Page 44 of Ignition Rites

Talia’s plate is empty by the time Helena’s staff comes for it, and Ash’s might as well be untouched. Mine isn’t much better, but dessert arrives anyway.

Alistair talks about the season, the schedule, some upcoming event dressed in language vague enough that I’ve learned not to ask for specifics until I’m alone with somebody who might actually answer. Cassian says almost nothing, which should make him easier to ignore and doesn’t, because every time his hand moves the ring catches the chandelier light and my memory supplies gold instead.

By the time dinner finally ends, I’ve barely touched dessert. My mother stands to walk Talia out with the graciousness of a woman who seems relieved to have a reason to leave the room, and Talia pauses beside me.

“It was nice meeting you.”

“You too.”

“We should do something sometime that involves fewer witnesses.”

I glance around the room. “Good luck finding that in this family.”

Her laugh is quick and real. “I’ll risk it.”

Then she follows my mother out.

Ash stays behind long enough for me to catch his eye again. There’s hurt there, which I recognize, but something quieter underneath it too, something I don’t know how to read yet. Neither of us looks away until Cassian says my name.

“Lorelei.” Low, only for me. “A word.”

I don’t want to give him one, but my body disagrees before the rest of me gets a vote.

“What?”

“You looked tired tonight.” He says it like an observation rather than concern, though with Cassian I’ve learned those things are sometimes standing closer together than he wants anyone to know.

“More like a bad month. I’ll live.”

“I’m glad to know you plan on surviving.” The corner of his mouth moves, not quite a smile, and then his right hand settles against the edge of the table, the ring catching the light again. I hate that he has to know what that does to me.

“I hear congratulations might be in order,” he says. “For you and Rafe.”

My stomach drops. Of course he heard. I know his box overlooks the circuit, and I never knew whether he was inside it.

“You were watching.”

His eyes stay on mine.

“I was there.”

Not an answer, which is answer enough.

“Everyone heard,” he continues. “There are very few secrets in this family, and even fewer once someone does something in front of half the circuit.”

“Rafe has never been accused of subtlety.”

“No.” Something in his expression shifts. “And apparently neither have I.”

My pulse jumps. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Cassian leans in just enough that his voice doesn’t have to carry.

“Rafe isn’t the only one who wants you.”

For a second I hear nothing except the chandelier humming overhead, and the box comes back whole: his hand at my jaw, the mask, his mouth, the moment he took it off and made sure I knew exactly who I was choosing.

I stare at him. “You don’t get to say that like nothing happened.”