The Underworld Queen's Second Contract

, but Selene never fooled hers

sed in wartime. The chandeliers softened the crowd, but nothing about these hundred faces-Syndicate allies, council members, wives and daughters who traded secrets o

ampagne. "You're doing it again," she said, eyebrows raised. "That th

ing," Selene said

You're playing c

r side of the room, where two people stood in the middle of a c

ald C

ooked the same as he had that final night: soft-spoken, silver in his hair, deadly only if you knew where to look

id back then, and she'd believed him, just for a

ng half a step behin

s, secrets shared when Damian's silence became too much. Bianca was the one who'd held her hand through miscarriages and sle

pletely unaware that the woman across the room

e, softer now. "You ch

f back to the present. "Sorry

n most your

ed toward the far wall. "Who's

t-couldn't give herself away, couldn't let anyone guess what she knew. Cross hadn't planned her

hing. "Council elder. Dad says he keeps thin

a generous word for a man who'd

the w

ied into the Falcon

a sip of champagne. "Guess I

Selene let her go and, finally alone, looked across the room

ng others speak first, always landing his opinion as if everyone else was just catching up. He'd need years to build his case, planting susp

ing the ghost of the friend she'd trusted. But that wa

t change. Not really. Given the same stress, the

the ending didn't mean she could predict the steps. Choices rip

s." The voice slid in at her shoulder, low and fami

mi

s a problem. He stood beside her, crisp and po

ything-his presence, his attention, the way his eyes fol

cinating," he said. "He's

ike backgr

d, not quite a s

ided to shift the ground. "Sho

be careful. People here pay attention to what you notice. Tells the

ou don't know

t's a w

something sharp and closed-off lurking

N

miling, making small talk. You walk

what it is, s

to be careless but not hiding everything, either.

him recalibrating, trying to sort her into a box, not

ow and private. "I'm just trying to

ly oblivious. Bianca leaned in, smiling. Nothing

l, unreadable smile slip ont