Page 135 of The Hunter's Empire

My attention wanders through the room. Anton has somehow managed to gather another crowd around himself, effortlessly charming everyone within earshot. Declan and Hazel dance together near the edge of the floor while Steven and Vanya talk quietly with a few guests.

Then I see him.

Nico stands alone near one of the tall windows overlooking the sea, dressed entirely in black yet again. The ballroom buzzes with conversation, yet he somehow seems separate from all of it. A glass of champagne rests loosely between his fingers, untouched, while his gaze drifts across the room with practiced indifference. Until it finds mine.

Something in my chest tightens. He doesn't smile or look away. He simply watches me with that unreadable expression he's worn ever since we returned from the island.

He quietly sets his champagne glass onto a passing tray and starts walking toward me. Every sensible part of me tells me to disappear into the crowd before he reaches me. Instead, I stay exactly where I am.

He stops only when there's barely a step between us. Up close, the formal suit looks almost as unnatural on him as the island had. Gone are the bloodstained clothes and makeshift bandages, replaced by crisp tailoring and polished shoes, yet somehow he still carries himself like a man who's constantly assessing every exit.

"You've been avoiding me." He says quietly.

I fold my arms, forcing my expression into something far more composed than I feel. "I've been busy."

His gaze lingers on mine, patient enough to make me uncomfortable. Then the corner of his mouth lifts ever so slightly.

"No." He says. "You've been watching me."

I hold his gaze without blinking. "So have you."

"I wasn't denying it."

The honesty catches me off guard.

For a few seconds, neither of us speaks. Then Nico holds out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

I look at his hand longer than I should. "This feels like a terrible idea."

"It probably is."

"You don't sound very convincing."

"I'm not trying to convince you."

A reluctant smile threatens to appear. "One dance."

His fingers close gently around mine. "One dance."

He leads me onto the dance floor just asUntil I Found Youbegins drifting through the ballroom. His hand settles lightly against my waist, leaving just enough space that I could step away if I wanted to. I rest my hand on his shoulder, painfully aware of how familiar standing this close to him already feels.

I tell myself it means nothing. The thought doesn't survive the first few steps.

We move slowly with the music, surrounded by dozens of other couples, yet the rest of the ballroom gradually fades into little more than blurred lights and distant voices. Every now and then our eyes meet, only for one of us to look away a second too late.

"You clean up well." I say eventually, searching for something that feels safer than silence. "I wasn't sure you owned a suit."

A quiet laugh escapes him. "I own several."

"I pictured you living exclusively in black tactical gear."

"I considered wearing that."

I can't help smiling. "I believe you."

His gaze drops briefly to the tuxedo before returning to me. "Keith's doing."

"He picked your suit?"