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Okay, motherfucker. What the actual fuck?

Rushing to catch up with his infuriating stride, I hissed, “That’s it?!”

“Were you expecting a promenade?” he scoffed as we descended the servant stairwell’s tight spiral.

“No explanation?”

“Was one needed?” he drawled coolly.

I gaped after him, full fish face activated, until the back of his infuriating head vanished around the tight turn in the stone wall. Nearly stumbling in my rush to catch up, I snapped, “Am I supposed to be flattered? That I satisfy you?” I emphasized the last two words, rounded the stairs, and nearly collided with him.

Hard eyes drilled into mine. One hand rested lightly on the railing; the other snapped to my waist, keeping me a foot away as though I wasn’t the only one who needed steadying.

He said nothing. Just held that stone mask in place while I glared at him, the stairs eating up our height difference for once.

“I’m so relieved that you find my performance adequate.”

His perfectly sculpted brow arched. “Would you rather take Marlana up on her offer? I assure you, she meant it.” His eyes flicked toward the space below us, and before I could snarl a retort, his warm hand settled over my lips. My eyes flew wide. “Not. Here.”

Without another word, the bastard shook his head and turned away, giving me his back again. Chest heaving, face flaming, I sucked down steadying breaths—in for four, hold for five, out for six. Again. Again. Finally, I blew out a livid exhale and followed, finding my escort halfway down the hall.

Apparently, I wouldn’t be getting any answers today.

His pace slowed, left arm lifting in clear expectation. Blood whooshed in my ears as I quickened my steps, looped my arm through his, and let the most confusing monster in history guide me across the marble floors.

“Your target is a bit of an unknown to us.”

“Of course,” I gritted back. Right to business. Why I would ever hope for anything else was beyond me.

“Distinctly private. Reclusive. I attempted to garner his allegiance myself, but he’s proven… unpredictable. Unfortunately for me, I cannot read his kind. His appetites, I fear, are also unknown. Tread carefully. I trust you know how to lure a man in without compromising yourself.”

“All good pets do,” I muttered under my breath.

“Later, Briar. Focus,” he warned as we rounded the corner into the ballroom.

There wouldn’t be a later. Not if I succeeded. Even as I thought it, I spun through alternatives, hoping the noise might scramble whatever he could see.

I scanned the attendees. Bartholomew, Cáit, Will, and Cora laughed beside banquet tables lining the far wall beneath the windows. Fletcher’s hazel eyes snapped to me the moment I entered; he offered a sweet smile before returning to his conversation with the girls from last week. So, apparently, this was a family affair after all. Both sides of the bloodline were present, as far as I could tell.

Well, shit. That hadn’t been the intention, but in my defense, the Hadriana line had done nothing to right the crimes of the Balaskas. Fitting, perhaps, that their fates would be the same—even if the thought made me want to puke.

More people had come than I expected, and nerves squirmed in my belly.

It didn’t matter. It didn’t change anything.

The plan was still in place, no matter what hurdles tonight threw at me. I just needed to sit close enough to Moros to make it work.

I scanned the room, following the creeping sensation over my skin until I found Moros and Marlana beside a man who looked more sibling than long-lost acquaintance.

Same unearthly pale skin and paler hair. Same vortex of power at his center, the world around him dimming and tugging toward his chest. Like Mags, Ally, and August, he possessed a gravitational pull. The room seemed to lean toward him.

Adrastos straightened beside me as the newcomer did the same, motioning to two equally monochromatic souls at the front of his formidable guard. Silver cufflinks flashed against his pinstriped suit as he tugged a woman forward for introductions.

He was laughing. This alleged king I was supposed to entertain long enough for the Balaskas siblings to get in his ear was laughing as though all was right with the world.

For that matter, the entire ballroom was… jovial. No one else seemed to carry the burden weighing down my shoulders—or Adrastos’, for that matter. His back remained rigid as he tugged me along at his side.

“Good evening,” he rumbled, dipping his chin. Adrastos looked down at me, a million unsaid things buried in hard eyes that begged for compliance without giving a single thing away. “Doctor Briar, I would like to introduce you to our cousin, King⁠—”