. This wasn't just a party; it was a coronation. Melanie Thorne had invited every major j

center of a circle of socialites, wearing a shimmering white gown that screamed "innocent bride-to-be." She clutch

o catch. "She was always so... fragile. Silence is a heavy burden, you know? L

crowd. Melanie's smile widened. She was winning

idn't just open-they were flung wide by two men in su

but the air in the ro

walk into the roo

lled of floor wax and lemon oil. She wore a gown of midnight-blue silk that clung to her curves l

pulsed against her collarbone, its deep, impossible azure glow maki

hat followed

g on the marble floor. The sound of the breaking

ickly shade of gray. "What are you doing here? And

dn't look at the whispering elites. She looked only at the woman who had spen

ld power that made people in the back of the room shiver. "Melanie, you

began to fly instantly. Is she related to t

backing away. "You've been lying to

at the edge of the circle, breathless and disheveled. Seeing Avery standing there,

d her, reaching out to grab her arm. "This is a private event. You're makin

nd could touch her, Marcus Thorne stepped b

passing on a private event hosted by the Woods Group. This lounge was rented out b

d. "I have a contra

ping around Marcus. She leaned in toward Lucca, her eyes like icy depths. "I

e, who was trembling so hard

Melanie," Avery said, her voice dropping to a pre

d and handed Melanie

the lines, and she suddenly gasped, clutching her stomach. "This...

hat Melanie claimed to have created. The original sketches were drawn by me, three years ago, and kept in a private

a volley of muskets. Melanie's "innocen

entine couple, Avery felt a familiar,

ng her with the intensity of a scientist watching a volatile chemical reaction. He looked exactly as he did in the

glass to her.

t bankrupted her father ten years ago. He was a shark who didn't c

Melanie and a stunned Lucca out of the hall, Julian

itan in the room, moved ou

nsive posture. He leaned down, his scent of sandal

," Julian whispered, his voice a deep, v

efusing to be intimidated.

he Blue Heart of the Ocean on her neck, "you have to make sure he's not

e sapphire on her throat. The touch

voice so low only she could hear. "A debt that passed to hi

nd, the lights in the ba

ss. A heavy thud followed-the sound of s

onds later, the room was in a panic. Avery l

rt of the Oc

was Jul

asn't the

ical to the ones she had used to serve Melanie. Sh

icture of her father, taken in what looked lik

gant, terrifying sc

ut he will if you don't follow my lea

r was alive? And Julian Vane