Though she knew it wasn’t the case, Zaria felt as though everyone were looking in their direction as they headed for the Waterhouse exhibit. She fixed her gaze straight ahead, trying to mimic Kane’s unhurried steps. If he shared her nerves, he didn’t show it. The dull sound of distant applause sounded somewhere behind them—likely a reaction to the queen’s speech. Not everyone had gathered to listen. A few people still milled about the exhibits, but far fewer than there had been prior to the royals’ arrival. Zaria inhaled deeply to steady herself. She could see the necklace up ahead, the cage around it gleaming like a beacon in the light trickling through the glass walls.
Before they got any closer, Kane thrust out a hand. Zaria halted, nearly colliding with his arm.
Jules hissed, “What is it?”
Kane’s eyes darted like a predator’s around the area. They landed on Fletcher, still positioned at the edge of the space, then on the exhibitors that remained by their displays. Finally, he focused on the window behind the Waterhouse exhibit, which was beginning totake on a distinctly cloudy look. The muscles of his jaw worked, going taut. “Set off the first one. Now.”
“Here?” Jules blanched.
“Well, not in the middle of the fucking room.”
There it is, Zaria thought. That flicker of stress. The single piece of evidence affirming Kane wasn’t unshakably confident. She didn’t know if it made her feel better or worse.
“If you want to get caught, that’s not my business,” Kane said, “but I’d recommend you go somewhere discreet. Duck into the furniture exhibit or something.” He gestured with his chin before turning to Zaria. “Once Fletcher ushers everyone out of here, you set off the second one right beside the exhibit.”
“Asshole,” Jules muttered. “Lucky for you, I know where to go.”
Zaria pivoted to watch him leave, but Kane spun her back around, fingers digging into her shoulder. “Don’t look at him. Other people might follow your gaze.”
She pursed her lips, knowing he was right. Her heart barreled against her ribs as she fixated on Kane’s chest, not wanting to look him in the eye.
“Why are you so tense?” Kane murmured, using his grip on her shoulder to move her aside as another couple passed by. “You’re about to get everything you ever wanted.”
Zaria felt her mouth twist into a wry grin. The noise and sheen of the Exhibition spun around her. “Everything I ever wanted? You think a few Irish trinkets areeverything I ever wanted?”
“Well,” he amended. “Everything you wanted out of our deal.” His eyes flashed as she finally looked up at him. “I daresay you have a veritable list of things you want, Zaria.”
He wasn’t wrong. But the things she wanted were so very foolish.
Then again, why shouldn’t she want things? She stood amid animpossible array of items that had only come into being because somebody, somewhere, hadwanted.
Kane, she thought, wanted in the way of the British Empire. He yearned for what was not his, desired in the way of men with no regard for others, and was all the more a scoundrel for it. Perhaps that was why Zaria could barely stomach the thought of letting him have her. Perhaps it was why she tried so hard to forget the sensation of his lips on hers. More than anything else, she did not wish to be Kane Durante’s conquest.
And yet her body was not in line with her brain.
“Kiss me again,” Zaria said, because the only surefire way to avoid being conquered was to do the conquering yourself, was it not? She jutted her chin up, pleased by the look of shock that flickered across Kane’s face. Confusion swiftly replaced it, settling between his dark brows.
He scanned her features as if searching for some kind of explanation there. “Why?”
“Because I asked you to.”
“You regretted it last time, if I remember correctly.” The tenor of Kane’s voice dipped lower. Despite his words, he lifted a hand to the small of her back, guiding her closer. He released a breath by her ear. “You’re leaving me with three and a half minutes to pick the lock.”
Zaria felt her body stiffen at once. She was stupid,selfish, and yet it was only what Kane deserved. It didn’t make sense for her to want him, just as it didn’t make sense for him to want her back, but she didn’t care. Not right now.
Kane leaned forward, eyes half-lidded. He pressed his lips to the base of her throat.
It was a featherlight brush, not at all reminiscent of the way he’d kissed her back at the workshop, and Zaria shivered beneath it. Herthoughts fled, her pulse stuttering as Kane’s lips moved up to the curve of her jaw. She was immobile, strands of her hair shifting gently with his exhale.
Then he moved away.
“There,” Kane said, almost too soft to hear. There was an odd sort of sadness in his gaze, and his hand lingered on her back just a moment too long before he let it drop.
“That’s not what I meant.”
The ghost of a smile traced his mouth. “I know.”
He brought two fingers beneath her chin, tilting it up, and lowered his face to hers.
