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Down the corridor.

Past the foyer.

Out the enormous front doors of the Academy.

Cold October air hits my face and for the first time in what feels like forever, I can breathe.

Thank the Goddess.

Chapter Twenty

For the record, increasing my pace is not the same as running.

I am walking. Faster than my usual stride, but still just walking.

There is a difference.

Running implies panic.

I am merely moving very quickly away from the ballroom before I either cry, scream, kiss Grimm Palermo, or do something equally humiliating in front of several hundred students, parents, and coworkers.

Once outside, I keep on walking down the steps and onto the lawn where the noise of the Masquerade fades behind me.

My heels sink into the grass.

“Perfect.”

I yank them off.

Yup.

Princess dress or not, I am going barefoot.

Deal with it.

I make it halfway toward the gardens before I hear the doors open behind me.

“Agatha.”

I don't stop.

“Please.”

Damn him.

That does it. Not the commanding voice. Not the growly sexy voice.

It’s the please.

I stop beneath one of the enormous old trees and turn around.

Grimm is coming toward me, all dark fabric, gold braid, medals, and unfairly broad shoulders beneath the silver light of the full moon.

Seriously, who looks like that?

Nobody should look like that while I'm trying to maintain righteous anger. It's distracting.

“Agatha, please let me explain.”