The Insider ~ A Fitzphie FanFic KOTLC

Special Sneak Peak

To do a little something special for all you guys, here's what I've been working on here and there that will soon be in The Insider. Most of this is very much so not finished.

Winnowing Galas

(START LISTENING TO THIS IS WHAT SLOW DANCING FEELS LIKE BY JVKE)

Sophie walked through the giant golden and silver braided doors into the romantically lit party within the walls of one of her favorite rooms in the Vackers' Everglen palace manor. The party was loud with the high pitched voices of girls her age filling the room. She spotted her parents chatting with Alden and Della in the very center of it all. Her parents were wearing the Ruewen colors: red and gold. The Vackers were wearing their black and gold colors, their clothes encrusted in so many teal diamonds, she lost herself in Della's dress counting the gems like a child counts the stars in the sky.

Her own red and gold dress glimmered slightly in the evening light that shined through the many windows draped in teal velvet. Fairy lights bounced off the few gems bordering her off-the-shoulder sleeves. She wandered through the crowd of girls and their parents, clad in all sorts of deep, royal colors. And then she spotted him.

The golden evening light played with the sparkles in his eyes and danced through his eyelashes. His black jerkin and golden sash made his tanned skin darker in the light. She saw him talking to another girl with blonde hair, but as soon as his eyes met hers, his mouth couldn't close. He walked past the confused girl and almost tripped over himself.

"Fancy meeting you here." Sophie winked at him and took both his hands, leading him to the middle of the dance floor. He never took his teal eyes off her, gaping at how beautiful she was in her golden red dress.

She placed her hands on his shoulders and guided his to her waist, getting specks of glitter on her fingers in the process.

The music changed to a slow tempo and all the heads turned to the dance floor. Sophie hadn't even signed up for the dance cards. She technically should have gone last. But she didn't care. And neither did Fitz.

Alden and Della rushed to the dance floor to see why the party had stopped. Alden took one look at his son's face and turned to Della. She smiled and took his hand silently as Grady and Edaline approached on their heels. Edaline giggled quietly to herself and turned to Grady. He was staring intently at his daughter, watching a daughter grow up does not get easier the second time. Alden pulled away from his wife's hands and held out his to Grady. He shook it and a collective gasp filled the air around them as they realized what had been done. All the attention quickly turned to Sophie and Fitz. Fitz and Sophie. Cognates. The both of them. Together.

They had somehow gotten even closer together as the music had continued. Sophie had her eyes closed, her head resting on Fitz's chest like they had been married for millennia. Fitz had a scared and relieved look on his face. He glanced at his father, who gave him a reassuring smile.

They would have danced forever if Stina hadn't gotten a hold of the speaker.

(START PLAYING BATHROOM BY MONTELL FISH)

"Aren't you supposed to sign up for the dance card, Sophie?" Stina said with a cunning smile.

Sophie opened her eyes and leaned away from Fitz, who looked awfully scared.

"You're right, I'm sorry, Stina. Anyone else upset about this?" Sophie glanced at the crowd to see all the young girls in dresses had their hands raised.

"Well, I guess that's too bad. As of today, Fitz Vacker is taken. Sorry." Sophie shrugged her shoulders and dragged Fitz to the door leading to the rest of Everglen.