The garden air was cooler than inside, crisp enough that it raised goosebumps along my bare arms. I was grateful for the distance from the hall, but not for the man walking beside me.
Darius stopped near the fountain, his hands clasped behind his back, face unreadable in the moonlight. He didn’t bother looking at me right away, and somehow that made the silence worse.
“So much for keeping to yourself,” he said finally, his tone flat but cutting.
I swallowed, my mouth dry. “I didn’t ask for her attention.”
“You didn’t stop it either.” His eyes flicked to me now, dark and steady.
Anger prickled under my skin. “What was I supposed to do? Fight her in front of everyone?”
“You know, you have a thing about attracting unwanted attention yourself so you should have stood your ground.” His vo
