The mansion lit up like something out of a dream. Hundreds of lighting fixtures shimmered along the tall domestic windows, flickering all through the marble like dancing fireflies. A gentle track floated through the air, easy and complete of power. Men in smooth suits and ladies in flowing gowns wandered through the courtyard, faces hidden at the back of sensitive, jeweled masks. It changed into Damien’s masquerade ball.
Celeste stepped out of the black automobile, her hands clinging to the silky folds of her midnight-blue get dressed. Her masks changed into silver, sharp-edged, and simple—just like the expression in her eyes. She took a breath. This wasn’t just another glamorous event. It was a velvet-covered trap. And she was walking straight into it.
Jace, her bodyguard, came up at th
