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My heart started racing, immediately afraid for Bianca.
What was she doing here?! A Trove, in King Maximus’s palace. Was she crazy? Did she have a death wish?
My eyes darted around the room, searching for other members of the Board. None were in sight, but that didn’t help relieve the pressure in my chest.
Before I knew what I was doing, I stepped onto the dance floor and walked toward her. She and her partner turned in their dance, but her eyes never left mine.
I tapped the man on the shoulder. “May I?” I asked with a small bow.
He seemed disappointed and parted from Bianca with obvious regret.
Stepping in front of her, I took her hand and slipped my arm around her small waist, bringing her closer. We fell in step with the music.
Pressing my lips tightly to her ear, I asked, “What are you doing here?”
She laid a hand on my chest and pushed me away, creating some distance between us.
“It’s good to see you, Nyro,” she said, donning a smile, at the same time that her expressive eyes flared a warning.
The vampire can hear us. Be careful! her eyes seemed to say.
I nodded, regretting my foolishness. “It’s good to see you as well,” I said, trying to sound as pleasant as she had.
“I see you’re Fourth Pawn, now.” She ran a finger over the embroidered insignia on my jacket.
A chill traveled across my back at her touch. Last time she’d seen me, I’d been only a Challenger.
But what about her? Had she become a member of the White Board? Or had she lost her challenge and been pardoned? Yes, that had to be it. Because what would one of the Queen’s own be doing here?
Relief washed over me, which was confusing. It made no sense. I hardly knew her. Why should I care about her fate?
“Have you been here long?” I asked, unsure of what else to say that wouldn’t put her in danger.
“A half hour, perhaps,” she said. “It’s a marvelous party.”
I nodded, wondering if this was an act or her real personality. She was one of the gentry, after all. Maybe joining the Board had been all a game of some sort to her, a way to pass her time and allay her boredom.
Unable to stand the suspense, I began to ask a question, “Are you still... ?” The rest of my words caught in my throat, but she seemed to understand.
Her eyes darting around the room, Bianca gave a slight nod, then glanced pointedly at my Pawn insignia. Did she mean she was also a Fourth Pawn now?
We danced quietly for a moment, her gloved hand in mine. The fresh scent of her hair impregnated my senses. Everyone in the room seemed to disappear. I wanted badly to remove her mask and see her fully. In the past two months, her face had visited my dreams several times. So by now, I thought I knew her features by heart, but I wanted to make sure.
“You look beautiful,” I whispered in her ear, unable to help myself.
She glanced up, her eyes falling to my lips. I trembled inside, feeling like a child. Why was she able to disarm me with one simple glance?
“Thank you, Nyro,” she said very slowly, each syllable like a tender caress.
I pulled her closer, our noses nearly touching as we stared into each other’s eyes. She felt fragile and too delicate in my arms, even though she wasn’t any of those things.
“I’m looking for someone,” she said in a whisper that brushed my lips and made a thrill run down my body. Though it wasn’t only the feel of her breath that did it, it was also the words.
I knew who she was looking for, someone she should have forgotten rather than risk it all to come here and find her.
I shook my head. She narrowed her eyes in question. What did she hope to accomplish? Why risk herself this way for... for what? The answer came to me as soon as I formulated the question.
She was here for someone she loved, the way I loved Timotei.
If anyone could understand that, it was me.
My thoughts reeled. I tried to think of the right words to warn her, to tell her I’d seen Talyssa, her lady-help, but nothing seemed right, not here. Maybe if we went outside, away from this crowd.
I was about to ask her if she’d like to go for walk in the garden when the mood in the room changed, like ice spreading over water, like a frigid wind seeping into your bones.
King Maximus had just walked into the room, a beautiful blond girl on his arm.