Billie.
I stared at my reflection, unable to believe the woman in the mirror was me. The ivory ball gown hugged my body perfectly, its glittering diamonds catching the light like a sky full of stars. My hair was neatly swept back into a bun, and perched above my head was a tiara so heavy I could already feel a headache forming. This thing had weight—real diamonds, no doubt.
A queen's crown for a business bride.
The nerves hit me all at once. I was getting married.
Even if it wasn't real, even if it was just a contract, the whole thing felt terrifying.
The door creaked open, and my mother stepped in. She gasped, clutching her hands over her mouth as her eyes welled with tears.
"Oh, my baby," she whispered.
A lump formed in my throat.
Little Luna peeked from behind her, her eyes going wide. "Billie!" she squealed, bouncing on her toes. "You look like a princess! Do a twirl!"
