OBSIDIAN VINES

DIAN

The Spark &

E: Blood in

evelation. The only questio

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la was

needed to

olins echoing across gold-leafed halls, women in black velvet and men in tailored silk.

out th

ils about our shipments. I didn't know who they were yet, but I

No blood.

n, and my eyes watching eve

essed in a black tux and a

t suspect,

shou

ant her

lil

ot on th

never

glass of whiskey. "Wha

e w

f she

ed at t

we d

I

n't my

long in cas

how to pl

s Venetian gold, the eyes dark and feline. I wore heels I could stab a m

ldn't go,

ave

im. He might

s the

imself. Gold gates. Armed guards in tuxedos. Va

it was

ce. Every chandelier glittered like a lie.

en I s

the b

ssian arms dealer, laughin

ai Mo

ir slicked back. His lips curled in that sign

one second.

ile va

yes l

world sl

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n't b

ldn

by vengeance itself. Gold mask. Red dress. Bare shoulders dust

was

ust D

e

ne who stitched my wound. The

e floor in t

f a drum I cou

ith me,"

a hello?"

ould be

hand. "Then

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ched. Of course they did. The prince of Carmine City had ta

idn't h

saw wa

t without blood on

k different without

carry

angerous

in. My hand slid along her waist,

'd come," s

hop

hy

n't stopped thi

I

that dance w

E

y mi

mys

the warmth of his palm and the scent of his cologne. In

nted to

ugh I kn

came here to

ong e

ed to p

voice st

traitor in

fr

Not directly. But his eyes n

ed-toward a

with

don

u trus

N

ollow me

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e city glittered in the distance like a

d her a

now someone's lea

iccis?" s

odd

tel

nk you might k

t change. Not even a

ld I?" s

u play a deeper gam

ack to the raili

ant you o

laug

eep. Da

even know

you stitch wounds like a surgeon and l

ughter

l, Nikolai

hy

makes even the st

e shot

GU

tore the ballroom in half.

ao

cien's voice crackled in my earpiece: "Sniper. East tower. On

rge

been you. Might'v

d down

as sh

ot af

tr

side,"

N

not bull

er are

I

ed me wit

tor. Like a man c

the dance floor. The man who'd drop

sn't an ass

a provo

arn

was a tra

ne flipped

ien, lock the perimeter. No

u going to d

oked

mask off t

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