My eyes popped open on Friday afternoon and a bolt of terror shot through my system, bouncing off every organ and nerve, before escaping in a gasp. It took me a moment to right myself, remembering where I was. A faint blue light bounced off the walls around me, reflecting a soft shimmer in the lines of the wallpaper, and I remembered coming home the night before. I’d bought myself one last night of freedom after my father told me to come home, but then I’d run out of excuses.

Following my hair appointment, my father’s guard—and my temporary driver—had taken me back to Matthias’s building and waited for me at the curb. I’d already packed my things the night before, so when I walked in the door, Matthias called the front desk to have a small horde of assistants come haul it all down to the waiting car.

“I feel like I should give you a comments card to fill out,” Matthias had teased, his eyes soft.

I smiled and tossed my freshly trimmed locks over my shoulder. “I’m not sure I’d want to know what yours would say about me.”

“Uses a lot of towels, but overall, a great guest,” he replied, miming like he was writing on a piece of paper.

I laughed, even as I tried my best to look offended. “Well, I’m out of your hair now. You can get back to that rigorous training schedule your mother has lined up for you.”

Matthias laughed but some of the humor evaporated from behind his eyes. “They’re going to have to put me on the turbo-charged plan, I guess. Less than twenty-four hours till the first round.”

My smile faltered. “A little tip—if you’re going to throw your fight, you’re going to have to let the other guy land a really solid punch. Otherwise you’re going to spend the rest of your life getting called out for it. And, when you’re an immortal, that could get really annoying.”

He cocked his head. “Who said I was planning on throwing a fight?”

Startled, I stammered, tripping over my words. “Well—I—it’s just that you—well, you’ve made it clear you didn’t volunteer for this thing, so, I—”

He laughed softly, letting me off the hook. “Training or not, I’m not worried about my odds.”

Still flustered, I shook my head. “You do realize that if you win this thing, that means I’m going to be back here again. For a slightly longer stay.”

He grinned. “I guess we’d have to register somewhere that sells really nice towels.”

Without warning, my stomach flipped, going rogue along with my heart that insisted on slamming into my ribs like it was on an escape mission.

The room was suddenly too hot, and I backed away, heading for the front door. It was wide open, the last of my suitcases being hauled out by one of the well-dressed hotel employees. Matthias planted one hand on the doorframe and called out his thanks to the man’s back. He turned, offered a salute, and then ducked into the elevator. “Coming, Miss?” he called, leaning out to consult me.

I turned and held up a finger. “I’ll take the next one. Send it back up?”

The man nodded and disappeared back into the elevator. The doors slid shut and Matthias and I were alone.

His cologne wrapped me up and held me fixed in place, my face a few inches from his. “Thanks again,” I said. “For everything.”

His green eyes flashed as they found mine again. “Anytime.”

My eyelids felt heavy. They slid closed of their own volition as Matthias’s fingers moved to the soft spot under my chin. “Lacey, I should—”

Whatever he was about to say was shattered by the elevator dinging.

I almost growled, my eyes opening into thin slits.

Matthias spooked and went ramrod straight. His hands shot into the pockets of his slacks and he gave me a nervous smile. “There’s your ride.”

“Right,” I said, my heart stilling its frantic parade. “Uh, guess I better get going.”

He pushed off the doorframe and followed me to the elevator. I hitched my purse up a little higher on my shoulder, mostly to have something to do with my hands, and then pressed the button for the lobby. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I told him, flashing a smile I didn’t fully feel.

“Tomorrow,” he repeated. The doors started to slide closed and he hurried to say, “Oh, and Lacey, I forgot to tell you, but your hair looks great. I like the new cut.”

“Thanks.”

The doors closed and I began my descent.

Even now, a full day later, the memory of the strange encounter had me twisted up like a pretzel. From the look of the sheets, I’d been tangling with it in my sleep, trying to make sense of it with my unconscious mind. I twisted and pulled until I was free of the soft pink linens and then slipped from the bed. I padded to the bathroom, stretching my arms over my head as I went, and yawned loudly.

I was halfway through washing my face, when there was a soft knock on my bedroom door. A twinge of sadness resonated, remembering the night of the gala, and my relief at finding Jupiter on the other side. I knew she wouldn’t be there now.

The face greeting me wasn’t Jupiter, but it was the face of the next best thing: Aunt Gemma.

“Lacey!” she beamed, though a watery sheen coated her blue eyes.

I squealed loudly, tears instantly pooling at the corners of my own vision as I launched myself into her waiting embrace.

Words sputtered from my mouth but quickly turned to blubbering as I sobbed against my aunt’s shoulder. I hadn’t expected to feel so utterly overwhelmed at seeing her again, but once I started, I couldn’t reign myself back in. She was patient and stroked my hair, waiting until I pulled myself back under control. When it passed, I blew out a long puff and pulled back to arm’s length. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too, darling girl.” She reached behind her and I noticed for the first time that she hadn’t come empty-handed. A luggage cart stood in the hall, laden with suitcases and garment bags.

“What’s all this?” I asked, eying the impressive collection.

“Oh, your uncle and I were in Milan a few weeks ago and I bought you some things. A way of making it up to you that I missed your big gala.”

My jaw dropped. “This is all for me? Uncle Kev must have gone apoplectic.”

Gemma laughed and flapped a hand before tugging on the cart and wheeling it into the room. “What he doesn’t know, can’t hurt him. I had everything shipped home directly from the stores. No shopping bags, no raised eyebrows.” She laughed at her own devious planning and then continued, “Besides, you’re my only niece. What kind of an aunt would I be if I didn’t spoil you?” She glanced around. “Did you like the dress I sent over? Jupiter assured me you would get it. Where is she, by the way?”

My smile flatlined. “You don’t know?”

“Know what?”

I peeked past her and then pushed the door closed. It took a second to find a jumping-off point, but within a few minutes of hushed whispers, I had her up to speed.

Gemma, rightfully so, was horrified. “Why didn’t Geoffrey say anything? We just had dinner with him last night! When I asked why you weren’t in attendance, he said you’d stayed overnight in the city for a spa day.”

“Technically, that wasn’t a lie. I got back here late, past midnight. As for why he didn’t tell you about Jupiter, I honestly don’t know. My guess is he would rather talk about his death-match preparations,” I replied, my tone bitter.

Her expression shifted. “I’m sorry, honey. If there was something I could do to knock that idea out of his mind, you know I would. I tried for weeks to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen. I debated sending you a letter with a warning, but I worried that—” She stopped and winced.

“That I would run,” I said, filling in the blanks.

“Well, that it would only make it harder for you,” Gemma said, though it was clear my version was accurate.

She’d never directly asked me about my involvement in Melanie’s escape from the mansion, but I figured that was because she already knew the answer. Though she was my father’s sister, she couldn’t be more different than her older brother. Gemma was fierce, no doubt about it. I wouldn’t want to make an enemy out of her. But, as her niece, I’d only ever experienced her love and support. She was one of the few people—if not the only one—I could count on anymore.

“He’s downright beastly sometimes,” she fumed.

“Preaching to the choir on that one, Auntie.” I moved to the cart and unzipped the first garment bag. Inside, a blood red dress with intricate beadwork hung on a velvet-wrapped hanger. I gasped and Gemma scooted in closer. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?” she gushed. “There’s a ruby choker and matching earrings around here somewhere.”

I smiled at her. “Thank you, Gemma.”

“Truly, honey, this is the least I could do.” Her words were heavy, a lingering sadness tugging at them. Her blue eyes were identical to mine, a family trait, and as we looked at one another, they glossed over. She sniffed and turned away, working to unzip the next garment bag. “What did Athena say?”

I smiled at the hint of nastiness in her voice. The two had never been best buddies, even less so now that my mother insisted on parading her younger lovers around before the Court. I knew they’d shared information after my exile, but I also knew the exchanges were likely to have been as utilitarian as possible.

“She thinks the tournament is a bad idea, but agrees that I need to get married and take my rightful place,” I replied, mimicking my mother’s voice for the last bit.

Gemma scoffed. “She’s one to talk! If she is so concerned with what the Court thinks, then perhaps she should stop parading around with a new boy-toy every other week.” She stopped and glanced up at me. “Sorry. I just mean—”

“No need,” I interjected, holding up a hand. “I get it. Jupiter told me Mother and Father had a blow up and she hasn’t been to Court since. What was that all about?”

“Oh, stars. It was the most ridiculous thing.”

“Shocker.”

Gemma laughed, the sound melodic and comforting. “Athena wants to put a swimming pool in at her home. Your father has told her no a dozen times, but she keeps pushing. A couple weeks back, she actually brought it before the Assembly of Lords and Ladies as an item of discussion. Like it was a real budgeting concern!”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course she did.”

“As you can imagine, that went up in flames and the mudslinging they’ve been doing went to a whole new level. Your father banned her from future Assemblies until she agreed to make a public apology for wasting their time, which is about as likely as the River Styx turning into chocolate milk!”

I snorted against the back of my hand, the entire scene playing out like some slapstick comedy. “How did the two of them ever end up married in the first place?”

“It’s been so long ago now, even I can’t remember. But, I suppose there was a time when their fire worked for them and not against them.”

I wrinkled my nose, not wanting to wander too far down that road.

“Speaking of …” Gemma started, letting her words trail off. She glanced at me cautiously. “As much as I know you wish this whole thing wasn’t happening, I don’t see this ending with anything less than a betrothal. Geoffrey told us there are eight—well, I suppose seven, now—contenders.”

I grimaced.

“Anyone stand out?” A tiny smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. “Surely they’re not all ogres like that guard that follows your father like a lost dog.”

“You picked that up too, huh?” I smirked and fingered the fine lace on a black evening gown I’d uncovered from yet another protective bag.

“There must be someone who’s caught your eye,” she pressed gently.

I sighed, my fingers sliding down the length of the dress. “I don’t know much about any of them, really. After the attack, my father shipped me off, you know, for my safety, to stay with Matthias Hartford.”

Gemma’s dark eyebrows lifted. “Oh?”

My pulse quickened and I concentrated on a pair of glittering shoes at the bottom of the cart, tamping the rush of excitement back down. “He lives at The Poseidon. My father thought it would be easier to guard than locking down this whole place. In reality, he probably just wanted me out of his way. Well, and he needed time to make sure the staff got the blood out of my carpet …”

I shuddered, shaking away the dark thought. As it was, I’d been informed the mattress on my bed had been replaced.

“What do you think of him?” Gemma asked, keeping her tone casual even though I knew the question packed some serious heat.

“He’s—he’s fine.”

“Fine? Or fine?” she asked, wiggling her brows.

“Gemma!”

She laughed. “Oh, come on. You can’t fool me, honey. I could have seen that pink flush in your cheeks from twenty paces.”

“Ugh!” I raked my fingers through my hair. It was a little mussed from sleep, but mostly straight from the blow-out at the salon the day before. “He’s handsome, all right? There, I said it. But that doesn’t matter. He’s made it very clear he doesn’t want to be involved in this tournament and has shown no interest in winning the grand prize,” I told her, keeping my voice matter of fact. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he threw his round and exited the game early.”

Gemma scoffed. “Well, if he does, then he wasn’t the right one anyway.”

“None of them are the right one, Auntie.”

“How do you know that?”

“The only reason any of them are in this stupid contest is because they want the title, the money, the land. They don’t want me.”

Gemma frowned at me, her head slightly tilted. “It’s not like you to have such a lack of confidence. What’s going on?”

“It’s not an issue with my confidence. Under any other circumstances, having a bunch of men fighting over me wouldn’t phase me. I’d probably like it.” I smiled but it faded quickly. “While I was away, I had my pick of any man I wanted. Human or otherwise. But back here, in this haven, I know the real motive behind their eyes when they look at me.”

Apparently Gemma didn’t have anything to counter with and she gave a sad nod, all the spark drained from her eyes.

We continued looking at the gowns and shoes, keeping our conversation to comments about beadwork and stitching. When we finished going through everything, Gemma circled back around and picked up the hanger from the first dress she’d shown me.

“I think this one will look stunning on you,” she said, pulling the red gown from its sheath. “Do you want to wear it tonight? I can have someone over to do any alterations in a snap.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“Would you like me to come back and help you get ready for tonight?” Gemma asked, her expression solemn.

“I’m not sure ready is an attainable goal, but sure. I just want to get this night over with.”

She gave me a wistful smile, pressed a kiss to my forehead, and turned to leave the room, promising to see me in a few hours.

Once the door was closed, I sagged onto the edge of the bed, laid down, and pulled the covers back up over my head. Before I drifted back to sleep, the image of a pair of emerald-green eyes flitted by.