“Of course.”
The partners drifted away as a unit, but their attention remained: a weight on Ava’s shoulders, eyes tracking them from across the room.
“They know,” she whispered.
“They suspect. There’s a difference.” Victor guided her toward the bar. “We just have to?—”
“Victor.” Lilith appeared from nowhere, crimson dress clinging to every curve. “Dance with me.”
“I’m with Ava.”
“One dance. For old times’ sake.” She smiled at Ava, all teeth and poison. “You don’t mind, do you? It’s just a dance.”
Every instinct screamed to say no. But refusing would look possessive. Insecure. Exactly what Lilith wanted.
“Of course not,” Ava said. “I could use a drink anyway.”
Victor stiffened, but Lilith was already pulling him toward the dance floor. The string quartet shifted to something slow and intimate, a waltz, maybe, or something older. Ava watched Lilith press herself against him, one hand on his shoulder, the other clasped in his.
They moved together like they’d done this before. Because they had, probably. Centuries of history written in the way their bodies knew each other’s rhythms.
Lilith whispered something in Victor’s ear. He shook his head. She laughed, leaning closer, her lips nearly brushing his jaw.
“Painful, isn’t it?”
She turned. Cassandra stood beside her in stunning silver, champagne flute held with practiced elegance. Her silver hair was swept up to reveal a neck that could have launched ships.
“What?”
“Watching her touch him.” Cassandra sipped her drink, watching the dance floor with knowing eyes. “Lilith is excellent at finding exactly where to push. She’s had millennia to perfect it.”
On the floor, Lilith’s hand slid from Victor’s shoulder to his chest. Proprietary. Familiar.
“I’m not…” Ava started.
“You’re in love with him.”
The words landed like stones. Ava said nothing.
“He loves you too,” Cassandra continued. “I’ve known Victor for longer than you can imagine. Watched him build walls sohigh even sunlight couldn’t reach him. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
“How does he look at me?”
“Like you’re the first thing he’s wanted in centuries that he’s afraid to lose.”
On the dance floor, Lilith whispered something else. Victor’s expression didn’t change, but Ava saw his shoulders tense, saw him deliberately increase the distance between their bodies.
“What’s she saying to him?”
“Lies mixed with truth. It’s her specialty.” Cassandra touched Ava’s arm, the first time she’d initiated contact. “She’ll try to convince him he’s not capable of love. That he’s using you. That everything he feels is just the arrangement playing tricks on his ancient, withered heart.”
“Is any of that true?”
Cassandra’s smile was sad. “The beautiful thing about Victor is that he genuinely doesn’t know. He’s been alone so long he doesn’t trust his own feelings.” She finished her champagne. “Don’t let her win.”
The song ended. Victor stepped away from Lilith immediately, putting distance between them like he was escaping a fire. His eyes searched the crowd, scanning, hunting, until they found Ava.
He crossed the room in quick strides, desperation in his face.
