the Republic would consider expensive. They made Ryker’s sensible black SUV look like it was moments away from falling apart.
They sat in silence inside the vehicle for a moment before Ryker unbuckled his seat belt. “We should go,” he said, sounding like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Brynleigh shrugged. “Maybe it won’t be so bad?”
River glanced at her brother, who frowned.
“Maybe,” she said weakly. But she didn’t think so.
The air was chilly as River got out of the car, and she rubbed her arms as they left the dim space behind. No one spoke as they took the elevator to the fifteenth floor, where the Grand Ballroom was located.
A crease formed between Ryker’s brows, and he grimaced as the elevator doors opened. They exited into a darkened corridor lined with vampire-safe windows. The steady hum of conversation drifted towards them. A sign pointed them towards the Grand Ballroom on the left, and they travelled toward it.
Large, double doors loomed.
“Ready?” Ryker asked, his hand on the door.