re your han

und the knife. "Because I'

plause rose as someone took the stage. A gua

ard called. "The sena

from Raina. "Tell him I'

ted closer. "S

harder against Lucian'

ust enough for the guard

adow w

ed-or easier to make the room believe she belonged at his side. She kept h

him that?"

w he won't

k I need

you need

e curtain, she saw two guards taking positions near the side

ged this,"

know you

're enjo

cur

gets peop

s impat

back, keeping it ready at her side.

at her jacket

look somewhere else. The room offered one useful distraction: every

ce. "You said you'

s brows

came all this way because you promised me

man's smile fell. Lucian watched Raina,

d into the

d as the musicians noticed the co

e the truth. Now you're preten

r. A guest caught his sleeve, asking whether

his expression composed. "Mis

hy invi

his voice.

ok the card from her clutch and

adn't known who had sent it, but the guards didn't. T

ge stopped speaking. One of Lucian's men r

uch me,"

lanced around the room, assessing the audience: donors, politici

he room,"

. A woman at the front

ned. "The gala is o

wn from the stage. "Lu

t n

till guarded, but the crowd had begun to push toward them. Security had t

turned away from the cameras. Someone bumped her.

a guar

llow her. She stopped beside the coat-check desk

I hel

o speak w

n sp

s filling with departing guests. Behind h

with

ina asked loudly. "Do you plan to drag every

nearby. The guard notic

ake this

e for

n. "I was invited. I'm leaving. If Lucian wants

Raina snatched it away. The ma

" he said. "Let

Raina needed. She stepped around

ntrance. Raina walked briskly toward the taxi stand, keeping her he

to

ke into

b. Raina slapped its trunk. The

n," sh

he passenger seat and climbed inside. The car

?" the dr

p mo

trembled now that no one was close enough to see. She pr

. His guests had scattered, and the senator was a

at invitatio

replied. "The front desk r

st list, the staff entrances. I want her name, address

uard

ors through which Raina had

still

him t

d to go. Lucian

ni," he sa

rd look

eas, every car that left in the last five minutes." Lucia

erst

s ribs stung where the knife had

o me alive,"