#sascha darling

[hotmonkeelove]

Sorry for the ridiculous tangent, but now I'm just imagining someone cooking and eating the pigeon, and William being all General Melchett from Blackadder Goes Forth because it was his prized pigeon. And the offender is court-martialled, with Grelle in the role of Captain Darling acting as prosecuting counsel.

It has been 219 days since the Kuroshitsuji hiatus was announced.

A rogue messenger pigeon flapped its way into the German dispatch office complex. Chaos quickly ensued as various reapers, including Ludger, dashed around attempting to shoo the bird out. Sascha followed close on their partner’s heels to capture photos of this unexpected avian invasion.

[incorrect-kuroshitposts]

Sascha: Wow, your hair is so long and silky! Grelle: Thanks, darling, that pixie cut totally suits you, too! ♥︎ Ludger: I got a hair cut recently, too, y’know… Grelle: No one ask you, Ludger!

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in May 2024 🌈

🌈 Good morning, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

[ Release dates may have changed. ]

❤️ Farzana's Spite - Felix Graves 🧡 Archangels of Funk - Andrea Hairston 💛 How It Works Out - Myriam Lacroix 💚 Queer History A to Z - Robin Stevenson, Vivian Rosas 💙 Queerceañera - Alex Crespo 💜 Second Night Stand - Karelia Stetz-Waters, Fay Stetz-Waters ❤️ You Can Call Me Cooper - Cali Kitsu 🧡 Gooseberry - Robin Gow 💛 Grand Slam Romance - Ollie Hicks, Emma Oosterhous 💙The Witches of Silverlake - Simon Curtis, Stephanie Son 💜 Drawn to the Enemy - Barbara Winkes 🌈 The Truth of Our Past - Heather Leighson

❤️ Infaust - T.D. Cloud, Ambi Sun 🧡 Garner for Gold - Catherine Labadie 💛 The Z Word - Lindsay King-Miller 💚 Snake Charming - Genevieve McCluer 💙 The 7-10 Split - Karmen Lee 💜 Loving Jemima - Sienna Waters ❤️ The Potion Gardener - Arden Powell 🧡 A Swift and Sudden Exit - Nico Vincenty 💛 The Worst Ronin - Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Faith Schaffer 💙 Murray Out of Water -Taylor Tracy 💜 The Guncle Abroad - Steven Rowley 🌈 The Weight of What Was - Pip Landers-Letts

❤️ The Amazing Alpha Tau Pledge Project - Lisa Henry, Sarah Honey 🧡 I Met Death & Sex Through My Friend, Tom Meuley - Thom Vernon 💛 Malicia - Steven dos Santos 💚 The Sins on Their Bones - Laura R. Samotin 💙 SLUTS: Anthology - Michelle Tea 💜 You Should Be So Lucky - Cat Sebastian ❤️ Death's Country - R.M. Romero 🧡 Cinema Love - Jiaming Tang 💛 The Brides of High Hill - Nghi Vo 💙 Emma - Jenna Kent 💜 Wish We Were There - Lionel Hart 🌈 A Troublemaker in Her Eyes - Genta Sebastian

❤️ I Make Envy on Your Disco - Eric Schnall 🧡 Lavash at First Sight - Taleen Voskuni 💛 Queer Power Couples - Hannah Murphy Winter, Billie Winter 💚 In Repair - A.L. Graziadei 💙 A Heart Divided - Angie Williams 💜 Long After We Are Gone - Terah Shelton Harris ❤️ The Queen of Steeplechase Park - David Ciminello 🧡 Lunar Boy - Jes Wibowo, Cin Wibowo 💛 Hot Boy Summer - Joe Jiménez 💙 Sunhead - Alex Assan 💜 The Summer Love Strategy - Ray Stoeve 🌈 Into the Mouth of the Wolf - Erin Gough

❤️ The Girl in Question - Tess Sharpe 🧡 The Lost Erwain - Mariah Stillbrook 💛 Starfire - Naomi Hughes 💚 Adrift - Sam Ledel 💙 Shanghai Murder - Jessie Chandler 💜 April May June July - Alison B. Hart ❤️ A Bone in His Teeth - Kellen Graves 🧡 Cabin Fever - Tagan Shepard 💛 Don't Be a Drag - Skye Quinlan 💙 The Ride of Her Life - Jennifer Dugan 💜 The Redemption of Daya Keane - Gia Gordon 🌈 Nearlywed - Nicolas DiDomizio

❤️ The Sunforge - Sascha Stronach 🧡 The End of Time - Trudie Skies 💛 Silent Ones - Melissa Polk 💚 Prime Time Travelers - Neil Laird 💙 My Darling Dreadful Thing - Johanna van Veen 💜 The Honey Witch - Sydney J. Shields ❤️ Spitting Gold - Carmella Lowkis 🧡 Last Chance - Claire Highton-Stevenson 💛 Road Home - Rex Ogle 💙 Only for Convenience - Shannon O'Connor 💜 Linus and Etta Could Use a Win - Caroline Huntoon 🌈 Finding Molly Parsons - Alyson Root

❤️ Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding - Maia Kobabe, Dr. Sarah Peitzmeier 🧡 See You Next Month - Jamey Moody 💛 Until You Say My Name - Tatum Schroeder 💚 Disembark - Jen Currin 💙 True Love and Other Impossible Odds - Christina Li 💜 Flyboy - Kasey LeBlanc ❤️ Thirsty - Jas Hammonds 🧡 Hands Off - N. Slater 💛 Flooded Secrets - Claudie Arseneault 💙 The Deer and the Dragon - Piper C.J. 💜 To Be Loved - Frank G. Anderson 🌈 Snowblooded - Emma Sterner-Radley

❤️ Blood Remains - Cathy Pegau 🧡 Blood on the Tide - Katee Robert 💛 We Were the Universe - Kimberly King Parsons 💚 Loyalty - E.J. Noyes 💙 Spirits and Sirens - Kelly Fireside 💜 Clean Kill - Anne Laughlin ❤️ The Worst Perfect Moment - Shivaun Plozza 🧡 Oye - Melissa Mogollon 💛 Here for the Wrong Reasons - Annabel Paulsen, Lydia Wang 💙 Exhibit - R.O. Kwon 💜 Experienced - Kate Young 🌈 Parenting with Pride - Heather Hester

❤️ Road to Ruin - Hana Lee 🧡 Meet Me in Berlin - Samantha L. Valentine 💛 The Advice Columnist - Cade Haddock Strong 💚 where lost & hopeless things go - Bryony Rosehurst 💙 Pit Stop - Ellis Mae 💜 The Switchboard - Christina K. Glover ❤️ In the Shallows - Tanya Byrne 🧡 Have You Seen This Girl - Nita Tyndall 💛 Another First Chance - Robbie Couch 💙 The Only Light Left Burning - Erik J. Brown 💜 Keepers of the Stones and Stars - Michael Barakiva 🌈 A Little Kissing Between Friends - Chencia C. Higgins

[xbsundaymatinee]

The Sunday Matinee #73

On Sunday 11th of February it’s Sunday Matinee #73!

On stage from 4PM and in no particular order:

The Darlings of Cancel Culture https://thedarlingsofcancelculture.bandcamp.com/

Auspuff https://auspuff.bandcamp.com/

Schallbehörde https://schallbehoerde.bandcamp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@schallbehorde9277

Plus:

—>>> DJ SuperCheri

**The Sunday Matinee is smoke free, children friendly, wheelchair accessible**

**Check out the Matinee double cassette mix tape here. Copies are still available and can be purchased at our events: https://thesundaymatinee.bandcamp.com/album/the-sunday-matinee-sampler-

**Read more here: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/xbsundaymatinee

Find us at: Villa Kuriosum Scheffelstraße 21 10367 Berlin

—————— Coming up Matinees at Villa: #74 on 10.03

Highly recommended shows to check out if you are in Berlin:

-Feb 7th, 7pm - PRIMITIVO EXPERIMENTAL JAM @ RXXXHaus w/ Voküfa

-Feb 9th, 8pm - Untergruen @ Lichtblick Kino, Kastanienallee 77 w/ Notorische Ruhestoerung, Ernesto Cárcamo Cavazos ,  Sascha Bauss & Aziz, Lewandowski, Malwina Kołodziejczyk & Alexander Markvart

-Feb 16th, 9pm - Trickster w/ Dr. Nexus, Jetzt werd ich dumm & tba +DJMegaOhm

-Feb 17th, 5pm - Notorische Ruhestoerung goes piano @ Bödi 9

[diarioelpepazo]

Se queda a media remontada ante Zverev en cuartos del Open de Australia. El murciano levanta un 5-2 en el tercer set y lucha hasta el final ante un rival muy inspirado JOAN SOLSONA Melbourne El tenis español se ha quedado oficialmente sin representación en el Open de Australia. Carlos Alcaraz, la última y mejor baza, se ha despedido este miércoles del primer grande del curso tras caer ante Alexander Zverev, por 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(2) y 6-4, en tres horas y cinco minutos. La derrota permitirá a Novak Djokovic seguir como número uno a la conclusión del Abierto y pone en peligro el segundo puesto en el ranking del campeón de dos 'majors'. Perdería esa condición si Daniil Medvedev levanta este domingo la copa Norman Brookes. Cuando Zverev está inspirado puede con cualquiera. Lo demostró, por ejemplo, en la consecución de dos ATP Finals y en el oro olímpico de Tokio. Le falta un 'Grand Slam' y a sus 26 años oposita a ello tras recuperarse de la rotura de tobillo en las semifinales de Roland Garros 2022 con Rafael Nadal. El partido de Alcaraz empezó cuando ya se habían disputado 30 minutos. Los primeros 29 había asistido a un monólogo de Sascha. Ganadores de todos los lados para un total de 29 puntos en la manga inicial por 11 de su adversario. Fue un mal presagio para el murciano iniciar su turno de saque con una doble falta. Zverev disparó el marcador hasta el 3-0 y logró un segundo 'break' antes de cerrar el primer parcial. El alemán aguantaba los largos intercambios, algo que habitualmente le cuesta. Carlitos le atraía a la red y también reaccionaba con velocidad y agilidad. No había agujeros en su tenis. La grada estaba con el tenista de El Palmar y él buscaba su complicidad con algunas jugadas brillantes. Necesitaba algo más para darle la vuelta al guión. "Vamos", se animaba el número dos mundial tras la consecución de cada juego. Zverev empezaba a fallar con su derecha, menos buena que su revés, donde tiene un guante. El tenista de Hamburgo seguía sin notar el aliento de su oponente. Jugaba demasiado liberado y sin afrontar una sola pelota de rotura en contra. Había decantado a su favor todos los puntos con su segundo saque y sólo había cedido tres con el primero. Toda la presión que no sentía Sascha sí la sentía el español, que buscaba desesperadamente una concesión para reengancharse. Primera y única ventana abierta La paciencia tuvo premio. El momento apareció. Con un 3-2 arriba en el segundo set, tuvo un 15-40. Una derecha a la cruceta y celebración a lo Nadal, con puño en lo más alto. Había ganado los mismos puntos al resto en ese juego que en todo el partido. Zverev aguantó la primera embestida. Cada vez que el alemán se montaba encima de la bola se hacía el silencio. La sensación es que sus derechas viajaban a la velocidad de la luz con la ayuda de unas palancas facilitadas por su 1,98 metros. Sascha se fabricó su tercera opción de 'break' en el séptimo asalto. La juez de silla le pitó entonces una amonestación al murciano por retrasar el saque. Zverev firmaba el 3/3 con un revés del rival que murió en la red. El alemán acariciaba la consecución del segundo set porque era superior en la velocidad de pelota. Al teutón no le estaba dando tiempo a notar el cansancio de las jornadas previas. Dos de sus victorias en el camino a cuartos habían sido a cinco sets. Alcaraz se encontraba en un terreno inexplorado. Nunca había dado la vuelta a una situación tan adversa. Zverev dispuso de un 2-1 y 15-40 para firmar lo que parecía la sentencia. Falló dos veces pero no a la tercera. Lucha hasta el final Sacó con 5-3 para lograr el billete a la semifinal. Entonces salió el número uno que Carlitos lleva dentro. Primer 'break' para él ante la locura de los aficionados que querían más tenis. Iba a morir matando, como los grandes. Del 5-2 se había pasado al 5-5. El set acabó en la muerte súbita. Sascha se anotó los dos primeros puntos. A partir de entonces fue un acoso y derribo del murciano, que encaden�� siete, cada uno de mejor y más bella factura que el anterior.

Zverev pidió la presencia del fisioterapeuta para vendarse los dedos del pie, los tenía llenos de ampollas. Se había caído sobre el Greenset de la Rod Laver Arena, con 4-2 en el 'tie break'. Reanudó la batalla con la sexta rotura. No le sirvió de nada porque entregó su servicio inmediatamente después. La séptima rotura sí le dio el triunfo. Tenistas en activo con más semifinales de 'Grand Slam' Novak Djokovic 48 Rafael Nadal 38 Andy Murray 21 Stan Wawrinka 9 Daniil Medvedev 8 Alexander Zverev 7 El pupilo en Melbourne de Samuel López se marcha de las Antípodas con un botín de 400 puntos al haberse perdido la edición de 2023 por lesión. Su regreso a la competición será a partir del 12 de febrero sobre la tierra de Buenos Aires donde defiende corona. Para recibir en tu celular esta y otras informaciones, únete a nuestras redes sociales, síguenos en Instagram, Twitter y Facebook como @DiarioElPepazo El Pepazo/Marca

[sweetsirenitas]

"Thank you," Delta smiled as she batted her lashes playfully. She was pretty thrilled with Sascha's reaction. "I might have designed and made them myself with some fantastic scrap fabric." Delta explained as she gave a chefs kiss. She tossed some of her red hair over her shoulder as she watched the other hug them tightly too her chest. It already made her so happy she could bring this reaction to her. "Ooooh I can't wait to see you in them!" She squealed as she clapped her hands together. She settled onto the couch waiting for her to emerge from the bathroom. Delta's jaw dropped as she let out a dramatic gasp. "You look so darling! Like a trendy pastry! Ugh I love. I'm so glad they look so cute on you!" Delta gushed, and she wasn't laying it on. It was really true. She wore anything well but she looked adorable in the set.

Sascha let her fingers brush over everything Delta had brought out, each item seemed perfect for a night in to help forget about how horrible her life was. She couldn't stop the small smile from spreading over her cheeks, happy that she was getting an evening to just be a girl and forget about everything. Her head snapped up when she saw Delta return and her eyes widened when she saw the set that was being held out to her. "Oh my gosh, Delta! These are absolutely darling!" She said, gently taking them from her hands and hugging them close to her chest. "You are far too kind, i'll change into these right now!" She pushed herself from the couch and rushed to the bathroom to change. Delta was right, this set was perfect and Sascha was already starting to feel better just by putting them on. She emerged from the bathroom and flashed the other girl a smile before doing a small spin in the middle of the room for her. "How do I look?"

[darauwu]

Sascha darling. This is all I wanted to say. Thank you.

[meddybears]

[bellamygateoldblog]

I think that Isi is going to start seriously messing up over the next 2 eps? Maybe with Ava as well and she is going to tell Sascha everything that happened with the instas. So when Sascha comes back hes going to be like wtf is wrong with you?? And Ava is going to be: 'I thought you said you changed?'

🕯manifesting🕯

[herzlak]

Tatort Dresden: Katz und Maus

I wish all Tatort Dresden fans a happy psychoterror

Er will nur ihre Ikea Family Card klauen

Achso, er will seine Tochter zurück, naja fast

Mashalla Leoooo in deine freshe Karre mit die Sonnenbrilleee

Bin übrigens beleidigt, dass Jonathan Himpe nicht dabei ist

Und nein, nein dieser billige Harry Potter Abklatsch da ist keine Entschuldigung

Aber finds geil, dass Hans Löw mitspielt, ja

BRO WHAT

Als ob er sie jetzt abgeknallt hat sag mal-

Leo darling :(

Jahahahaaaaa die Currywurst!

JETZT SÄUFT DIE EINFACH

Halleluja

Aber der Sound ey, das ballert richtig

HALLO den Currywurst Rest hätt ich noch gegessen!

Ja rip Schnabelchen, gell?

"Ach du Scheiße" ja würd ich auch sagen

Leo my girl wake up

Hey was will Harry Potter jetzt

Harreh was tust du?

You guys been dating or what-

Die Dresdner Ladies sind auch die einzigen, die wissen, was kugelsichere Westen sind

Omg ich will mal Jan und Rosa in kugelsicheren Westen seh-

Holy fuck?!

Chillt mal ey

Ja Leomaus, da musst schon lauter schreien, so hört der dich doch nicht mal

Karin is certified Alice in Wonderland fangirl

Here lies Schnabels Patella (1900schlagmichtot - 2022)

Jetzt mal ernsthaft, WER ist dieser Potter Boy?

SASCHA!!!

"Indem man es löscht." Och Karin

Äh ja weiß auch nicht was ich noch sagen soll... also so zu allem.

Ja kommt am besten noch mit der Kavallerie an, gar nicht auffällig

Hö?

Hä wieso nehmt ihr den nicht fest??? Dann stirbt niemand??? Wieso jetzt nen komplizierten Plan??? Schnabel findet ihr doch auch so irgendwie oder nicht???

INS HANDSCHUHFACH?!

WIE BLÖD SEID IHR EIGENTLICH?!?!?!

Seit wann nennt sie ihn Peter???

Ach Leo :(

Ob das gut geht?

Leo Pawlak Winkler. Aber extremst heute.

Ach Leoooo komm hör auf zu weinen bitte

"Das is Hollywood. Kann keiner mehr heute."

Ok literally Voldetort und Harry im final fight in Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 lmao

Ne, ich kann das nicht ernst nehmen haha

Hä lol bisschen viel Blut gell?

Das wär aber eigentlich ne gute Gelegenheit für nen Serientod

Ich sag ja nur...

Er wollte nicht die Bönisch machen

[na-klar]

Ava: Sry change of plans!!!

Sascha: Huh I'm almost there

Ava: Damn! I need to go with Fatou to dance class

She's not gonna go alone

Sascha: She can come to our jam too

Ava: She needs to dance because she misses her darling so much! 🙈

❤

Sascha: Oh I understand! Well then...

Ava: But it's only until a quarter past 4

Sascha: Meaning?

Ava: Nh you could watch in the meantime? Chillin vibes?

(gif)

Sascha: Idk, won't they think that's weird?

Ava: No that's gonna be fine! People hang out there often

Isi is also in the house 🕺

Sascha: Ok I'll quickly say hi, I'm in the neighbourhood anyways

Ava: The best!!!

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

💖 Sapphic Books Coming Out August 2024

🩷 There's something especially sweet about a sapphic romance. Here are only a few of the amazing sapphic books hitting shelves in July 2024.

💖 Which ones are you adding to your TBR?

Contemporary 💖 Can’t Buy Me Love - Georgia Beers 💖 The Heart Wants - Krystina Rivers 💖 Hers for the Weekend - Helena Greer 💖 You Can’t Go Home Again - Jeanette Bears 💖 Worth the Wait - Kenna White 💖 One Summer in Miami - Amber Rose Gill 💖 The Last Woman I Kissed - Venetia Di Pierro 💖 Changing Her Tune - Amanda Kabak 💖 Chance Encounter - Renee Roman 💖 The Italy Letters - Vi Khi Nao 💖 Our Slice of Paradise - Tiana Warner 💖 Dancing With Dahlia - Julia Underwood 💖 Untethered - Shelley Thrasher 💖 Comes in Waves - Ana Hartnett 💖 Libertad - Bessie Flores Zaldívar 💖 The Avian Hourglass - Lindsey Drager 💖 Mamele - Gemma Reeves 💖 Mighty Millie Novak - Elizabeth Holden 💖 A Bánh Mì for Two - Trinity Nguyen 💖 Don’t Let It Break Your Heart - Maggie Horne 💖 Chance Encounter - Renee Roman 💖 Southern Lights - Liz Arncliffe

Paranormal/Horror 💖 The Curse - Alexandra Riley 💖 The House Where Death Lives - ed Alex Brown 💖 Full Shift - Jennifer Dugan & Kit Seaton 💖 The Dark We Know - Wen-yi Lee 💖 This Ravenous Fate - Hayley Dennings 💖 Come Out, Come Out - Natalie C. Parker

Fantasy 💖 The Crimson Crown - Heather Walter 💖 The Phoenix Keeper - S.A. MacLean 💖 Oath of Fire - K. Arsenault Rivera 💖 The Palace of Eros - Caro De Robertis 💖 Gentlest of Wild Things - Sarah Underwood 💖 Queen of Dreams - Kit Rocha 💖 The Sunforge - Sascha Stronach 💖 The Ending Fire - Saara El-Arifi 💖 Skyscraper - Gun Brooke 💖 Fyrebirds - Kate J. Armstrong 💖 The New Camelot - Robyn Schneider 💖 The Storm and the Sea Hawk - Kiran Millwood Hargrave 💖 Practical Rules for Cursed Witches - Kayla Cottingham 💖 Netherford Hall - Natania Barron 💖 The Duchess of Kokora - Nikhil Prabala 💖 Rise and Divine - Lana Harper

Historical 💖 Not for the Faint of Heart - Lex Croucher 💖 Accidental Darlings - Crystal Jeans

Mystery/Thriller 💖 Better Left Buried - Mary E. Roach 💖 A Midnight So Deadly - Wren Handman 💖 Death At Morning House - Maureen Johnson 💖 A Gravely Troubling Discovery - Hannah Hendy 💖 Verity’s Game - Jennifer Giacalone

Sci-Fi 💖 Time’s Agent - Brenda Peynado 💖 New Adventures in Space Opera - ed Jonathan Strahan

[aweirdofangirl]

I'm seeing a little negativity so let's remember that liking Sascha and understanding them being jealous doesn't mean that we hate hate on Lou because they are a person, and people are more complex than obstacles for love interests. I'm personally super excited to see Lou's role in the season. Also I think Sascha is absolutely darling.

[florenzismind]

i love your stories so so much i always get so excited when you drop the next part ! i hope you keep going with sascha and isi especially now that they are in a relationship :)

Hey, anon, all the love to you! <3

Thank you so much for your kind words, this really means a lot to me, I'm glad some people enjoy my little stories :')

I can definitely write more Saschisi fics in the future if people are interested! If there's anything specific you want to read about, you can also send me a prompt or like a *vague wish* (honestly, a single word would already suffice lmao) and I'll see what I can do <3 (Anything non-smut related is usually fair game!)

(FYI: Isi and Sascha will be in a relationship in the last two chapters of so my darling (Ch. 5 + 6), so that might be something to look forward to? :))

[annicaax]

Yeah, you take that girlie!

Our darling Caius can't be an errand boy!!

Well, I'd aways, always made sure I captured the moments that involved Caius ever since he first showed up in Sascha's route. I'd always, always said I wanted a route for him... ah, now I am gonna keep hoping and waiting.

p.s. checkout my other posts on this man if you haven't!

[akoumi]

[ MONSTROUS, WRETCHED, AND DIVINE ]

image id under cut: 

[ ID ]: “Lady Edana seems to have taken a shine to you,” Jelle observes coolly. They throw a glance my way, pale blue eyes tinged with amusement under their white mask. I follow their gaze to the young woman at the other end of the room, brown-skinned with wavy dark hair cascading over her shoulders and elaborate purple dress. Her painted lips twitch into a bashful smile as she catches my eye, and she glances away. 

Anja scoffs. “I don’t see why. He has a mask on, she can’t even see his face.” She takes a tiny step back, and studies me. I roll my eyes. 

“We’re not here for that.” Adjusting my cuffs, I let my eyes trail over the crowd. She should be here, on the dance floor, but I don’t see her. 

Katya nods as she smoothes down her cream colored skirts. “Sascha’s right. It’s a simple operation - find Yelena, grab her, and get out. We’re not here to dance.” 

“Must be the height,” Anja decides. She pulls up her strapless green dress for the thousandth time, gray eyes sullen on me. ���Women go mad over a tall man. Well, if Edana likes violent psychopaths, then you’re the perfect match for her.” 

“You’re no catch either,” I snap, flushing, ignoring Jelle’s quiet chuckle. “I’m surprised someone like Katya settled for you. You look like a rat, and don’t even get me started on your -” 

“Enough,” Katya says sharply, throwing out a hand to stop Anja. She touches Anja’s face lightly, and brushes her hair back, but Anja doesn’t break eye contact with me. I almost have to laugh, at how red her face is. It’s hilarious the way she begins to resemble a tomato whenever she picks a fight with me. “We’re not here to fight. You two need to stop.” 

Finally, Anja huffs and looks away. Katya squeezes her hand gently. “Fine,” she mumbles. “Let’s just get in and out. This dress is itchy.” 

Katya smiles slightly. “You look gorgeous in it, though.” She smoothes Anja’s hair back and kisses her on the cheek as Anja blushes again. “It brings out your hair and your eyes, darling. But you’re beautiful no matter what you wear -” 

“Oh, so you two can flirt the night away, but the moment some girl looks at me, we don’t have time for that?” I interrupt. “I see how it is. Maybe I will just go and sleep with Edana.” 

“And break Pavel’s heart?” Anja retorts, shooting me a black look as Katya pulls away. “He’d die if he knew -”

Katya sighs. “No, you’re right. It’s already getting late, and we don’t want to spend too long here. Now remember. Sascha and Anja, you go that way. Jelle and I will go this way. By the time the clock strikes two in the morning, we have to be gone. Understand?” 

I let out a mumble of affirmation with Anja and Jelle, as I go back to scanning the room for Yelena. I’m looking for white blond hair, but I don’t see it anywhere at all. She should be here. She should be down there, dancing with every nobleman’s son and stuffing herself full of roast goose and orange sauce. We can’t leave without her. 

“Jelle -” Katya snaps, grabbing their arm. “Stop that. I see how you’re looking at that young man over there.”

“Lord Gavril?” Jelle turns innocent blue eyes on Katya, smiling. “He’s very handsome. I would like to kiss him.” 

“That’s not why you want him and you know it.” She tightens her hold on their arm and begins to steer them away. “You are not eating anyone here, do you understand? No one.” 

Jelle’s response is lost in the chatter of the crowd as they disappear. I watch them go as Anja huffs, pulling up her dress again. 

“I do not have the chest to keep this up,” she mutters. “Next time I’m going to wear a dress with straps.” Anja eyes me sourly, and I return the dark look easily to her. “Let’s just get in and out before I lose the will to keep pulling my dress up.”

“Give me your arm,” I mutter, holding out my arm to her. Still no sign of Yelena in the crowd. Where else could she be? It’s starting to worry me. “I’ll pretend to like you, so you need to do the same.”