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“They also told us not to look into your eyes.” But she’d been doing that for the past five minutes, and neither of them had burst into flames. Though Leah was in danger of doing just that if Taryn kept staring at her.
“Interesting.” Taryn’s gaze narrowed. “Did they mention why?”
She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had given her their undivided attention. Her boss tossed her coat Leah’s way, and Nana’s attention wasn’t what it used to be.
Other than that...she hadn’t had any colleagues since the flower shop had closed down, and even then, it had been just her and the owner, Mrs. Gutierez. Under the Zavorians’ thumb, only the ultra-rich even dreamed about buying nonessentials like flowers.
She’d worked there on and off since high school, with some weeks off for finals during college. She’d loved it. She’d wanted to open up a little shop of her own one day.
But then the world turned upside down, smashing right through her small dream. Those wonderful days she’d spent making arrangements and negotiating with suppliers had helped land her assistant job. Chanelle was very particular about her roses. And her lattes. And every other errand she flung Leah’s way whenever she felt like it.
So her flower shop dream had withered, along with almost all hope of ever truly living, not just surviving. She’d blended into the background. Ran around doing things for other people while accomplishing nothing for herself. She’d done what she’d had to do.
Standing in front of Taryn, she finally feltseen.
Which was a problem. Because for the first time in her life, she had something to hide.
So this had to stop.
“No. They just shipped us off from Earth and hoped for the best.” She finally ripped her gaze from his and planted it on the wall behind him. “So, how does this work? Do we go to the party and smile for the next couple of hours?”
“Do you want to go to the party?” he asked and it sounded like he wasn’t asking for politeness’ sake. He really wanted to know.
“Do they have food?” Leah was in no rush to step into a room filled with magnificent Quillons–she was having a hard time not being overwhelmed by one of them–but she was hungry.
Whenwasn’tshe?
But what if one of those Quillons sniffed her out? Realized she wasn’t here for matchmaking, but for something more sinister. They had to have spies and guards here, right? Trained to detect lies?
She didn’t have a poker face. The fewer beings she interacted with, the better.
A fresh wave of guilt washed over her.
She really didn’t want to do this. But Nana’s voice still echoed in her mind.
“They do.” Taryn licked his teeth. God, where those fangs? Two of them, long and sharp, where his canines should have been. And his tongue seemed thinner and longer than she had expected. More shivers shot through her. “But I know of a better place, with a much nicer view, and no curious eyes, human or Quillon.”
Leah’s lips quirked up. “That sounds nice.”
“Perfect.” Taryn stepped away, folding his hands behind him and nodding at the other end of the hallway. “Shall we?”
“Where are we going?” Leah asked as they wandered away, side by side. It was obvious Taryn was walking slower so she could keep up with him. Damn it, why did he have to be both gorgeousandconsiderate?
His penetrating gaze found hers again. It seemed different this time. Colder. Analytical. Like she was a puzzle and he was trying to figure her out.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
No.
She’d just met the guy. She had to betray him.
She wasn’t tossing her trust around. For his sake, he shouldn’t trust her, either.
“Sure,” she said, voice too light and airy.
Taryn smiled her way, showing a bit of fang. “Remember that.”
7
