the terrace quieter than before. Ava followed the movement reluctantly

asting warm gold across polished floors. Normally, this

elt anything b

dy her hands. The faint tremble annoyed her. She wasn't easily shaken. H

unsettled her in ways

eflection appeared beside hers in th

quickly," he said, his

ession into polite neutralit

only reason

re was something searching in it, something almost

ng watched," she

is lips. "Then tonight mu

htened. "What d

oward a cluster of guests near the exit corridor. His expr

," he said quietly. "Sec

ts laughing, clinking glasses, enjoying

uneasy feel

speak in ridd

truth would sou

them too quickly, nearly knocking into Ava. She stepped back, catching herself agains

, neither of

ed slightly as he looked

main hall," h

u're giving me i

ing you

tective. It stirred equal parts i

t follow it?"

ntensity remained. "Then I m

mething deeper than warning. Ava felt heat rise

ere beyond the ballroom. It was subtle. Glass, maybe. Mo

n not

ocused. Ava followed his gaze as two staff members

ccident," she said, tho

," Adria

t look convi

ling awareness from the terrace returned stronger th

lowly toward

e saw someone standing just beyond

stepped backwa

eath c

e that?" sh

napped toward her im

ne was

lating. The music inside the ballroom swelled again, chee

e," he sa

protest. Ava watched him disappear briefly into

etched unbe

n was carefully composed again, but

thing there

Not openly. Not obviously. But some

sure?"

es

rried finality, bu

ing, unaware that the air had shifted, gro

loser again, low

uld leav

on surprised

rds carefully. "Because tonight

very sensible part of her told her to walk away, to ret

rself asking, "Will y

ertainty flickered acro

he said

r wonder whether that promise was

the corridor ligh

n a

inty that whatever had been watching

s wai