276 – Noelle POV
Some first speech he's given, I think, amused as I lean against the upper railing of the grand hall, looking down at Thorne as he suffers his way through "mingling." Poor thing. Every word exchanged is clearly costing him years of his life.
He looks up again, eyes scanning the room like a hunted animal. When he finds me, there's a flash of betrayal in his gaze. Help me, his expression says.
I smile sweetly.
And ignore him.
He scowls like a kicked cat and turns back to whoever's currently talking his ear off. I can't hear what they're saying, but Thorne's fake nods and occasional forced grunts of acknowledgment are the most awkward thing I've seen in weeks.
He's trying so hard to be civil. My big, terrifying general. Archon now, apparently. I'll never stop laughing about that.
