ive. From behind the tinted glass, Aria watched the looming silhouette of the Ashton es

squerade to appease the elite, a glittering di

a hunti

walked a

y into her cheekbones. The gown clung to her like molten shadow, split high alo

ant laughter floated across the estate lawn. Valets scrambled, diamond

the ushe

he replied, li

ned, then cleared his thr

forged invitations could open almost any door when you k

Ash

er in the

frozen stars, casting fractured light over velvet walls and polished mar

ollowe

She moved like a ghost through the crowd, until the press o

garden was a maze of shadows and roses. She took a

e already?" a voice

t, heels scrap

here

Ash

pered rumor. Not in the files sh

tend they didn't know who he was. The tailored suit hugged his broad frame like a

like sin m

in a

, brilliant grey eyes-l

he said, masking her voice wit

r. "No," he agreed.

eath c

pair of eyes lik

rtation. They were ob

k

east su

She tilted her head instead.

much rage beneath

her, slowly. Wat

she said, matching his tone. "Some say you'

at do y

truth doesn't matter. Power

mile. A slow, d

is hand. "Da

ying no would draw mo

d her hand

ouch

he owned the room, and she followed without thinking. Every

g here," he said

ay the sam

elong here,

tripped. "You

know you're not af

gers slid along her waist,

u looking fo

up at him.

pa

"It tends to come

ong e

dn't

said, voice low and velvet.

he wa

like

the throng of

ess, rattled. Her mind sc

e fear, someth

n. Curios

hisper of

Blood on marble. A n

nched h

st a billionaire or a

enge

ans

ind what happene

was just t

-