ion hall w

. Round tables draped in silk surrounded a dance floor that reflected the light like ice. Everything

d in. Every head turned. Conversations stopped

staring,"

t my ear. "You look like you could b

o glasses and handed me one. His fingers brushed

e murmured and

e against his

tasted like nothing I had ever had before. Smooth. Perfe

sor Met

oached us. Silver hair. Expensive suit. C

ightened on my

s Kelvin's father. The man

er's smile did not reach his eyes. "I w

s perfectly polite. Perfectly cold. "As

red in them. Recognition maybe. Or calcul

The lie tas

t at the universi

d before I could. "One o

"Kelvin mentioned he had a girlfrie

rian's tone coul

een them felt thick. Dangerous. Like watching

vening." Asher nod

not know I was holding.

es

se

ed me toward the dance floor. "

sib

His hand slid lower on my waist. Almo

hand found mine. The other stayed on my waist. We started moving and I realized

ou learn thi

ain. That same look from the penthouse. "Th

d up my nec

es

top saying thi

slid lower. Right at the curve of my hip. "Or do

efinite

at his sides. The woman next to him in the white dress must have been Vanessa. She was beautiful.

hing," I sa

ed together now. I could feel every hard line of him t

ha

think you are having

and caught Kelvin's eye. Gave hi

s face

ith a laugh. "Perfect. Y

Torturin

my ear now. "Every male in this room is watching you. Wishing the

. "You are doing

I am also telling you the truth. You have no

to

? Because you are not used to a ma

xactly

st stood there holding me in the middle of t

People ar

eased me. Took my hand instead. "Com

ike art. Tiny perfect portions of things I could n

it anyway. Picked at somethi

I started no

Too smooth. Too graceful. Like the

ht. Reflecting it back for just a

ed each other. And

wn my plate. "Some

do you

are..." I could not fin

ge but something flickered

move. The way they look at things." I rubbed

not crazy. Just observant. That is good. Keep wat

yon

e besi

respond someone

re

a dark blue dress and looked completely out of

t are you d

r eyes darted between me and Adrian.

ced at Adrian. "I

harp. She looked at Adrian. "C

tone left no ro

use

Freya stay

ed. "I just want to

inst his side. Possessive. Commanding.

ome kind of silent communication passed

oked at me. "Be

ul of

turned and disappeare

at about?" I

s hand was still on my waist. Tight.

saying t

d over my shoulder. His expressi

crowd toward us. His face was red. His tie

d not even acknowledge Adrian.

we do." I kept

He grabbed m

cond Kelvin was holding my arm. The next he

rian's voice was quiet. Deadly. "Actually. Touch

ed to look tough. Failed

d Adrian. "And I came here with

voice cracked. "With Professor Me

seri

en going on? Have you

me. Multiple times. Then told me you were getting marrie

as diff

ow

ged it. I did no

ed." I stepped closer to him. "You had a choice when you l

ing you. Whatever he told you is a

. "You could not even be faithful for a we

eya

t through whatever Kelvin was about t

omething passed over his face. Fear maybe. He to

my back on him. Face

is jaw was tight. He looked like he wanted

Let's j

ness faded a little.

r. Can we

led me toward the doors t

d deep and tried to stop shaking. That confrontat

n there," Adria

ed to h

. Actually smiled. "But what you said was

ould not care. I know he is not worth it. But seeing

ands framed my face. "An absolute fool. And he will

not kn

g my jaw. "Because I would burn th

stopped.

thing about this feels fake to me." His forehead pressed aga

not say it. Could not give voice to

back inside,

. "Just give me one more minute. One more

not

o quietly I almost miss

oices. Male voices. Coming from

o close. He kn

he does not belong. It does not matter. Af

one of the vo

You should have handled her mother be

d turne

as asking too many questions.

and what that means? If she completes the tran

at do

ne years ago. We end he

ld make a sound. He pulled me back against the w

es kept

ll not let y

have people in position. The mome

er. But if this

get back inside before so

ps. Mov

from my mouth. I was shaking so

e out broken. " Was I the one they were tal

Completely black. "I know baby. But we need to leave. Right now.

ice was rising. Panic clawing up my throat. "What is hap

t first we need to move." He grabbed my h

bag. It

. We need

y to the car w

ho

choing acros

dead. "Wha

ce had gone

ha

n.

wered the first.

I saw

darkness. Too big to be

lv

h eyes that glowed

running stra