Sacrifice of the Heart

oom was s

courtiers who swayed in time with the music. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and

e poised, a delicate mask of indiffere

anged this grand affair to solidify alliances, ensuring the throne's cont

about c

've been quiet

, a man twice her age with wandering hands and an even mor

"Just admiring the

could spew another tired flirta

the ballroo

ned around her gobl

r Mor

end in the underworld, a shadow that stretched

hing. His presence alone made the nobles shift uncomfortably, th

Moretti empire.

ldn't b

ce-one did not interfere with the other. But Vesper had just crosse

he own

royal table, his gaze locked onto hers wi

ng smirk curl

." His dark eyes trailed over her, lingering just long eno

olite. The tone

Moretti heir was addressing the princ

hardened, but before h

moothly, tilting her chin

eepened. "S

s gaze, but beneath it, she saw som

just here

e for some

it was, it

pulse qu

wasn't sure if she was the one playing the g

on impassive, but insid

tension crackling in the air. His presence alone was a challenge, an

here

silence. "I don't recall extending

of respect, but with the calculated precision of a

under the impression this was a gathering to celebrate alliances. And since my family h

nspoken words ben

influence in the underworld kept trade routes safe, debts collected, a

at truth, but even

king's jaw. "Your ass

lara, lingering just long enough for it to be noticed. "I

eyes in the room shift to

a dutiful daughter would. Or respond

se the

etting a slow, amused smile touch her lips.

y, studying her as if she were

k we do," h

ound them. There was meaning in h

tem of her goblet. "And what, exact

the scent of him, something dark and rich, like ced

he said, voice low enough that only she could hear. "And we both kn

eath c

ting moment, she w

About the secret b

s just ano

which answer fri

voice rang through the hall. "Enjoy t

ssal. A

, offering Elara one last look-a look fille

ish, Your

disappeared into the crowd, swallo

knew this

as just th

ted to pretend otherwise,

feeling that Vesper Moretti

here