Killian led with me right behind him.

It was a different feeling from getting sucked into the Paragon’s pocket realm. The fog left a strange, mist-kissed feeling on my skin and seemed more gel-like. The floor seemed to spin under my feet, and the next step I took I left the carpeted rug of the Curia Cloisters and stepped onto marble flooring, my heels producing a quiet tap on the rock.

The world was muffled, and then music broke through—the sweet song of stringed instruments combined with the soothing tones of a piano.

We had stepped into a ballroom—like, a legit ballroom. It was two stories tall with Grecian columns that bled up into sculptures of fae, wizards, vampires, werewolves, werecats, and what I thought was a pair of elves popping out of the ceiling as if they were coming to join in the festivities. There were three massive chandeliers that were bigger than me, but the room’s exterior was lit by bobbing lights that emitted the faint buzz of wizard magic, and the tables—bursting with so much food I was surprised they hadn’t collapsed—had glowing crystals that gave off a whiff of floral fae magic.

I slightly shook my head, trying to adjust to my new surroundings, and let Killian lead me farther in.

Already there were crowds—one large crowd was clustered around the tables of food. Another much smaller group was dancing to the music, but lots of people milled about, too.

The vampires were easy to recognize—they all seemed drawn to Killian the moment he entered, and all of them were wearing formal clothing that was at least fifty years out of style.

When they noticed that he had his arm curled around me, their pale faces and red eyes all shifted to me.

Killian tapped my lower back with his thumb. Was I ready?

I drew in a breath and put on a smile, then tried to laugh without sounding like an idiot as Killian lifted his arm to drape it over my shoulder.

“It’s all so beautiful here!” I reached up and entangled my fingers with his hand that cupped my bare shoulder. “Thank you for bringing me!”

Killian smiled down at me, multiplying his attractive factor by ten. “Of course. Anything you wish for will be yours, Hazel.”

I think the most impressive actors of our bunch were actually Celestina, Josh, and Gavino. They didn’t even blink at our disgusting exchange. (I was also soooo glad Killian had decided against bringing Rupert. I don’t know that the red-haired vampire could have kept himself from looking disgusted.)

A woman dressed in what appeared to be a renaissance-era gown edged closer to us. “Your Eminence.” She glanced curiously at me. “And…?”

“Adept Hazel—of House Medeis,” I said.

“You are accompanying His Eminence today?” the vampire asked. I admired her guts—she certainly wasn’t wasting any time!

“Rather, I am accompanying her.” Killian played with the sleeve of my gown and smirked down at me.

The woman gaped at the pair of us, her head slowly swiveling to look from Killian to me.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m afraid I don’t know your name. You are…?” I held out my hand, expecting to shake hers and hopefully hint that she was supposed to supply a name, but I was shocked when she took my hand and bent over, touching my fingers to her forehead.

“I beg your pardon for the intrusion. Enjoy your evening, Your Eminence, Adept Medeis.” She tottered off without saying anything more, and even though she didn’t speak a word, enough supernaturals were gifted with extra strong senses and hearing, so whispers rippled out around us in waves.

Two female vampire flicked fans open and whispered to each other behind their painted surfaces. A ring of three Alphas rumbled to each other in lowered voices as they watched us, and based on the faint “what?” and the gaping looks, a whole set of Adepts had just found out.

Killian tugged a little on my arm, scooping me closer to his side. “It seems we’ve made a splash, my Wizard. Where should we go first?”

I craned my head out past his arm to peer around, then looked up at him. “Food?”

Killian stared down at me.

“What? It took a long time to get ready. I didn’t even get lunch!”

Killian made a soft exhale of laughter that I doubt many heard. “Fine. I’ll get you fed.”

I slipped out from underneath his arm so I could tuck mine in his. “It’s an investment. This way I don’t get hangry on anyone.”

“What a terrifying thought.”

We made it to the tables of food—which cleared of party-goers like magic. I was starting to see the unexpected benefits of coming with Killian; this just might make the night even more fun than I hoped!

I took a plate and filled it at the first table—various cheeses and special smoked meats that the werewolves had been chowing down on—when I saw the dessert table where I thought I saw my favorite dessert ever, tiramisu. I shoved my cheese and meat plate into Killian’s hands for safekeeping, then hustled my way over to the desserts.

China cups of chocolate mousse, squares of delectable tiramisu, pyramids of macaroons, and ramekins of creme brulee filled the table. I took one of each, then made my way back to Killian with my sweet treasures.

“You’re going to begin with dessert?” Killian asked when I took a forkful of my tiramisu.

“Sure,” I said. “You only live once!” I popped my tiramisu in my mouth, and it took a lot of effort not to hum with happiness. It was so rich and creamy, and the faint coffee flavor was amazing!

I took another forkful, and noticed Killian watching. “Want a bite?”

He blinked down at me.

If we had been at Drake Hall I would have rolled my eyes and said something about getting him a juice pouch, but given that we were actively trying to encourage the image that we were romantically involved, I didn’t think that would really help our case.

So instead I put on my brightest smile and shoved the fork into his mouth.

That got a reaction out of everyone around us—including Celestina, Gavino, and even Josh. The trio guarding us tensed, and slowly raised their gazes to Killian, fear crackling in the set of their shoulders. Someone in the crowd audibly gasped, and the dinner crowd stepped back even farther away from us.

For a moment I froze. Had I gone too far? I mean, I had pulled him into the freaking pool earlier that summer. I didn’t think force-feeding him a bite of tiramisu was that terrible of a deed. I slowly looked up, fearing what expression I’d see as I pulled the fork from his mouth.

Killian licked his lips, his expression thoughtful. “It’s not bad,” he finally said. “It’s not disgustingly sweet like most human desserts.”

“That’s because it has coffee in it.” I was pretty impressed that my voice didn’t shake as I got another forkful of the dessert for myself. I glanced up at him again, trying to discern if he was going to make me run miles after the ball out of spite, but he wasn’t looking down at me with the promise of death.

He held my plate out with one hand and rested the other hand on my hip as he studied the other guests—giving me the kind of casual mindfulness you only show people you inherently trust.

I have to take it back. He’s by far the best actor here. Way better than Celestina and the others. I finished my tiramisu and other desserts and tried tugging my cheese and meat plate from Killian’s hands.

Killian, not quite relenting, took my empty plate and handed me my full one. “I see someone I need to talk to,” he said. “Will you be fine by yourself?”

“Of course!” I chirped like a good little idiot. “Enjoy.”

Killian gave me that slick smile of his, forged especially for those standing in a fifteen-foot diameter around us. “You too.” He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, then prowled off.

Gavino and Josh followed him, though Celestina stayed with me.

“Hey, Celestina, want some cheese?” I asked. “It’s really good.”

Celestina laughed and smiled, then leaned closer and whispered under her breath. “I don’t know whether to compliment you for your nerves of steel, or call you an idiot.”

“I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” I whispered back. “I’ve seen everyone from Drake Hall eat human food.” I’d sat with them and watched while they ate and laughed and drank at the required dinners.

“Except for His Eminence,” Celestina reminded me, shattering the memory.

I winced. “Will he get sick?”

“No. It’s a personal preference. But his reaction explained a few things I’ve wondered about,” Celestina said.

“Huh?” Clueless, I turned around to properly face her, but I was too late.

A slender woman built like a gymnast and a gorgeous buxom woman who appeared to be approximately in her late 40s were hustling in my direction. Going off her eyes, the gymnast had to be a werewolf—her eyes were a piercing shade of blue found only in wolves. The buxom woman’s dress had a wizard coat of arms stitched in the fabric so she was probably a wizard—even though I would have thought she was too beautiful to be just a human.

The wizard stopped short of me and tapped her clutch on the thigh of her well-fitted, mermaid-style gown. “So,” she said. “You are the little Adept who has captured the best of the vampires. Impressive!”

The werewolf delicately wrinkled her nose and shoved her hands in the pockets of her pantsuit. “Personally, I wouldn’t have believed it ol’ Rock Face ever deigned to love a woman, but he positively reeks of your scent, and his smell is plastered all over you. The nose doesn’t lie.” She winked, then tapped her nose.

The wizard set her hand on the werewolf’s shoulders. “He let her feed him. Have you ever seen Killian Drake eat or drink in public before?”

“Not in the Regional Committee of Magic meetings,” the werewolf said.

Both women swung their gazes back to me and studied me intently.

I fidgeted. “Um…I’m sorry, who are you?”

“I apologize—where are our manners?” the wizard laughed.