JACE

"Excellent." She pulled back the items before I could retrieve them from her hands. "To be clear, you will give the gu worm to Fabian Velle tonight at the Governor’s Ball. In exchange, you get the means to exact revenge on Penelope Shire. You are willing to pay the price for your vengeance?"

"Yes," I said impatiently.

She put the case and pouch next to her on the divan. She reached out a hand. "We have a deal."

I enveloped her hand and squeezed.

I felt a sting in my wrist, and yanked my hand back. I looked at the tiny drop of blood welling from my skin. She showed me her pinky nail, which had a pointed gold cover on it.

"My insurance," she said.

"What the hell did you do?"

"Poisoned you."

"Why you---"

She wagged a finger. "Now, now, Mr. Willowmarch. I understand the nature of the people I deal with, especially those who seek to ruin others. As long as you do what you promised tonight, you’ll be fine. You’ll need to return to me in the next twenty-four hours for the antidote. Once I’ve given you that, our business will be concluded."

"Give me the antidote now."

"It’s not here. It’s kept elsewhere, and only I can retrieve it. So, while you go keep your promises, I will go keep mine."

"How can I trust you?" I said. "You poisoned me!"

"Unlike most of the people I deal with, I keep my word. If I say I will do something, I will do it. So, I’m telling you, again, that as long as you give the gu worm to Fabian Velle, I will give you the antidote to the poison. It will stop your heart in twenty-four hours. You have no choice but to trust me."

"Fine," I said. "I’ll do as you say."

She handed me the case and the pouch. "Good luck, Mr. Willowmarch. I’ll see you soon."

***|***|***

After Jace Willowmarch left Courtesan Lila’s room, the man hiding behind the false wall came out. "You’ll give him the antidote?"

"I will keep my word to him. What happens after is a different matter." She turned. Opened one of the tiny drawers on the tall cabinet and withdrew a piece of paper. "This is the location of Daisy. I’m afraid the family she was sold to isn’t well known for their kindness to servants."

"A fact Jace Willowmarch no doubt knew when he sold her to them." The man accepted the paper. "As for what we discussed earlier..."

"I will never forget what I owe Duke Stonehart. I will be his knife any time he needs." She smiled. "Give him my regards, Mr. Hune. And tell him I can’t wait to drink the wine at his wedding."

***|***|***

SOPHIA

"You’ve been searching for Daisy?" I felt tears crowd my eyes. "Truly?"

"She’s important to you, Sophia," said Nathan, "so she’s important to me. Don’t worry. Hune will find her and we’ll bring her home."

I thew myself into the Duke’s arms and sobbed with my face pressed against his shirt. "Thank you, Nathan. Thank you so much."

"You’ll have to change your shirt," said Alara from across the bedroom. "You can’t go to the Governor’s Ball with tear stains on the fabric. Sophia, darling, you’ll cry yourself puffy and ruin your makeup. C’mon. We still have to finish styling you."

I sniffled as I pulled back from Nathan. "Are you sure you want me to go with you to the ball? I know you need to be there, but ... I don’t want to be any trouble."

"You can be as much trouble as you want. And I’ll buy a hundred shirts for you to ruin," he said.

"The two of you can be quite nauseating," said Alara. "Can you stop being moon-eyed for the next hour? Long enough for me to do my job properly?"

We grinned at each other.

An hour later, Alara stood back and looked at us with eagle eyes. Then she clapped her hands together. "Perfect!"

Nathan wore a white shirt, black jacket and pants with silver trim, a white tie with a silver and diamond tie pin, and black leather boots. He was so gorgeous, I didn’t want him to go outside where other women could look at him.

I wore a shoulderless silver gown with a flared skirt and scooped neckline. Black diamonds dotted the band around my waist. My jewelry, which was drop earrings and a diamond choker with a black diamond in its middle, echoed the feel and style of the dress.

Alara’s stylists had curled my hair and pinned into an elaborate bun that had braids and swoops and swirls. Diamond hair pins criss-crossed the main chignon. My shoes were silver flats. Comfortable and easy to walk in. I loved them.

"You two look like you were matched in heaven," said Alara. She handed us each a silver half-mask. They were copies of each other, except that Nathan’s was larger.

"Masks designed for a couple," stated Alara. "Don’t lose them. They’re made from real silver and diamonds and cost a fortune." She dabbed the corners of her eyes. "This is my best work. I’m so proud."

***|***|***

SOPHIA

In the carriage, Nathan sat next to me. We were holding hands. His thumb stroked my ring finger. "You don’t wear the band that Jace got you?"

"Not since I was..." I trailed off. I hadn’t told Nathan I was reborn. Would he think I was crazy if I said I had lived a previous life and died by Penelope’s hand? That I knew what the next three years would like if I remained married to Jace? How did one confess such a weird experience? "No. I don’t wear it."

"I’ll get a new ring to celebrate our marriage, Sophia. It’ll be bigger, shinier, and more beautiful than whatever trash he bought you."

I laughed. "I think his mother actually bought it. She wouldn’t give me the heirloom ring from Jace’s grandmother because she still wears it. I don’t think she ever liked the idea of giving up the title of the Willowmarch matriarch."

"Who cares about her?" asked Nathan. "The Willowmarches will no longer be in your future, Sophia." He tipped my chin up. "The only man I want in your eyes and in your heart is me. Because you will be the only woman I will ever love in this life and the next."