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“I'm sorry,” she said, smiling with ease, because this woman meant nothing to her. “I'm afraid I don't remember you.”
The woman's lids flickered, but the reaction was faint, there, then gone, a cold smile settling in place. “Ah, well. I'm not surprised. I was several years older than you when you first passed through. There wouldn't have been any reason for us to meet. I'm Melanie.”
Casually, Melanie glanced toward Niko, her smile taken on a wicked slant. “I'm an...old friend of the Prime.”
She'd lingered long enough on the last part to imply just enough so Zee could draw conclusions, if she so chose.
She didn't need to.
It was obvious by the way this woman looked at her that she'd been one of Niko's lovers. Whether it had lasted a night or months, Zee had no idea.
She didn't care, either.
Yes, jealousy burned in her veins.
But... Melanie's scent no longer lingered in Niko's skin.
Another woman's scent had lingered on him earlier—Alison's, and she knew Niko was off-limits. Now, her scent was so faint, it might as well be non-existent, especially since anybody with a decent nose could tell that Niko and Zee smelled of each other.
That mattered far more than this petty creature.
“How nice,” Zee said, a placid smile on her lips.
Melanie continued to stare, the banal reaction clearly not what she'd wanted.
Zee caught the sharp uptick in Melanie's pulse and knew the woman wasn't going to walk away just yet. Absently, Zee glanced at Shale, wondering how he'd react if she didn't completely behave.
To her surprise—and amusement—he shot her a grin that was more than a little wicked. It seemed to say, Do what you will. I see nothing.
Oh, she so hadn't need such urging. Really. Flexing the hand she still had resting on his arm, she tried to ground herself. But she made the mistake of meeting Melanie's gaze.
And Melanie gave her a demurring—and deceitful—smile. “Have you met Alison?”
“Yes.” Zee smiled back. “We've already come to an understanding, so don't bother going there.”
The smile faded while hot streaks of color rose to paint Melanie's cheeks a vivid red.
“Really.” She tapped a finger against the bowl of her wineglass, lips pursed. “And did you come to an understanding with Hannah? Akua? Brigit?”
Zee sighed and brushed her hair back from her face. “I'm surprised you didn't throw yourself in there, since you clearly want me to know Niko's had his share of lovers in the past decade. Let me save you the trouble. I already know about the lovers. He's been quite the manwhore.”
Several people nearby sucked in audible breaths and Zee realized they had an audience.
Oh, well.
Taking a step closer to Melanie, she asked softly, “Just how jealous and petulant a child do you want to be? Flinging a man's old lovers in the face of the woman he's currently sleeping with... at her father's wake? Do you have so little respect for your Prime?”
Melanie sucked in a breath, fury sending waves of tension through her. “You—"
A hard hand came down on Melanie's shoulder.
She flinched.
And although he hadn't said a word, or touched anybody other than Melanie, several others around them also cringed back, Niko's anger a palpable thing.
“That was an excellent question, Zee.” Niko sounded calm—too calm. “Perhaps it's one Melanie should ponder tonight.”
He met her eyes briefly, a question in them.
