59

Eira's pov

The chandeliers sparkled above my head like constellations carved in crystal. Laughter flowed like wine, smooth and just sweet enough to make you forget the undertones of venom in every word exchanged.

This wasn't just a gala,it was a battlefield dressed in silk and lace.

I walked through the ballroom, glass of champagne in hand, wearing the blood-red gown Draven had chosen for me. A distraction, he'd called it. A stage to keep rival syndicates entertained while we shifted power behind velvet curtains.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were following me too closely. Not the usual admiration or envy,something colder. More deliberate.

I paused near the terrace doors, letting the night air curl against my skin. And then I heard it. A voice I hadn't expected to hear in years.

"She looks good for someone who sold out her own," the man whispered.

I froze.