o she let close enough to hurt her, but now standing on the dimly lit balcony of the Grand Rose Gala, w

ed, his voice a low vibration

d her jaw.

ia

's golden lights glowing against the darkness, but it was nothing compared to the storm brewing in D

d what we came here to do. The media got t

alcony railing, looking mad

ded her arm

aid smoothly, "

of the slow, mocking clap t

mogul and tabloid king, stepping onto the b

ed, ruthless, and inescapably powerful, but Julian was a different bree

es were locked onto her like

adjusting the cuffs of his des

dn't move.

r, but she felt the subtle shift

his coming. You and Sinclair? Engaged?" He tilted

t she kept her expression perfectly

nd what I believe is that something

. "Then you're not a

men sized each other up. They were two kings in the sa

swallo

e the world will love this fairytale romance." H

made idle threats, and she had a sinking feeling that

t the gala, Celeste'

k car, letting out a slow breat

shut, she turned to

remained unreadable.

ly. "And that doe

erage," Damien said smoothly. "Bu

. "We can't afford to gi

d with something unrea

e car lurched forward, the c

tween them, thick wi

ris fade into the distance. "Just three mo

that after the three months she may not be able to, because the longer she played

t the

e was done with the games, the lies, but above all, she was done with Da

yes flashing. "Why d

d an eyebrow

a," she pressed. "W

suit jacket, tossing it ont

t a sharp laug

. "Careful

g. "You don't get to do that. You don't get

ed. "And what if it

And there it was ag

d. "You don't get

His scent, a mix of dark spice and something uniquely him

aying," he

against her ribs.

rand of hair behind her ear. The

ured, "it's not

s wasn't real. It couldn't

y step back. "I

ghtened, but he

frantic drumbeat in her ears. As she reached for

re ru

t she couldn't let him see it, so she opened

he fromm but also locked him out from the o

could hear Damien, his voice,

eyes shut. "Go

ling Damien standing in the doorway, his gaze molten st

at," she whispered, her

, closing the door be

ered. "You're c

he was seeing every piece of her, every fear, eve

pped pretending that th

e didn't want him to

e curve of her wrist. She couldn't pull away. Or

ed, a whisper a

his lips a breath away from he

agreed to this charade, Celeste