The air in the ballroom felt like it was thickening, turning into a physical weight that pressed against my chest. I smoothed the silk of my gown, forcing my features into the expression of a devoted lover as I approached Lucien again. He was standing near the center of the gilded hall, his presence alone commanding a radius of empty space that most guests were too intimidated to enter.

“You took so long?” he asked, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through me. He didn’t wait for an ...