Flashback ( PDFDrive )

perfect shade of shimmering teal.
“Okay,” Edaline said, hooking an arm around Sophie as Grady did
the same on her other side. “Let’s get you registered!”
Sophie could’ve sworn she’d heard Grady mumble, “Here we go
again” under his breath as they headed up the path—but it was hard to
tell with the way her pulse was thrumming in her ears. The walk was
probably only twenty steps, but it felt like they’d journeyed for miles
by the time they reached the pair of enormous silver doors stamped
with the matchmakers’ seal.
“Whenever you’re ready,” Edaline told her, hanging back a step
with Grady.
Leaving it up to her.
Sophie closed her eyes, remembering the feel of Fitz’s lips on her
cheek when he’d whispered, Just trust me.
And she reminded herself of the promise she’d made Linh—to seize
the small victories.
It was definitely a victory when she pulled open the doors and
stepped into an empty white foyer lit by an enormous crystal
chandelier. Her heels clicked across the pale floor—which bore a
glittering mosaic of the matchmakers’ symbol—as she headed for a
curved, sweeping staircase that took her up and over, to the center of
the canal. By the time she reached the final step, she was seriously
regretting her wardrobe choices—until she got a look at the glass
room she’d entered and caught a glimpse of the crowd.
The room was a sea of throne-size chairs filled with perfect,
beautiful people in perfect, beautiful clothes, flashing perfect,
beautiful smiles. One boy even winked as Sophie scanned the room
trying to figure out where she was supposed to go.