room; tonight, I intended

ld inhaled. I stepped out into the velvet night, and my scent follow

cending the steps to the Fael estate. Each one was carved from some dark, imported stone a

c: glass, angles, shadow. The doors loomed high, flanked by the security guards who wore ea

room r

uxurious. Golden chandeliers cast

eppe

ered. Laughter pa

let th

Jewelry that caught the light and dared it to stare longer. A suit tailored to seduce and in

s Neve

ca

he came. Lo

etending not to lo

ending not to know the taste of blood. Women were draped in couture that cost more than the staff's salaries. Men in

rived, unexpect

a Zi

Silver, slithering, deliberate. Her skin glowed. She was a beau

Couldn't

sa

air shif

. Neither did I for

oticed someone approaching. "Mr. Fael," th

, I had s

platform. The ro

hem for a sec

as bone, "which is unfortunate. I hate speeches.

les. Uncomfo

I've been lying since birth

now. Loos

family's deep desire to appear generous while reminding everyone

ughed. I d

t pronounce, and pretend you're not standing next t

ou-liars, leeches, legends. Let

uder than it

dais and walked

her. Her father was speaking with some oil-rich ghoul

asked, offe

n at me. "You're not

f things," I said. "But look ho

ook m

Her fingers were cold, like a warning. Her pe

ee you," she said,

f appearing where

ality, Neven. That's

slow and venomous, "you wish

ot even a

utely all that. You just don

. But her grip on

Everyone watched like it was

I know things," I murmured into her ear. "About the

ne stra

to ruin your evening.

play game

e in the wr

er brothers moved toward us. I le

a," I said as

when I

coat. Fam

et he walked like the buildi

nd mine. Old

, barely audible: "You sho

n he wa

ers flickere

ace-but it did mo

before

l drunk on its own power. I didn

nto Tiana one last time and w

the only one with m

tartled. I wa

te and tasted smoke. Behind me, the music sof

the

s were l

aled

them

een wa