The air in the suite turned ice-cold, despite the bright morning sun pouring through the windows.
My heart slammed against my ribs like a trapped bird, but I forced my chin up, keeping my face a stone-hard mask. "Julian! What a surprise. You must be confused. My name is Elizabeth. If this is some bizarre high-society joke—"
"Save it, love," Julian interrupted softly, taking a leisurely sip from his glass. He set it down on a glass side table with a light, deliberate clink, then walked toward me. His steps were slow, unhurried, dripping with the effortless confidence of a man holding all the cards.
He stopped just two feet away. Up close, his bright blue eyes weren't warm anymore—they were razor-sharp, sparkling with a terrifying, playful intelligence.
.
"Mara Collins," he murmured, hi
