chandeliers and the weight of unspoken threats-a

er of a crimson gown. The dress hugged her frame, with a daring slit and an off-the-shoulder cut that promise

er maid breathed. "Yo

s tight. "Even quee

tched like a battlefield, Alonso loyalists seated on one end, De Luca delegates on the o

fortlessly commanding the room. When Isabel

es fou

dn't f

ate-graceful, bold, un

eadable. He met her at the bottom of the stai

ate," he

ssing for

t role i

tion. Or may

played on his lips. "

and curated elegance. As they settled at the center of the table, Isabella sense

could kill. Beside him, Nico Bianco-lean, quiet, eyes sharp like blades. At

n turf, quiet murmurs about supply lines, carefu

ame th

en bottle and poured wit

ace between our houses. May blo

zor-thin. "And if it do

uneasy, short-live

artistic, wasted on Isabella's u

s obse

iced. Every glance between Nico an

rd Matteo as de

g on here?" she ask

p. "You are. Play

not an

ll you'

t was theater. She w

tood, raising his glass. "To Lady Is

re confident now, som

hand. "Tamed it?" she echoed.

Even Rocco cr

urprise flickering acro

he was bluffing-or

nto the balcony attached to her suite. The wind tugged at her hair, and the C

echoed b

need to l

ing close but not touching. His nea

urself well," h

g to impress. J

ill. You under

ws drawn. "You really

said. "Business. M

we're

plied. "We'

ed between them

ed out and brushed a loose s

soft. T

is wrist, he

on

t flinch

e hands have

eve this-every move I make now affects

not u

back. "But your strength? I didn'

spect come w

abella, you'll learn that respect is the on

anding under the stars, t

at she was d

t tell where the mask

st of

her wanted to uncover M

stroyed her i