Chapter 13: Day Five: Trophies and Music

"Too heavy?"

Ivette looked up from the oversized trophy in her grasp and Cian found himself staring into hollow empty eyes.

Her hazel eyes lacked brightness and in its stead, there was only fatigue and resignation. She blinked once, eyes flipping over him swiftly and she raised a lean shoulder before dropping it. "I'm sure yours is heavier."

Indeed, his trophy had been a large monstrous thing and he had had no small pleasure handing it over to Rosalind with the nastiest grin on his face.

However, that hadn't mattered.

He had been watching the lass all afternoon. Not that she had noticed. That was the problem. She hadn't noticed his gaze on her as she'd collected the trophy from the lady presenter.

He couldn't tell what was wrong with her and it disturbed him more than he wanted it to.

"Heading back so quickly?" He asked, tipping his head toward the door from which music flitted out from.

She shrugged. "Dancing is exhausting."

He was