She turns, startled. He looks composed

ing fine no

ors overheated." He gestures toward the

im. "You hand

ms solved before

les are already moving again, pretend

iddle of our conve

h it." He offers

etting her glass aside. "I thought y

on is the only way t

closer. His hand rests lightly against her back, but the grip feels stronger than it sho

od at this," she

're

dn't ev

n't ha

ft bells, gentle strings. Around them, couples laugh, whisper, lean too close. For on

face. "You don't co

r quiete

y are yo

olitics."

"That's how it sta

ul. "But you don't belong in this

. "You don

" Lucian raises a b

re guessin

smiles. "I

steps closer. She

etly. "Do you always walk into rooms

nks. "W

smoothly, but his eyes

s toward them. "Don Vasiliev, there's a call fro

s her hand. "E

hide her disappoin

es. "Stay away from the ea

planning t

for a moment

he waltz ends, the crowd claps politely, and Eve stands alone at th

rly collides with another woman, tall, blonde, wearing a si

going," the stranger

" Eve m

ss the room, then back to Eve. "You shoul

confused.

ut warmth. "You'll fig

s away, leaving her with an uneasy chi

rrace doors. The noise of the ballroom feels overwhelming

the stone railing and the tops of the evergreen shrubs. The sky glows pale from the city l

s another slow Christmas pi

er. She turns, expecting

be alone out

e. "I was starting to t

away. "You didn't enj

mething wrong to o

ch o

. Looked like she wan

tightens for a sec

d of y

ing lik

ask. They stand there in silence, snow

ull of wolves," she says f

carefully. "D

I'm surround

a smile. "Then maybe you

t could almost be a laugh

e snow crunches beneath his shoes. "

n't sa

are you a

," she admits b

slightly, curi

w. It's just

thing under her skin. "You should trust

ssed. "You make everyth

sn't

hten her, but enough that she feels his breath in the cold a

is your first time he

ready

uting echoes from inside. A man rushes through the doors, phone in

ns. "I'll be the

ucian looks at Eve once more. "Go

s happ

ncerns you." His

, but Eve catches

sto

say until the words come out. "Yo

then at her. "Don't believe what peo

hrough the doors, already giv

She turns toward the snow again, trying to calm herself, but something inside her stirs,

hestra fades. A thin shimmer flickers in her

ce comes from the doorw

ens quickly.

usly. "You look pale. Come i

al sound rises from somewhere deep in

that?" Eve