“Where’s Cassiopeia?” Father’s gaze raked me as it always did, disapproving the glasses as usual and the ink as expected. His thick eyebrows bunched in subtle distaste. With so many sour expressions, he ought to have wrinkles by now, but a constant cocktail of mods and serums kept his skin as dark and smooth as ever.

“Otherwise occupied.” I wouldn’t sell her out, but they traded a quick glance that said they knew exactly what Cass was up to and didn’t approve.

As per usual. A united front against their children.

If Cass were here, we’d look even less like a family. Four different skin tones. Four different eye colors. That happened when ordering sons and daughters from a catalog. Technically, we didn’t share enough code to be considered their biological children, but that was par these past few centuries.

I took a glass from a passing Gray’s tray—some glowing UV concoction that tasted as saccharine as it looked. “Why the invitation?”

Mother smiled like a cat, full of ambition and smugness. “Someone wants to meet you.”

Someone? Suddenly, I knew where this was going. “Mother—”

“There are the Astors.” Mother gave a demure wave and started gliding toward a trio standing near an ice sculpture. Her fingers clamped my arm, dragging me along. Father walked on my other side, sandwiching me in place.

No way to run without making a scene. Senator Astor and her husband stood waiting with their daughter.

A set-up.

My free hand bunched into a fist, but I tucked it into my pocket. I couldn’t make a mistake in front of this audience.

Mother exchanged greetings, then made a sweeping gesture. “This is my son, Altair. Altair, this is Layla Astor.”

Layla’s blonde hair tumbled in artful curls and braids. She wore tasteful neutral makeup that emphasized her full lips and emerald green eyes, but a hint of darker eyeliner smudged like a leftover from some previous night’s debauchery; that was half of what I needed to know to escape the conversation.

And I would escape. I had no interest in these shallow romances meant to gain my family position.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Altair. I knew your sister at academy.” And that was why Cass had been invited. Some common bond to me to a potential future mate.

Good thing Cass had stayed home. She’d hate the situation as much as I did.

The girl extended her arm, flashing her Green Helix and I couldn’t avoid the handshake. “Likewise.” Layla’s rough fingertips gave me the last clue I needed. Calluses from playing an instrument. Between that and the eyeliner, I had an excellent guess at how to get rid of her. Rather than sell her out in front of her parents, I offered her an arm. “I was just about to admire the ice sculptures. Would you care to join me?”