art wasn't. Each second ticked by like

that wasn't there. Malcolm didn't look at me. Didn't need

ical beast and suddenly, I wasn't just Iris Taylor anymore. I was

lethal. A blade in a tailored suit. I followed half a

de screamed, frozen luxury, obsidian floors, stark angles, and

ents, as if to remind you that in this wo

t rise. They didn't smile. They just watched. The air was diff

lm said, voice s

He lounged with a glass of something amber in hand, jacket unb

he drawled. "And

. I didn't flinch. But I did

e. "You've already stolen the room. But don't wor

oon at the prospect

arned

t in hand, scrolling through something I wasn't meant to see. His eyes flicke

ed toward the far

far corner as if cut from sh

is chair in the corner like he'd b

him. Like he'd seen things none of them ever would. His e

to react. My fingers clenched the insi

just slightly. Not a g

d the small of my bac

said, nodding in th

rn there, staring at the skyline as though i

ched, a storm held just out of reach. He looked at me, lik

rently. Older. Harder. Broad, tall and menacing

ripped. Like nothing unnecess

king," he

hands, a quiver hidd

older rooms." A flicker of what seemed to be amuseme

" he said simply. The pause that follow

e. You walk like a dancer." Ethan s

are. "You're

ed once.

ood then

he asked Malcolm

fragile," M

me fully. "Then

d. The kind of stride you use when yo

th did hitch, just sl

Do you know what y

my voice level even as my fi

something under glass. Th

art t

added. "You

rs. Slade," he murmured, his voice so soft I had to strain t

nowing what the real m

Ethan laughed. One quick, sharp so

aid, "she's

en, voice smooth. "Ar

atching me. "But make no mista

he room felt like a loaded weapon. But I was stil

the long glass table, and I slid into the chair beside him like i

Inside, my nerves were coiled tight. Across from me, Yves

drink lazily. "What do you do? Be

itched. "I

s, clearly amused. "Va

smoother. Cooler. "Su

ive sets of eyes, each measuring somethi

ng just a fraction of the truth.

Ethan muttered from h

f you've had to break your own body for p

ned back, tapping a single finger against the table.

r marriage?" he asked, gaze raz

ortunity. I can't dance again due to an inju

e. "Or it co

-on. "I'd say it's a

ckle. "She talks lik

said quietly, finally sp

stone in water. No thre

y I'm here," I replie

ed. "Us? Or him?" He tilt

aid a word since the conversation started. Just wat

lf," I a

e hadn't expected that ans

eeded a pulse. "What happens after this deal is don

do. I disappear from your lives." I

ass wall, finally stepping into the circle. His

f we don't

I guess we'll all ha

. Like they were recalibrat

e hand flat

's en

n't loud but

ght her into the circle, Slade

olm said. "An

ing to sound as if you care for her.

seat back. The tension didn't leave the room. Not fully. But so

hand found the small of my back aga

lose. I was still holding my own