in a dizzying,

table. Through her peripheral vision, she saw the blue and w

let out a short, sharp gasp-a sound of distress not for th

dress was about to make contact,

ong, solid

lungs. She collided with a hard, warm chest, her senses filled with the clean, cold s

rabbing the lapels of a finely tail

look

yes as dark and deep

aura emanated from him, an undisputable presence that commanded attention without demanding

e had its own

her to safety, his elbow had co

-stopping second befor

lent room. The vase exploded on the marble

d broke

usingly. "You! You broke it! You and your... your accomplice!"

librated shock. "Oh my goodness, Elara, how could you be so

th a mixture of fury and genuine loss. She glared at Elara,

her own two feet. Her body was thrumming with adrenaline.

out the truth of the shove, but

btly positioning himself so that she was slightly behind him

t Ashley. His dark, intense ga

. "Oh? So at a Haynes party, it is permissible for one guest to physically assault

ith chilling precision, laying the blame exactly whe

ad not expected him to speak, let alone

ick-witted. "You're lying! She

cold, so utterly dismissive, that Ashley flinched. "Am I? Shall I

vaporated. She took an involuntary step back, her m

tively mild, but the pressure it exerted was immense. "M

entire family, delivered in front of all their pee

e was trapped, unable to

ing she couldn't name. This man, this complete stranger, had stepped out of the shado

wa

as he hel

h speculation, trying to place the identity of the powerful, mys