I tried not to look too star-struck. Elite Bellus had represented the wizards on the Regional Committee of Magic for a while, and just about every wizard idolized him for his kindness and quick wit.

“Elite Bellus.” Killian released my hand long enough to shake Bellus’s, then rested his hand on my lower back. “This is Adept Hazel of House Medeis.”

“Adept Medeis, it is a pleasure.” Bellus shook my hand with a firm grasp. “I was sorry to hear of your parents’ deaths.”

I bowed my head. “Thank you, Elite.”

He nodded. “So what—”

He didn’t get a chance to continue as the Paragon almost bowled him over while careening into the conversation.

“Merely training her to get the maximum benefit, was it?” The Paragon scoffed and shook a finger at Killian. “I knew it! I knew you had a thing for her!”

When Killian, Elite Bellus, and I all stared at him, the Paragon coughed. “That is to say,” he amended, “I knew you cared deeply for her.” He peered from Killian to me. “Are congratulations in order, then? This is all consensual?” He studied me, as if looking for signs that I was being forced into this supposed relationship.

Killian gave the Paragon a smile sharp enough he could have eaten glass. “I am well aware of my reputation, Paragon, but I have to ask if you really think I’m that sort of monster.”

The Paragon folded his arms across his chest and squinted at Killian. “Well, you can be possessive.”

I scooted closer to Killian—if I got in the way he wouldn’t have a clear shot of throttling the Paragon—and patted his chest. “Paragon, you’ve met Elite Bellus, I assume?”

The Paragon shook himself. “Oh, yes, of course. How is your evening, Bellus?”

“Rather more eventful than I imagined.” Elite Bellus smiled politely, then nodded to me. “My wife announced her intention to meet you. Did she get the chance to?”

“Yes,” I said. “She is a beautiful and lovely woman.”

Elite Bellus’s smile turned warm, and he seemed to relax slightly. “She is my heart.”

The Paragon turned to Killian. “So, is Hazel your—”

“Finish that question, and it will be the last thing you say,” Killian stated. His expression was stoic, but there was an extra coat of ice to his voice.

“Touchy,” the Paragon grumbled.

When a server bearing a tray of wine glasses passed him, the Paragon plucked two off and offered one to Elite Bellus, who took it.

I shrugged out of Killian’s arm, which made him look down at me with raised eyebrows, until I took his newly freed hand in both of mine and leaned against his arm, half shielding our joint hands so no one saw me squeeze his fingers in warning.

“It’s okay, Killian,” I said in a lowered tone—my attempt at reminding him we were supposed to appear loving. (He was so used to bickering with the Paragon he probably replied on sheer instinct. I thought.)

Killian stared at me for a few heartbeats, then nodded.

Elite Bellus and the Paragon exchanged looks—of what I couldn’t quite say.

Killian returned his attention to the Paragon. “Have you come any closer to finding what you’re looking for?”

The Paragon sighed. “Not really, no.”

“Excellent, then you are free to help,” Killian said.

“What? No, I’m not.” The Paragon straightened and looked slightly alarmed.

“You don’t have to do anything. I’ll simply use your name now when I speak to the fae Queen of Spring.”

“No, no, no,” the Paragon said. “You can’t do that.”

“I would like to see you stop me.” Killian pulled his hand from mine so he could brush a lock of my blond hair. “Enjoy your conversation with the Elite. Celestina will know where I am.”

I nodded and tried to think of mournful puppies or sad baby seals so I didn’t blush like an idiot. “Okay.”

Killian swept off, a protesting Paragon on his heels. Gavino and Josh moved so naturally with the crowd, I didn’t actually see them leave with the two as much as I noticed they weren’t standing with Celestina.

I took a deep breath and tried to mentally prepare myself. This was an excellent opportunity to bring up Mason. I probably took too long—or my nerves were super obvious, because Elite Bellus spoke first.

He took a sip from his wine glass and peered at me over the rim. “I’d heard you were staying at Drake Hall.”

“Yes,” I said. “Killian offered me safe haven after Mason—a senior wizard from my House—attempted a coup, and I was forced to flee for my life.”

“I’ll be blunt. I thought it was political maneuvering on Killian’s end. He always sees ten years ahead of the rest of us and blocks us before we can even move.” Elite Bellus swirled his wine glass. “All supernaturals know this.”

“…Yes.”

“Which is why it’s shocked us all that his usual rules don’t seem to apply to you.” Elite Bellus studied me. “But I feel that I must give my due diligence, and I’ve heard you’re an intelligent girl, so I will warn you. You’re a wizard, Adept Medeis. Killian Drake’s priority has always been and will always be vampires. He’s ruthless, paranoid, and I don’t entirely know that he can love like the rest of us.”

I blinked at the harsh observation. It was true—or at least true-ish. But it seemed almost cruel the way he painted Killian. “I understand where you’re coming from,” I said slowly. “And perhaps you are right about some things. But I can promise you that Killian does love.”

It was obvious he loved the Drake Family. Yeah, he wasn’t open or doting like some vampires were with their underlings, but I knew he’d sacrifice a lot for his Family.

Elite Bellus, however, interpreted my statement in an entirely different way. “I’ve never seen him the way he is with you. However, Adept, he is manipulative. It suits him to let everyone else believe he’s fallen for you.”

I tried to keep my facial expression as “slightly confused” and hoped that the Elite didn’t realize how right he was.

“And I will give it to you—he gives you freedoms with him that he wouldn’t allow with anyone else. But there is no possible way he holds true love in his heart for you.”

“Actually, I wasn’t referring to—”

“Has he drunk from you?”

“What?”

“Has he fed off you and drunk your blood?”

I blinked hard, barely able to believe Elite Bellus was actually asking that personal a question in the middle of the Summer’s End Ball. “I. beg. your. pardon?” My frustration started to leak through as I wasn’t able to keep all the gruffness out of my voice.

“He hasn’t,” Elite Bellus said. “And he won’t, ever. Killian Drake only drinks from blood pouches. I don’t rightly know the reason why—it’s certainly a personal choice given that he keeps blood donors on staff for his underlings. But he won’t ever drink from you, Hazel. There’s not a clearer sign in the world that he also won’t ever fully love you.”

I sucked a breath in. “I’m surprised.”

“That I know this?”

“No. That you are so rude,” I said. “What does it matter to you—or to anyone—how Killian eats? It’s not my business, and it’s certainly not yours. And yeah, maybe he is cunning, ruthless, manipulative, and a total ass.”

“I didn’t actually say that,” Elite Bellus muttered.

“But whatever Killian and I have between us is exactly that, between us! And you know what? I’m calling you out on your issues! When I ran from my own House—scared for the lives of my family—not a single wizard House would help me. All of House Medeis’s allies abandoned me. Killian took me in, trained me, and protected me when other wizards attacked me. So, yeah. When I finally get House Medeis back—and I say when because I will—if Killian asks for a favor or two, I’m going to help him, because he’s shown more care for me than anyone in the wizarding community has!”

I was starting to attract some attention, but I didn’t care. This was stupid—how could Elite Bellus sweat over my personal life when I met Killian BECAUSE OF A COUP ON MY HOUSE?

“Another thing.” I held up a finger, my smile more savage now. “Don’t you try to give me this ‘I’m concerned for you’ stuff. Neither you nor anyone among the Houses cared enough about me to see if I was even okay until I came in here with Killian, because it finally occurred to you that in your rejection of me you might have given him a foothold in wizard politics. He’s manipulative, but you are obviously just as bad!”

I was pretty sure I’d just bid my opportunity to ask for help a very permanent farewell, but I was so mad I couldn’t see straight.

I mean, really? Was he really going to try and ‘warn’ me when the entire community was so set against me—or so selfish they just didn’t care?

Adept Bellus appeared, a breath of fresh air with her kind smile. “Darling,” she said. “Why are you upsetting Adept Medeis?” Her smile turned apologetic when she turned to me. “Please forgive him, Adept Medeis. His heart is in the right place, but he can be blind at times. I’m sorry for any careless words he might have spoken.”

Elite Bellus stared at his wineglass for a moment, then looked at his wife. “I think I made some improper assumptions and gravely misread the situation.”

“My love,” Adept Bellus smoothly said. “You weren’t even looking in the same direction as the situation.”

Elite Bellus looked past me and paled slightly. “Ah.”

Curious, I twisted around.

Killian was on the other side of the room, but his eyes were almost pitch black as he stared at us. I don’t know that he heard exactly what I had said—there were so many people crammed into the room that even though I had shocked the gossips around me into silence, the rest of the ballroom buzzed with conversation and laughter.