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I finally extracted myself from my parents’ emotional grip with a promise to visit them the next day. “I’ll tell you everything then,” I lied smoothly, dabbing at my mother’s tears with my handkerchief. “Go enjoy the party. I believe Lady Harrington is already searching for you, Mother.”

The moment they moved away, I exhaled deeply. The tender family reunion had thrown me off balance, but I couldn’t afford distractions tonight. I caught Laurel’s eye and gave her a pointed nod. Time to begin.

Laurel’s lips quirked in understanding. She bowed slightly before melting into the crowd, heading toward the servants’ passage that would lead her to the lower levels of the palace. If all went according to plan, she’d take care of the few guards while I created the distraction we needed.

No sooner had Laurel disappeared than a familiar voice intruded on my thoughts.

“Lady Ilyana, what a pleasure to see you again after so long.”

Lord Vincent Halloway materialized at my side, all lean muscle and practiced charm.

His build was slender, almost slight, but I knew from the palace tournaments that he was remarkably athletic.

His dark hair fell in a loose, wavy mane, framing an angular, intelligent face with a long nose, narrow chin, and large eyes that were currently fixed on me with undisguised interest.

Ah yes, the capital’s most eligible bachelor, who’s courted half the noble ladies and bedded the other half. Lucky me.

“Lord Halloway,” I acknowledged, searching desperately for an excuse to escape. “What a surprise to see you without a lady on each arm.”

He laughed, not the least bit offended. “I’ve been saving my arms for you, my lady.” He extended his hand. “Would you honor me with a dance?”

I scanned the room, acutely aware of the many eyes watching our exchange. Refusing him would cause a scene, and the last thing I needed was attention. Not when I had a prison break to orchestrate.

“How could I possibly refuse such a gallant invitation?” I placed my hand in his, my smile so wide and forced it nearly cracked my face.

We had barely taken three steps toward the dance floor when the announcer’s voice faltered. For once, I tuned into the announcement.

“His Highness, Prince Anderic Voltaire!”

The floor around us became still and quiet.

Lord Halloway tensed beside me, his face falling into a frown as he turned toward the entrance.

The pause lasted only a couple of moments before the hum of conversation resumed as the attendees tried to clear the middle of the floor without looking like they were tripping over their feet.

Anderic walked into the hall like a stormfront. He wore a white suit with gold embellishments, but the way people looked at him, he might as well have marched into the room in full armor and sword. A scowl hardened his face, and he looked ready to murder anyone who got in his way.

One half of me wanted to punch him in the face for giving me the cold shoulder these past few days. The other half wanted to march into his path and pull him down into a kiss that would scandalize the entire court.

If this is love, then what I felt for Noah was mere infatuation.

And he wasn’t looking at me at all—his gaze was locked on my hand resting on Lord Halloway’s arm. Anderic was glaring daggers at Halloway as if he could sever the limb with his eyes alone.

Lord Halloway must have felt the prince’s lethal stare because he dropped my hand as if it had suddenly burst into flames.

“Your Highness,” he murmured, backing away slightly.

Anderic’s eyes finally found mine. Surprise flickered across his face, and for a moment, he was too stunned to hide it.

His gaze raked over my body from head to toe, lingering on the curves accentuated by Annalise’s masterpiece.

I felt a tremor run through me as if I could feel the phantom touch of his gaze caressing my skin.

He crashed to a halt before me and held out his hand. “Lady Ilyana,” he said, his voice pitched low enough that only I could hear its rough edge. “I believe you promised me this dance.”

I didn’t dare check if Lord Halloway was watching, but damn near everybody else in the room was. Their stares pierced me like arrows, their whispers forming an undercurrent beneath the music.

Anderic turned smoothly, sliding my hand down to rest on his elbow, and we walked together toward the dance floor. My heart hammered against my ribs so violently that I feared it might burst free. My palms grew damp, and the room seemed to sway slightly.

If I puked now, I would never live it down.

“Breathe, Ilyana,” Anderic murmured without turning his head.

I realized I was holding my breath and finally sucked in a lungful of air, catching his scent—sandalwood, leather, and something uniquely him that made my knees weaken and my mind grow hazy with remembered passion.

How was I supposed to break a man out of prison when I could barely remember my own name?

The orchestra struck up a waltz as Anderic’s arm slid around my waist, his palm pressing against the small of my back with delicious pressure.

He held me at a proper distance—close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body, but far enough to maintain the appearance of propriety.

The contact sent electricity skittering across my skin.

“Did you have to be so obvious about it?” I asked, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes as he guided me into the first step of the dance.

“You didn’t look like you wanted to dance with Halloway. I only helped you.” His fingers splayed wider against my back, possessive and warm.

We swept across the polished floor in perfect synchronization, my midnight blue skirts swirling around our legs like ocean waves.

Anderic led with confident authority, each turn precise yet fluid.

Dancing with Noah had always felt like being steered by a particularly enthusiastic puppy—earnest but clumsy.

Dancing with Anderic was like being claimed by a predator—purposeful, powerful, and heart-stoppingly dangerous.

“Help?” I scoffed as he spun me under his arm before pulling me back, this time closer than before.

Our bodies aligned from chest to knee, the space between us vanishing.

My breath hitched. I could hear the scandalous murmurs of those old gossiping ladies.

“Oh, and those death glares you were giving Halloway? Totally unrelated, I’m sure. ”

“You think I’m glaring at Halloway? Trust me, I’ve got better things to focus on,” he said, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a wave of heat through me.

For a few moments, I forgot what I was thinking or even who I was. There was only Anderic and me. Nothing else existed.

I broke the eye contact first, clearing my throat in an attempt to steady myself. Ignoring the blush creeping up my neck, I asked, “So I take it you aren’t angry anymore?”

“When was I ever angry?” His voice was too smooth, like honey poured over broken glass. His thumb traced small circles against my spine, sending shivers cascading through me.

Yeah, right. I probably hallucinated the last few days.

“Anderic…” I sighed, exasperation coloring my voice.

“Ilyana…” He mimicked my tone perfectly, his face suddenly so close I could count the golden flecks in his blue eyes. The scent of him—sandalwood and leather—filled my senses, making it hard to concentrate on the steps.

We stared at each other, neither willing to back down. If we’d been on a battlefield, swords would have been drawn by now. Instead, we were locked in this heated dance, bodies pressed together while our pride kept our words at war.

After several thundering heartbeats, Anderic’s expression darkened.

His hand tightened on my waist, fingers digging into the midnight fabric as if he wanted to tear it from me.

“I told you—no, I pleaded with you—to never leave me behind,” he growled, his voice dropping to a rumble that vibrated through my chest where my hand rested against him.

“I showed you my vulnerabilities. And you chose to go ahead with your plans without telling me anything. You almost… died, Ilyana.”

The storm in his eyes matched the tumult in my heart. My lips parted to respond, but the words died in my throat as memories of that night in the hallway outside my apartment flooded back. The raw pain in his expression then. The kiss. The way he unraveled in front of me.

I couldn’t speak. What could I possibly say? That I was sorry? That I’d grown so accustomed to handling everything alone that I didn’t know how to let someone in? That the thought of losing his trust terrified me more than prison or exile or death?

The music ended with a flourish. Anderic’s hand slipped from my waist, leaving a cold void where his warmth had been. He bowed stiffly, the perfect picture of courtly manners.

“If you’ll excuse me,” he murmured, his eyes no longer meeting mine.

And then he was gone, striding through the crowd that parted like water before him.

I stood alone in the middle of the dance floor, feeling as if I’d been gutted. My chest ached. My throat burned. The weight of the eyes on me—curious, judging, pitying—was suddenly unbearable.

I walked with as much dignity as I could muster toward the refreshment table, my fingers trembling as I seized a glass of champagne and downed it in one desperate swallow. The bubbles burned my throat but did nothing to soothe the hollow feeling in my chest.

I grabbed a second glass, the cool crystal biting into my palm as I tipped it back.

What the hell was I supposed to do now—stage a prison break with a broken heart?

“Thirsty?”

I turned, glass still tilted to my lips, to find Rosalind standing there with her perfect posture and knowing smile. My annoyance must have been written across my face like one of those giant palace banners because her smile only widened.

“Did you enjoy the show?” I asked, setting my empty glass down with more force than necessary.