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And Étan’s attention was on me.
He smoothed a hand down the back of my dress. “You look beautiful tonight. White suits you.”
“Mm.” I stole another hungry look at Rafe.
The glamour only changed his face. His body was exactly as I remembered: lean, hard, powerful. In his black evening clothes, he appeared sleek and a little dangerous, like the Crimson Ball was a stop on the way to a rendezvous with an enemy spy.
The cute little thrall in the postage-stamp skirt was certainly interested. She gazed at him like he was a treat she wanted to gobble up.
My mouth turned down.
Étan lifted a brow. “Is something wrong?”
I forced the corners back up. “No, no. You were saying?”
I zeroed in on Rafe’s bowtie. Blinked, looked again. From far away, it appeared to be red-and-black polka dots, but the black dots were actually snarling wolves, the Kral mascot.
Trust Rafe to flaunt his syndicate affiliation in our face. This was the Tremblay Syndicate’s biggest event. The entire inner circle was present except for those handling security.
Étan spoke again. “…that dress for me?”
I widened my party smile. “I beg your pardon?”
He tightened his grip on my back, pulling me closer so that the tips of my breasts brushed his tux. His sharp male scent invaded my space. “Did you wear that dress for me?”
My smile froze.
Étan was a good match. Smart, capable, good-looking, and like me, he wanted to take the Tremblay Syndicate to the next level.
The perfect mate for Princess Zoe.
But there was a Zoe inside the princess, and she had other ideas. She knew Étan could never be my true mate, the one with whom I could form a mate bond, a unique, soul-to-soul connection.
I pulled back so we weren’t touching.
His blue eyes sharpened. He swung me in a circle, dipped me over his arm.
“Iwillhave you,” he said, his face an inch from mine.
Play along. Keep your options open. Nothing’s been decided.
“Will you?” I gave him a small smile, aware of my mother’s all-seeing gaze, and spun away.
Victorine had promised the choice was mine. My mother could be cold and controlling, but she didn’t lie.
That didn’t mean I could drop my guard. She was also capable of setting a snare for me to walk into, unsuspecting, and before I knew it, I’d be mated to Étan.
I might even convince myself it was what I’d wanted all along.
“Oh, yes.” Étan drew me closer again. This time, I allowed it. It made it easier to peer over his shoulder, searching for the cocky dhampir who’d crashed our most exclusive party.
Rafe had disappeared into the crowd, but I knew he was still in the ballroom. My skin was electrified, my heart still beating fast and hard.
What did he want?
Étan spoke. “You’re a beautiful woman, Zoe. I’ve watched you grow up. Waited for you.”
Whoa. I stopped searching for Rafe and gave Étan my full attention.
