“And when was it decided that support meant gossiping?” Collin asked, an edge to his voice.
“I believe that occurred around the same time the Illum chose new ways of operating. It has left some of us uneasy. As loyal supporters, I believe they want answers. That is all.”
I didn’t need him to clarify to know I was the new way of operating. A Defect Mated to an Illum.
“New ways of operating?” Collin asked, tilting his head. I worked to swallow at the dangerous look in Collin’s eyes. “Is that what they are calling it?”
William shifted under Collin’s gaze, his survival instinct perhaps finally kicking in. “Like I said, they are simply curious and would like answers. Nothing more.”
“You’ll receive answers tomorrow at the dinner,” Collin said. “Not that the High Council deserves them.” Collin drained his glass of bubbling liquid.
“High Council?” I asked despite myself.
“A group of Elite who have shown unwavering support to the Illum. They present their findings for the Illum to pass judgment,” Collin told me, his tone gentler.
“Your entire family is on it. Well, besides Gregory. Will your Mate grace the Elite with her presence?” William probed, watching me.
Collin leaned forward, his eyes dark. “It would seem you’ve misinterpreted a few things. Your contract with my sister doesn’t offer you protection from the Illum’s fury.”
“My apologies,” William muttered.
The attendant replaced our plates, including Nora’s untouched dish, with our main courses. The waste sickened me. I had never seen an empty plate, besides my own, be taken away. Collin and William sat in silence in Nora’s prolonged absence.
I looked around the room; our table was closer to the entrance now. But Nora was nowhere to be seen.
“I will go find her,” William informed us, repetitively tapping his knuckles on the table.
“I would rather Emeline go. There are some things I need to discuss with you.” Collin glanced at me, his voice softening. “If you’re agreeable?”
“Of course,” William said, tapping the table. “As the Illum insist.”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Collin told William without looking his way.
“All right,” I told him. Sick satisfaction found me at the look on William’s face.
Collin exited the booth, waiting for me. Slowly, moving the layers of red fabric, I came to stand before him. “Thank you,” he said, nodding. A piece of his pristine hair fell out of place.
Without a thought, I tucked it back, brushing the shell of his ear. Collin seemed to hold his breath as he gripped my waist, the warmth heating my bare skin. Our gazes clashed, and I found his sapphire eyes wild. My traitorous heart slammed into my chest at the memory of his lips against mine.
Was that real desire in his eyes, or was this just another immaculate performance for the Press? He watched me, his eyes questioning—waiting.
Are you content being his vessel? Or do you want power?
Was this a game? All the questions I hadn’t asked wedged their way between us.
A buzz rippled across the room. Words flew behind jeweled hands, but his eyes held mine as he ignored our audience.
“They are all watching us,” I muttered. The same words I had said before he kissed me. Did I want that again?
“It is an unfortunate side effect of being mine,” Collin said, releasing my waist, his thumb caressing my skin one last time.
Quickly, I stepped away from the table, away from Collin’s magnetic field. Heads swiveled, following my every step, as did snippets of muttered conversations. “I am telling you I have seen her before”—“The Press”—“No, that isn’t it—”
I ducked my head and finally reached the wall of water, which parted as I stepped through. The rush of water drowned out the noise of the Elite.
My skin remained too warm from the way his gaze held me. The heat in his eyes had certainly seemed real, but I had been fooled once before.
I glanced down a long, shiny teal tunnel. It seemed endless, with no obvious doors to be found. I had only made it a few steps when a male voice seeped into the hall, a voice I knew.
