like the kind of place tha

first thing t

soft golden sign. There was a line of people outside in expensive coats, laughi

o this," Ellen whisp

kno

find ano

ed door. "The deposit is due in

pulled my coat tigh

lver hair and a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She lo

you," she said. "You'

save my mother's

ght to audition. If the guests like you, you start tom

math automatically. It would take almo

ore than I'd

And someone will take yo

ered over

about Mom

ign

bs glowed around a long mirror, and a girl with glitterin

irror, and I didn't recogni

isn

the girl said kindly. "Just don't lo

king so badly that I knocke

the crowd cheering. A door banged

I saw a familiar white

ain, litt

s curved like a blade. The girl with the glitterin

. "What are y

circle around me, her heels loud

ent. Even the mus

.. ow

hundred dollars just happened to land in your best friend's lap?" S

id down my spine.

it all on your own. Isn't it funny? Alex's perfect little assist

shame and fury. "Why

er voice dropped to a whisper. "And because I never forgive. Do you

ed. "What

pered. "Quite suddenly.

drained fr

pped about te

. "No. It was yo

simply very ill. And you are very poor. These things happen. But

ged f

her throat. But before I could touch her, Whitney lifted a finger, and I flew ba

ver me, lau

etic

going

doorway, low, calm,

ghter s

and my heart nearly broke from re

stood in t

floor, then to the costume I was wearing, and his jaw went tight. A muscle jumped in his cheek

ickly, her smile falter

ain w

lled off his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders, cover

nd?" he aske

I couldn

ey. The temperature in the room dropp

to stay aw

Alex! She is a hu

y, "and I will forget that we we

a way I hadn't seen yet. I

rothal," she whispered,

stop calling

ied me in a bridal style out of the room, past the staring girls, past

nt. He opened the door for me and said nothing

e cut through

re you t

at him. "

b, Olive. A

weak it sounded. "I'm not asking for your approval, Mr. Knight.

id, his voice rising. "And you almost walked i

didn't you

idn't know u

. His eyes were flashing again, that bur

. "In three days, or she dies. What would you have me do? Sit around and wait for a

dn't speak. The rain d

ital?" he a

ha

ital is you

hy

tell

y's," I

d the ca

night when we r

ide me. Alex walked silently down the white hall. I led him to my mother's

bed and looked down

ht? What

ui

ers lightly agains

d. Then his exp

before. Alex Knight, the man who froz

said slowly.

pped

ust beneath the skin of her palm, something dark was glowing. It wa

that?" I

cur

d for the second

. wh

self. "It's a binding curse. It's been feeding on her hear

... who would..."I stopped Quit

out. "She did this.

hortly and I lo

r's palm, and his face had gone complete

y's quarrel with you," he said. "And

n wh

le more toward the light, and I s

a small, burning symbol. A cre

know what

Alex

mily's crest,