Constant

Chapter 24

With my mouth full of Cheetos, dressed in sweatpants and my hair pulled back in a thick ponytail, I opened the door, momentarily surprised to see Douglas there. It was only four in the afternoon, way too early for him to pick me up.

He looked equally surprised—and appalled—by my outfit.

"My guess is that you're not ready to leave yet," he said.

"Leave? Now? I thought you'd pick me up in a few hours."

"Apparently," he replied dryly. "Your mother is already there."

I frowned. "Why? She's supposed to be in Baltimore."

"Because my mother invited her."

"Oh no, no, no, no..." I protested. "Why would she do that? Mom is with Lumenoil, not the Light." Fear shot through me like a freight train.

"Yeah, well, mother thinks that needs a'changing." He gave me a serious look, penetrating through my invisible shield. "So my guess is that it's for your own sake that you come tonight as well."

"I'm not dressed the part." I gestured toward my clothes, and he rolled his eyes and pulled out a garment bag he had been holding behind his back.

"I figured as much," he said. "Put this on, and we'll leave in thirty minutes. We don't want to be late."

I grabbed the bag and headed for my room. The white dress was simple with spaghetti straps, without other details, and I just pulled it over my head. I collected my hair in a sideways braid and put on just the tiniest amount of makeup. I didn't want to overdo it, but I also didn't want to be accused of not even trying.

Douglas looked at me in appreciation when I stepped out of my room.

"You're gorgeous," he said, biting the side of his bottom lip. I shuddered at the way he was looking at me.

When we reached the community, most of the guests had already stepped inside the banquette hall. Douglas didn't seem fazed by this, and I reluctantly followed him into the building. I spotted my mom standing and talking to Lady Keller. Her eyes brightened when she saw me.

"Maya," Mom said, excusing herself from Lady Keller and walked over to me. "I'm so glad you're here. It's so exciting, isn't it?" I forced a tight-lipped smile, not wanting to burst her bubble, but also afraid that if I opened my mouth, the truth would come out. Mom was officially in the Light's territory, and no longer just a Lumenoil representative. This was a problem, and I didn't know how to fix it.

I needed to get Mom out of there.

Douglas' hold on me was possessive, as if I belonged to him. People I had never met before nodded at me in respect. I couldn't even go to the bathroom without Douglas following me. I met Greta's gaze through the crowd, and she slowly shook her head.

I sat at the head table. Douglas held his arm on the back of my chair for the entire evening. The starter was bread with steamed veggies, which smelled delicious. The bread tasted off, which all their baked goods seemed to do. They served water for everyone, and I realized the unity thing had a tight hold on the community. Douglas laughed and talked to the others at the table. Every now and again, he would touch my neck gently. The first time he did it, I shivered, but as the night went on, I started enjoying it. As I listened to Douglas talk and joke, I realized he had a dry sense of humor, which was kind of ironically hilarious. It fitted his dry demeanor.

They brought in the main course, and the fish had been replaced with chicken. I looked around and noticed that everyone else was eating the same thing. Was this because of me? The servers moved silently as they served food and drinks, and I wasn't surprised when a glass of champagne was put in front of me. I looked at Douglas.