the terrace quieter than before. Ava followed the movement reluctantly
asting warm gold across polished floors. Normally, this
elt anything b
dy her hands. The faint tremble annoyed her. She wasn't easily shaken. H
unsettled her in ways
eflection appeared beside hers in th
quickly," he said, his
ession into polite neutralit
only reason
re was something searching in it, something almost
ng watched," she
is lips. "Then tonight mu
htened. "What d
oward a cluster of guests near the exit corridor. His expr
," he said quietly. "Sec
ts laughing, clinking glasses, enjoying
uneasy feel
speak in ridd
truth would sou
them too quickly, nearly knocking into Ava. She stepped back, catching herself agains
, neither of
ed slightly as he looked
main hall," h
u're giving me i
ing you
tective. It stirred equal parts i
t follow it?"
ntensity remained. "Then I m
mething deeper than warning. Ava felt heat rise
ere beyond the ballroom. It was subtle. Glass, maybe. Mo
n not
ocused. Ava followed his gaze as two staff members
ccident," she said, tho
," Adria
t look convi
ling awareness from the terrace returned stronger th
lowly toward
e saw someone standing just beyond
stepped backwa
eath c
e that?" sh
napped toward her im
ne was
lating. The music inside the ballroom swelled again, chee
e," he sa
protest. Ava watched him disappear briefly into
etched unbe
n was carefully composed again, but
thing there
Not openly. Not obviously. But some
sure?"
es
rried finality, bu
ing, unaware that the air had shifted, gro
loser again, low
uld leav
on surprised
rds carefully. "Because tonight
very sensible part of her told her to walk away, to ret
rself asking, "Will y
ertainty flickered acro
he said
r wonder whether that promise was
the corridor ligh
n a
inty that whatever had been watching
s wai
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