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na Beau
ept my gaze over the glittering crowd at t
or my fiancé, J
n avoiding
epped waiter slipped to my side wi
champagne, but with a single r
n. It was a stranger's-sharp, decisive, written in dark ink, and the
the words: "The one yo
ping over me. Who had sent this note? And how d
the card. The cool metal ed
my heart. As if driven by some unseen
made my way to the exclusive elev
d room
rightly lit hallway. My heart hammered against my
iggle slipped through
a cold needle slid
, Isabell
e. My stomach clenched, a sickenin
e hesi
d the d
led together on the sofa, their clothes in disarray. The air was thick
to clutch against her chest. Tears instantly welled in her eyes,
with panic, then twist
ou in? What are you d
attered the last, pathetic f
nderstanding. Julian and I were just... we
ce. The anger and hurt receded, leaving beh
mb moved swiftly across the screen, finding a
Guard eme
lords and the King himself. They did not break up lovers' quarrels. But a breach of a sealed marriage
fted the phone to my ear, and
lian Carlisle, of the Carlisle Dragon Lord family, is engaged in indecent conduct in a publi
shot to his feet. "Are you insane? Do
ff, her expression turning to
more sane," I said,
watch
s echoed from the hallway. Not hotel security. Thias pushed
ntgomery. I had seen him from a distance in the ballroom downstairs, a figure of immense power and quiet inten
tocol for the emergency line. If a Dragon Lord
at th
ate. His presence was so immense it
spassionately over the room-the panicked Julia
eyes lan
sto
... an intensity I couldn't name. A focus so absolute it felt as if he saw straight thro
hm. It was a strange, terrifying thrill of being seen,
and molten gold. It filled my lungs, making me dizzy, making my knees feel weak. I
nly three seconds, but i
lian. His voice was devoid of any warmth. "
belle, dismissing her as if
forward. "Lord Montgomer
spoken with such deference, ce
edge of a command. "Take them. Detain them for questioning." He then gestured to
level of protection and respect I had never known. It wa
kage of the room a second glance. He had arrived, passed judgment, and
s had bought me a temporary reprieve. Yet the way the lord looked at m
y same note. Coupled with the timing of his appearance -
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