13

Vivienne seemed to take notice of this, but paid it no heed. Instead, she walked toward her brother and gave him a hug. This time, he let go of my hand in order to reciprocate her gesture.

I stepped backward. That’s when I noticed Lucas staring at the hand Derek just let go of. He looked like he wanted to crush it. I balled my fists and hid them behind the silky fabric of the exquisite dress they’d made me wear. I felt Lucas’ eyes on me, traveling along every curve of my body. I wanted to bolt away.

“It’s only a few hours until morning. We’d best get going,” Vivienne said. “I’ll instruct the guards to have the girls brought to their quarters… unless you have other plans.”

Vivienne gave me a pointed look from head to toe, as if she were wondering what was so special about me. That made two of us.

She nodded. “Very well. See you tomorrow, Derek.”

I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved by her goodbye. It meant that I would no longer be in the same room with Lucas, but it also meant that I