I’d just made it to my room, fresh out of the heels and wiggling my toes with relief, when I got a glimpse of myself in the floor mirror. I stared at my ballgown and hairdo for a while, wishing I’d worn them in better, more relaxing circumstances. The dress itself was a sartorial masterpiece, and I loved every inch of it.

A knock on the door broke me out of my reverie.

I opened it and found Blaze standing in the hallway, the top of his shirt unbuttoned and revealing a portion of his tan, muscled chest as he leaned against the wooden railing behind him. Voices emerged from downstairs, along with the sound of glasses clinking and a single, sad violin.

An awkward silence fell between us as our gazes locked like we were seeing each other for the first time. The Spring Ball had been intense, and Blaze had spent most of the evening with Rewa, after which had come the briefing in the infirmary. We hadn’t really had a chance to catch up.

“Blaze, what’s up?” I finally asked, unable to stand there much longer while I got lost inside the midnight blue of his eyes.

He cleared his throat, then took a step forward, enough to reach the doorway. I felt my temperature rise as he got closer.

“You were definitely right,” he said. “Rewa likes me. She was quite clear about it, actually.”

He wasn’t telling me anything new, but hearing the fact from his lips didn’t exactly make me feel better. Yet, I’d also seen the glances he’d given me throughout the evening, as he’d danced with Rewa. As if he really didn’t want to… be there with her?

I wasn’t sure how to respond other than by shrugging. “Okay… And?”

“Well, it’s a bit awkward for me now, because I do like her as a person… I mean, she’s pleasant enough… But I don’t know what to do with her, how to behave. I don’t want to lead her on…”

“Why are you talking to me about this?” I couldn’t help but blurt out. I frowned, still not sure what he wanted from me. I’d already made it clear that Rewa liked him; he was simply confirming what I’d already pointed out. It felt redundant, and it annoyed me, mainly because we were inches apart and all he could talk about was how he wasn’t into Rewa, while all I could think about was what his arms would feel like around my body.

Damn it, Caia, focus!

Blaze looked a little disheartened by my reaction, as if he’d expected some form of support from me. But I was too busy feeling the sour taste of jealousy to actually focus on his predicament with the Exiled Mara.

That’s it… I think I’m jealous. Not good, not good, not good!

“I came to you because you’re the one who pointed it out in the first place,” he replied. “You’re the one who urged me to be her escort for the Spring Ball.”

And I still regret pushing you in front of the bus like that, because I somehow ended up under the wheels with you…

“I did it for the sake of the mission,” I said, holding my chin up, trying hard not to inhale his intense fragrance. But I could still get a whiff of cedarwood, coriander, and musk—just three of the notes used to craft his cologne, which had presumably been provided by his tailor along with the suit. “I think you’re a big boy and can handle this yourself. I don’t understand how I could possibly help…”

A couple of seconds went by, his gaze persistently set on my face, before his shoulders dropped.

“I figured you might have a more… diplomatic way of letting someone down easily.” He sighed, his shoulder leaning against the doorframe. “I’m not exactly experienced with the ladies.”

His innocent smirk made me giggle.

“Are you serious? With all the hot females drooling over you back in The Shade and on Calliope?” I replied, then stilled as I realized what a magnanimous veiled compliment I’d given him.

I hoped he wouldn’t notice, but he totally did. His eyes twinkled, and that innocent look on his face shifted into a seductive, self-assured smile that sent heatwaves through my flesh.

“You think?” he asked, slowly leaning forward and making me hold my breath for a second. Or two, or three… I lost count. “They can drool all they want. I’ve been under my celibacy oath since the age of sixteen. So I tend to stay away from such social encounters… which is why I’m basically a doofus when it comes to girls. I… I can’t, Caia. I’m not good at that.”

Funny, because you sure are good at giving me heart palpitations…

I shook my head slowly, trying to put myself in his shoes for a moment. Blaze was preposterously handsome, his rough features mellowed by his soft, dark blue eyes. He was big and strong and his broad shoulders could hold an entire planet, like an ancient Greek god. And yet, despite this charm of his that seemed so natural, Blaze didn’t go on dates. He barely talked to girls. As a matter of fact, as I thought back, I realized that I was literally one of the few girls I’d seen him so much as talk to.

“I get where you’re coming from,” I managed, unable to move away from him.

He had a powerful magnetic effect, but he didn’t seem aware of it. That just made him even more attractive, and added to my frustration.

Focus on the mission.

“Here’s the thing,” I continued, and he listened with genuine interest. “You said it yourself. You’ve taken your celibacy oath. But we need Rewa to be friendly and open with you, so we can get more information out of her. Especially given what we’ve uncovered tonight, thanks to Avril and Heron! What if… you tell her about the celibacy oath, and just leave her under the impression that you do like her… but the oath! Are you following me?”

He processed the information, pressing his lips into a thin line.

“So, blame my inability to be with her on the oath…”

“Which is true, so you don’t even have to lie to her.” I gave him an understanding grin and wink.

“But make it sound like I truly resent this oath because now I’ve met her and oh, my, what do I do now, right?”

“Exactly,” I said. “She’s not going to be very happy, but she’ll still be interested in you, because you’re not turning her down, per se!”

“I’m merely a victim of my circumstances.” He feigned dramatic emotional torment.

“You poor soul.” I entertained his theatrical display of victimhood.

We both laughed, and Blaze took a small step forward, probably without even realizing. His face was barely an inch from mine, and we both stilled, staring at each other. He seemed to look right into my soul, and I suddenly felt naked and defenseless, vulnerable, and curious as to what his lips would taste like.

As if hearing my thoughts, said lips slowly parted, while I tried to deal with the deafening sound of my heartbeat echoing in my ears.

Blaze, unfortunately for me, was a master of self-control. He gave me a warm smile and a curt nod, then moved back, and I felt the chill of the night brushing over me in the absence of his hot body so close to mine.

“Thank you, Caia,” he said, his voice low. There was a slight tremor in there, a little hint that maybe he’d been as affected by our physical closeness as me, but I couldn’t be sure.

“It’s okay.” I shrugged.

“See you tomorrow…”

He headed off to his room, and I was left there, standing in the doorway, hints of his fragrance still tickling my nose. I was trying to make sense of what had just happened. We’d gotten so close. Another inch and our lips would’ve met.

That celibacy oath of his was really confusing, because I was starting to think that the attraction was mutual, that we were both drawn to each other but neither knew how to play this game. He had three more years to spend on his own before he could look for a mate.

What would he do, if he liked me?

What could he do? He wouldn’t be the type to lead me on, for sure. I’d just watched him struggle as he tried to find the right words to let Rewa down easily—and she was an Exiled Mara, a complete stranger, and, quite frankly, possibly connected to whatever dark secret the Five Lords were hiding.

I clearly had a thing for him. I’d realized that on our way back from the Spring Ball—fully acknowledged it, that is. But how could I talk to him about it? How would I bring it up?

It wasn’t the right time. We had a mission. We needed to get to the bottom of whatever was going on here and then go home to Calliope.

With my mind refocused on our prime objective, I took a deep breath and closed the door, then locked it, slipped out of my dress, and hid behind the soft bedcovers.

Whatever I was feeling for Blaze, it would have to wait.