“Oh, you don’t have to tellmethat,” Juliet said. “I’ve been trying to convince her to come out with me for years. Good on you.”
“How do you two know each other?”
“Juliet dances with me at the Kheimos Company,” Mireille answered.
Juliet snorted. “With her? She’s being incredibly modest. We all dancebehindher. She’s the bright, shining star, and we are but mere shadows cast by her presence.”
Ronin tried to detect any hint of jealousy or sarcasm in the yellow-winged Fae’s words, but found none. Just genuine respect and admiration.
“Have you seen her dance?” Juliet asked him.
“I haven’t yet had the pleasure, but I’m very much looking forward to tomorrow night’s performance.” Ronin aimed an amused smile at Mireille, whose own expression remained guarded.
“Maybe if you’re lucky, she’ll give you a private dance after.” Juliet winked and Ronin laughed heartily.
“Nice to see you, Juliet,” Mireille said in a clipped voice. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Juliet caught the dismissal in Mireille’s tone and shook her head in an exasperated manner. One that informed Ronin the two females had shared many similar exchanges. “Lovely to meet you, Ronin. I’m glad Mireille has found someone to pull her from her lonely existence. Maybe you can convince her to come to dinner with me some time.”
“As long as I don’t want to keep her all to myself,” Ronin said with a waggle of his eyebrows that tugged a sultry chuckle from the young Fae.
“Have fun, you two.” Juliet winked over her shoulder as she sashayed away from their table.
Ronin watched her join a group of Fae in the foyer, whispering and gesturing back towards Mireille and Ronin before exiting the restaurant.
Mireille loosed a breath.
“She seems nice,” Ronin said.
“She seemsnosy.The entire city of Kheimos will be talking about us by morning.”
“Isn’t that the whole point? She clearly admires you and wants to be your friend. Why have you never taken her up on her offer?”
“I don’t do friends,” Mireille bit out. “For many reasons. Not the least of which is my work for the Empire. I don’t want to put her in danger. And I don’t have time for friends anyway. My jobs keep me busy enough.” Ronin aimed a pointed look at Mireille that she missed completely as she snapped out her menu. “Where in the name of Stygios is our waiter? I’m starving.”
Ronin signaled to the waiter that they were ready to order.
The rest of their fake date passed by in rigid, awkward silence. Whatever progress he’d made in trying to get Mireille to open up had been shuttered by Juliet’s appearance.
She tensed when he slipped on her jacket and ushered her out to the street, then nearly elbowed him in the stomach as hepressed a goodnight kiss to her cheek. A calculated move for the remaining patrons watching through the windows.
“I’ll see you at the archives tomorrow,” he said, flagging down a cab and opening the door for her.
She glanced up at him, snowflakes catching in her coppery waves. “I won’t be there tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“None of your fucking business.” She slid across the seat, hauling the door shut behind her.
He huffed out a cloudy sigh as the taillights melted into the night.
Then his wolf released a mournful howl, and Ronin began the long trudge through the slush back to his quiet, lonely apartment.
CHAPTER NINE
Ronin ambled down the red-carpeted aisle of the Grand Ethyrian Theater as the lights flashed to signal the beginning of Friday night’s final performance ofThe Curse of Faurana.
He’d never once attended the ballet, and was nearly as bitter about being forced here tonight as he was about the fawning boyfriend role he’d have to play afterward.
