Maris caught my wrist just as I reached her. Her grip was steady strong enough to stop me, gentle enough not to draw attention.
“Come with me,” she murmured, her eyes scanning the room. Whatever she saw there made her jaw tighten. Without waiting for me to answer, she guided me through a side corridor and out into the garden where the noise of the hall dimmed into a faint hum.
The night air hit cool against my flushed skin. I hadn’t realized how tightly I’d been holding my breath until I finally let it out.
Maris turned to face me, arms folding. “What the hell was that back there?”
I blinked. “What?”
Her gaze sharpened. “Don’t play dumb, Rain. Liana. The way she looked at you—like she’d seen a ghost. Who is she?”
I dropped my eyes to the gravel path, watching the faint glow of lanter
