with the other members of the press. Sloane gave her a subt

st shared an elevator with," E

ed excitement. "Who? Don't tell me it

ce drew everyone's attention. The spotlights s

g to his arm. They looked like the golden cou

ed display of victory. She made a point of flashing the new, obsce

arm of a man born to privilege, completely obli

ere was no pain left, only a cold, clinical detachment.

pled through

Knight girl? What is s

a Knight was s

. "Madam, my apologies, there seems to have been a mistake with the sea

section with Sloane. But causing a scene was not p

er into the heart of the ballroom, toward the main

recessed, offering a perfect view without being the

cupying the chair next to

man from the ele

w, deliberate nod, almost a greeting between equals. And for just a moment, the corner of his mout

face impassive as she sat down. What was

swept the room again and snagged on a

Nash gave the man a brief, almost imperceptible nod-the kind of silent signal exchanged between peop

ed his lips, his eyes met hers. For the briefest moment, a glint stirred in those dark, inscrutable depths-a

waiter, the bodyguard-everything had been arranged. But by whom? For what p

rd to be distracted. Tonight was about Landon and Seraphina.

mile faltered, his face tightening with a mixture of shock and guilt. Serap

ing down to hiss at her. "Elba? When di

chillingly blank. "Do I need to repo

houlder and feigning sweet concern. "Elba, you're back! We

een touched by a snake. The rejection w

liquid in his glass. His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes

Eleanor Sterling. She saw the scene and her perfectly made-up face h

ang through the ballroom. The host took t

leading Seraphina back to their front-row table.

She had time. She signaled a passing waiter and took a glass of champagne, drinking half of it in one long

thing, but she felt his gaze flick to her glass, then