Iris~~

The Estate looks more foreboding than it did the first night I arrived. This time the sky is a grayish blue, the sun only just about to rise, rather than black and dotted with stars. This time the Society knows my secret, and it's up to Jonas to convince them they're wrong.

The front door is opened by an attendant, and Jonas's mother Marilana Blackwood steps outside. The Order exits the limo followed by Brydan. Jonas walks up to his mother, and she pulls him into a hug. Colton stands beside his brother. When Marilana pulls away from her eldest son, she sends a scornful look at her youngest before hugging him as well.

It would be cute if he hadn't tried killing me.

The three of them speak before Jonas comes back to the limo where he told me to wait. A nod from him has me opening the door and stepping out into the early morning air.

"Stay by my side," he says.

Erik stands with the rest of the Order, their eyes on us.

"Who's going to verify my Mark is wrong?" Who's going to lie for us?

Jonas's throat bobs and he glances back to where Colton and Marilana stand by the door. "My mother."

"Your . . ." His words sink in. "She's . . ."

"Yes."

His mother's Amorian.

"Only full-blooded Amoris can see Expiration Dates." Jonas holds out his hand. "Does knowing my mother is one make you scared of me?"

"Should it?"

"I don't think so." He ducks his head, letting out a weary laugh. "Remember I said we're more scared of the world than they'd be of us. There's a reason we keep the Amoris a secret."

I place my hand in his. "Where is the rest of the Society?"

"In the ballroom, waiting. I suspect rather impatiently so."

As we walk toward his mother, Erik falls into line with me on my other side. "The Society won't be happy to see me," he says.

Jonas's nostrils flare. "You did threaten to expose us."

"Then maybe we shouldn't leave aliens in our closet."

I see Erik has no qualms about using that word.

Marilana turns away from Colton and gives me a motherly smile. At least what I imagine a motherly smile would look like. "It's good to see you again, Iris. All in one piece too." Her eyes slip to Erik, who shifts his weight in response. "Jonas has filled you in?" she asks me.

"Yes."

"Aunt Marilana," Erik hesitates. "On a scale of one to ten, how angry are my parents?"

"I'd suggest avoiding them."

An attendant opens the door, and we all follow Marilana inside, the Order included. Brydan stays at the back.

The Estate looks exactly as it did when I left it. The Society prides itself on their appearance. They would never let one person change that.

I think I was expecting an angry mob, with the Society dressed in their fancy dresses and suits ripped and dirty and holding pitchforks and torches.

Is Jonas only going through all this trouble because he like me is Expired? Am I the test subject for if things go wrong and his family learns he survived his Expiration Date? But he can't expect them to buy the misprinted Expiration Date excuse twice. So why waste it on me? I'm still not sure whether he came after me and Erik because he was worried about my safety or about me exposing his family. Before Erik ran away from the Society with me in hand, there was something there between me and Jonas. At least that's what I thought. Maybe Jonas was only trying to make sure I'd stay at the Society like Erik would claim.

I can't let myself forget that everything he does might have an ulterior motive.

"Is this her funeral procession?" Erik asks as we near a set of doors that lead into the ballroom.

Jonas tenses. "No."

"Can you guarantee that?"

"I'm still the Preeminence."

"I forgot."

Marilana places her hand on one of the doors. "I'd suggest you act like a Tresais, or everyone will forget that you are still one." She pushes open the door, revealing the ballroom full of Society members. I'd much rather be attending one of their balls right now.

They don't shout and cry for my head. They just stare, which is almost worse than them yelling.

Jonas signals with his hand for us to stay where we are and steps forward. The Order steps into line with me and Erik.

Eli shoves Erik with his shoulder. "They all hate you, you know."

Erik's nostrils flare. "Keep your head down," he whispers to me.

"I know many of you have questions," Jonas says to the Society. "I did myself. Especially at the state our Tresais left us in. But I am here to reassure you that I have answers. Miss Levine's"—he motions to me—"Date was misprinted. My father has asked my mother to verify for all of you that this is the case. If afterward you still have any doubts, please do feel free to bring them up with the former Preeminence. I know he would be more than happy to hear about how you don't trust his wife." This isn't about convincing the Society that I'm not Expired. It's about ensuring they can't do anything with their doubts.

Jonas's mother escorts me forward and has me face her. My heart races, not knowing what will happen next. It's not as if I remember being given my Expiration Date when I was born. All I know is what Kirk and Lilyana told me, that I didn't cry until I was Marked. I never understood how they knew that, but now knowing that my aunt and uncle are responsible for me being at that orphanage, I suspect the information came from them.

Marilana places her hand on my cheek. Her skin is cold. "Look at me."

In this one moment, it all clicks into place.

Erik and Jonas telling me not to make eye contact with others when I first came to the Estate wasn't about showing respect. It was because that's how they know your Expiration Date.

I raise my eyes to meet hers, their color a light violet. This is all part of the process. The Society has to see me do this.

"August 10, 2064." The Date Jonas told me he put into a database; it's one where only one digit is different than my Mark. She drops her hand from her cheek and holds her hands out to my arm. "May I?"

I nod, pushing up my sleeve to reveal the bandage.

"Thank you." She holds my arm as if she's handling a vase as she unwraps my bandage, my numbers slowly becoming visible. Once the bandage is off, Jonas takes it from her and Marilana examines the numbers, her fingers brushing over them. "I'm so sorry for any pain this Date may have caused you."

Before I can answer she faces the crowd. "Miss Levine is not Expired, and we expect you to continue treating her as our guest. She is under the Preeminence's protection, and any aggression toward her will be dealt with by the Preeminence."

Jonas's stern expression looks as if it's carved from stone. "You all are dismissed." He faces us. "I'm calling a Senate meeting for half an hour from now. Riley, please make sure Iris makes it safely to her room. If anyone even looks at her strangely, report them to me."

Riley bows. "Yes, Preeminence."

Jonas holds out the bandage to me. His fingertips brush mine as I accept it. "You can choose whether or not you want to wear this still. I'll see you after we've all had time to rest."

I scrunch up the bandage in my palm.

After kissing his mother on the cheek, Jonas heads for the crowd of Society members. Something in me wants to watch him, wants to make sure he'll be all right, but Riley holds out his arm.

"Shall we?"