The playful glint in his eyes disappears—snuffed out in an instant. In its place is something… unreadable. Something that chills the air between us.
My breath catches.
Shit.
I know what that sounded like.
I didn’t mean it like that. Or maybe I did, but not likethat.
I feel sick.
Chase lets out a low whistle, clearly savoring the moment like it’s a win. But he doesn’t understand what he’s just helped ignite.
Talon steps into my space, leaning his head down. “Careful, little virgin,” he whispers. “You don’t know how to handle what you’re poking. Push me and you’ll be the next bitch I make beg.”
Everything inside me seizes. Little virgin? Does he know? Or is he just guessing, aiming for the softest part of me he can find and slicing straight through it? Either way, it works. Heat settlesin my cheeks, and I pray the lighting is low enough that no one sees.
Talon leans back a little, just enough to look me over, observing the damage of his words. His eyes track every nuance of my reaction. There’s something in his expression that darkens, but then it’s gone.
He turns around without another word, pivoting on his heel, and disappears into the crush of bodies like he never bothered me at all.
And I’m left standing there, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Around me, conversation picks back up. People pretend nothing happened—they always do. The string quartet in the corner swells into another song, a lilting waltz that couldn’t sound more out of place.
I spot my mother across the room, flanked by donors. Her smile is brittle, her posture flawless, her eyes cutting toward me like knives. Even from here, I can see the fury burning just beneath her polished mask.
I’ve humiliated her. Again.
I swallow hard. Later, there will be consequences.
“What the hell was that about?” Chase mutters, dragging a hand through his perfectly mussed hair. Then, like clockwork, he slides his arm around my shoulders again.
I step out from under his arm, smoothing the front of my dress. “I’m fine,” I lie. The words come out quiet, even. Believable. But inside, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.
Chase frowns. “Do you want me to go after him? I can get security to toss him out?—”
“No!” I snap. He blinks in disbelief.Shit.“No. Please. Just… let it go. He’s already gone.”
Chase stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “You’re seriously just going to let that slide? The guy’s a total psycho.”
I press my lips together. A dozen biting responses rise up, butI shove them down. “I’ve got it handled. But… thank you, for trying to help.”
He doesn’t truly know AGU politics since he’s been graduated from the university for some time. My only blessing in this is that I’m only ever around him at events or things my family hosts.
“If he or any of his frat freaks bother you again, they’ll have to deal with me.”
I almost laugh. Chase puffing up his chest like a cartoon bulldog, under any other circumstances, might be funny. Right now, it just feels… exhausting.
“I think I need to freshen up,” I murmur, reaching for the most graceful exit I can manage.
Chase hesitates. “I’ll grab us drinks, okay? Meet you at the bar?”
I nod and slip away fast, weaving through clusters of guests. As soon as I’m outside and out of Chase’s orbit, I exhale a shaky breath. My composure faltering, I press a hand to my stomach. It’s doing fucking somersaults out of embarrassment and fury.
My gaze drifts to the tall windows lining the far side of the ballroom. Beyond the glass, the balcony glows dimly with soft garden lanterns. It’s quieter out there. Andoccupied.
A shadow moves, half-devoured by the dark until it steps beneath one of the sconces and comes into full view.
