Page 96

“Excuse me,” I say to my friends, my eyes dropping to the ground. I sound so small, and I hate myself for it. “I’m so sorry, Mila. Happy birthday. The dinner was beautiful.”

At my side, Zevran stands as rigid as a monolith.

Mila’s eyes dart between the two of us. The joy in her expression vanishes, replaced instantly by a flash of pity. She reaches out and squeezes my hand. I squeeze back, but I can’t force myself to meet her eyes. My champagne glass sits abandoned on the table, still bubbling in the golden light.

I hear Mila start to say, “I’ll see you soon—” but Zevran’s massive hand closes over mine, and I’m pulled away.

He marches me toward the exit stairs, and I follow, my head ducked, complying like I always do, while tears make the warm fairy lights blur into hot streaks.

I know this feeling.

Small, meek, and helpless, doing exactly as I’m told while terror corsets my lungs, making it impossible to draw a full breath. I thought I’d left this broken woman behind in that kitchen. I thought she died the moment I pulled the trigger on Troy and stepped willingly into Zevran’s arms.

Downstairs in the foyer, the air is cool and still.

I stop walking.

Zevran’s grip on my hand tightens as he feels my resistance.

“Wait,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “Please. Just tell me what happened.”

Zevran glances out the glass doors toward the street, then back to me, his fingers flexing on mine.

Ruslan and Demyan exchange a quick look, and murmur something about bringing the cars around before slipping outside to leave us alone.

I watch Zevran’s face as he calculates how much to tell me. Every second he hesitates makes my stomach twist in knots. Why can’t he just tell me the truth?

“There was an incident at the house,” he says curtly. “I need you where I can protect you.”

“What kind of incident? Is anyone hurt?”

“Cora—”

“What kind of incident, Zevran?”

His jaw clamps shut. “An armed intruder tried to breach the perimeter. It’s been dealt with, but I need to get you home right now.”

“If it’s already dealt with, why do I have to leave?”

His dark eyes widen slightly, looking at me as though he genuinely cannot believe the words coming out of my mouth. “Did you think I would just leave you sitting out in the open at a party when you might be in danger? I am not the kind of man who sits around doing nothing while his woman is targeted.”

“No, but—”

“I cannot keep you safe if you won’t fucking let me!”

His voice echoes off the marble walls.

I flinch, shrinking back in on myself. My instinct takes over—berating myself for thinking I could stand up to him, ducking my head, turning my face away from the physical blow that my body assumes is coming next.

“All right,” I whisper softly. “We’ll go home. I’m—I’m sorry.”

He stands there staring down at me, and I know he can read me like an open book. He can hear the shattered tone in my voice. The placating submission of a victim. His heavy brow creases with sudden distress.

“Cora, I—”

Outside at the curb, Demyan has pulled the car up behind Zevran’s car. I let go of Zevran’s hand and hurry toward the exit.

He’s keeping me safe.