ure in the office plummeted to freezing. He stepped into the

, Sienna." His voice was

r is blood in the water. I forced my breath

smoothly. It was the only lie my

brow furrowed sl

ng my voice sound analytical and bored. "It snagged on the ancient ward behind this specific shelf.

rom me. The scent of bergamot, winter air, and fresh ash overwhelmed m

lted my face up further. The leather was cold against my skin

my jawline. It was a terrifying, possessive gesture.

st his thumb. He could

ng my client,"

ession slowly morphed into dark amusement. He drop

ne in my estate. You are attending the Equinox Gala with me tonight. You will st

versation was over. I had survived the moment,

ed on my suite door. He left a sleek bla

bric was heavy and luxurious. It felt like liquid silk slipping through my hands. Beneath

k aesthetic of the House of Malphas. Wearing this meant

ed a high neckline but left my back bare to the waist. It was armor and vulnerability com

uite and descended t

wlessly to his broad shoulders. A black silk tie rested against

ocked onto me. The air in the foyer stilled. He did not speak. He just watch

rway, breaking the spell. The younger brother

brother. He stepped forw

" Silas orde

ium of the highest skyscraper in the terri

. The room was a sprawling expanse of crystal chandeliers, dark marble, and

blinding web of glowing threads. Thick red strings of rivalry crossed over golden bonds of

mpagne to steady my nerves. I took a sip and nearly choked. It tasted like cold copper

ked the glass from my fingers and set it on

onsters in expensive suits and heavily jeweled gowns parted like the Red Sea.

yone. He ignored the greetings of powerful fa

of my lower back. The heat of his palm burned through the chill of the

spered. He leaned down so his lips brushed m

ed near a towering ice sculpture. Silas was approached by a

ce like dry leaves. "Your recent execution

coldly. He dropped his hand from

side to give them space.

ing his guard, a towering man

glowed with a feral amber light. An Alpha werewolf from a ri

his expensive cologne invaded my lungs. "I heard rumors Malphas

ral stare. "I am a legal contrac

e hand reached out to grip my bare shoulder. "Maybe my pack needs a c

inished th

into the Alpha. The werewolf gagged, his

. He did not draw a weapon. He simply reached

Alpha off his feet with one hand. The werewolf clawed desperately at Si

red. His voice was a deadly, vibrating hum that m

ry monster in the room watched the Beast of Malphas prep

d start a massive territory war. My shadow client would use th

placing my hand

anite beneath his suit sleeve.

He is not worth a Council sanction

rage swimming in his gaze was blinding. He looked down at my hand resting on

pened h

and coughing violently. He scrambled backward like a

m firmly around my waist. He pulled me flush against his chest. The

declared to the silent room. His voice carr

. He marched me away from the party, pushing through

ing. We were hundreds of feet above the glowing city streets. The rain had sto

thumbs pressed deep into the soft velvet. He was breathing heavily, the rem

my heart racing. "You almost sta

n. His face was inches from mine. "You wear my colors. Yo

e shook with a dangerous mix of fear an

old chain resting against my collarbone. H

en eyes dropping to my lips. "Is your

lie. I wanted to tell

p, metallic click echoed fro

from the gi

ified crossbow directly at Silas's chest. The me

. It was the shadow client who

or's

ide tonight! But who is this shadow client crashing the party, and how did he get past the Council guards? Let me know your