She couldn’t stop herself from raking her eyes down his form.
Shaw had combed his hair—though it was still unruly—and he’d shaved his chin smooth. He wore a black jacket with copper stitching and a deep-green waistcoat which brought out his eyes in a way that made her ache. His trousers were new and pressed, and his shoes were polished. He’d a gold watch in his pocket. He could have been a member of the Light. He could have been a man of industry. But he was none of those things, and all she thought was that if he could be anything, she wanted him to be hers.
She was about to lose control of the situation—she could feel it. Because how could anyone contain so muchfeelingwithout letting it be known? Corvin was going to see it in her eyes. How could he not?
With all her power, she turned away. She smiled. “You were right. It is as impressive as all that.”
Corvin huffed a laugh, though Lux noticed his eyes didn’t shift. “I love that you’re so pleased. But a few well-dressed guests does not make the event.”
She said nothing, and his gaze perused her slowly. “You are stunning in Lord Kent’s creation. I’d come to collect you, but you were gone.”
Collect.What a choice of word.Her mask nearly slipped. “The wait was too much. I was ready ages ago and wanted to miss nothing. I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you.”
“No inconvenience,” he murmured, and his fingers dipped into his waistcoat. The gesture bothered her tremendously, and for a moment she could not figure out why. Until she realized—
He has no gloves.
Her mind bombarded her with the reincarnated image of her dream. Of his hand appearing just as it did now, slim and pale, but reaching for her. A dream version of her. And the death she’d felt immediately afterward.
Corvin removed a watch, silver to match everything else, and clicked his tongue at the time. His attention lifted to the man across from them—one Lux had decided once and for all she would dutifully ignore.
“We should make our way in, but I suppose it would be rude to withhold an introduction. Being as this is your savior, after all.” Again, his smile didn’t touch his eyes. “Mr. Roser, this is Lux Thorn. A necromancer from your own city and Mothlock Manor’s guest.”
“Necromancer?” he responded, his voice low and lightly tinged with disbelief. One that descended quickly into smoke. “I’ve heard tales of you. In Ghadra. I can’t deny I’ve always been eager to know more.”
Lux blinked a moment longer than necessary, his voice cloaking her and setting her heart wild. She looked at him finally—and his eyes were brilliant with mischief.
“Are you well?” he wondered. “The last I was aware, you were bleeding heavily. It was concerning. But you look very”—color rose to his cheekbones—“healthy.”
Lux wished she could know exactly what he thought of the dress Kent had created for her, but she could guess well enough.
Her arms were bare, her collarbones too. Shaw’s gaze continued to dance along them, causing his nostrils to flare, his breaths coming quicker than his norm. His eyes traced her skin: from beneath her ear, down her neck, and along the line of her naked shoulder.
Remember Corvin’s suspicions.
She mustn’t rouse them further.
“Well enough,” she said, her tone shifting to something formal and distant. “I didn’t mean to mar your arrival with my display.”
Shaw’s eyes darkened. “You didn’t.”
Lux startled at Corvin’s touch. His arm pressed against hers; his hand held flat to her low back. Cold seeped through the fabric of her gown. “Shaw Roser is an investor in Mothlock. New to the role, isn’t that correct?”
“It is correct,” said Shaw. “Though I’d venture to say I am your most anticipated?” Then he smiled at Corvin—and it was the most concerning smile she’d ever seen.
A flash of irritation swept Corvin’s features. Lux might have missed it if she’d blinked. But she hadn’t, and in the wake of the emotion, an artery pulsed blue in his pale temple.
If she were capable of discretion, she would have kicked Shaw in the ankle for his obvious baiting. She shifted instead. Until her skirt settled over the toe of his polished shoe. She poised her heel over it and stepped down. Hard.
His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing briefly, but he didn’t flinch or even pull his foot away. Instead, Shaw turned the full force of that smile upon her. At once, her insides heated, a flutter in her lower belly flaming to light. The smile that had looked so menacing toward Corvin now looked intentional in a different way.
Shaw reached and she offered her hand. He bent over it, low enough she couldn’t see his face through the fall of his hair. But she could feel his lips brush across her knuckles. She exhaled sharply.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Ms. Thorn.”
Corvin’s fingers flexed against her back, and Lux stammered something unintelligible. She could sense the energy shift around them and couldn’t say who was at fault. Corvin’s shoulders were rigid, while Shaw’s appeared to relax, and Lux thought every muscle of her own would likely ache in themorning—if she made it that far. This was precisely why she’d not ever minded spending her time with the dead.
“You as well,” she replied and made to tug her hand free.
