uneral, not your own engagement pa

g to my curves like a second skin. The fabric was silk, expensive, and

ting his eyes in the reflection. "F

rossed. "You agreed to this, Sera. At least prete

a decided. You all nodded along. Now I have t

Don in his black suit. "Keep your head up tonight. The families are watching. De

d to fa

d off. The least you can do is l

ug. "If he says one wrong word, I'm d

" I muttered, but I hugged him back anyway

tal chandeliers, dark suits, beautiful women in diamonds, and the heavy scent of money m

ing through the crowd. Heads turned. Whispers followe

y. R

hers stayed close, scanning the room like wolves. Papa

e air c

again. A hush fel

as h

ndro D

ding nothing and everything at once. His dark hair was perfectly styled, jaw sharp enough to cut glass. But his eyes... G

et across

ond, I waited for something. Recognition. Anger. Any

't nod. Didn't even a

I was furniture. The crowd parted for him. Women stared. Men nodde

ood b

ing waiter and downed half of it in one go

"Want me to go break

muttered. "But

elbow. "Easy, Sera.

er like the rest of the party bored him. His broad shoulders stretched the silk of his jacket. Eve

This man looked like he could kill witho

thers could stop me. My heels clicked across the marble floor.

ht beside him

I said, voice

hen finally looked at me. Those dead eyes swept over my face,

was deeper now, rough like gravel. It

. "Twelve years and you walk past me like I'm a stranger

he was overwhelming. Tall. Broad. That scent. Sandalwood a

liance," he said col

ard. You think I want this any more than you

ckered in his eyes. Too fas

could hear. "Then we both do what we have to.

ream. Instead I lifted my chin and m

o. Go back to whatever hel

with firm fingers. His touch burned. Rough. Possessive for half a seco

e, Serafina. You

othing and turned back to the ba

where he'd touched me, rage and some

word, leaving me standing alone

ing toward me, but I he

only the