I slipped my hand from his shoulder and spun, moving with the rest of the crowd swaying in unison. He caught my waist again, spun me around, and finally, with a sharp tug on my hand, pulled me back so I crashed against him from behind.
My lower back slammed into him and his arms circled my waist, wrapping around me like a snake.
I held my breath, shocked, and turned in his arms. I looped my hands around his neck and locked onto his heavy-lidded grey eyes.
Damn it… why did I want to dig my fingers in and rip those contact lenses right out of his eyes?
He stared straight into me, gaze fixed on mine, and suddenly murmured,
"Not many people can hold eye contact with me for this long."
I blinked, startled, but I didn't look away. The song ended and people around us started clapping. I swallowed and tried to steady my breathing.
We stood there, inches apart, staring into each other's eyes. There was something dangerous in his gaze, as if it were full of dark, twisted feelings.
Every time I got this close and really looked into his eyes, it was like I lost control of myself. Of my gaze. Like some kind of gravity kept dragging me back to him.
And his eyes were so cold that sometimes I honestly wished I could warm them up just a little—maybe then I wouldn't feel so damn frozen every time I looked at him.
With effort, I tore my eyes away and only managed to whisper,
"What about you? I can't be the only one you stare at like that… right?"
I didn't wait for an answer. I stepped back and he let his hand fall from my waist, but I could still feel the heat of his touch burning there.
Without looking at him, I turned away, pushed through the crowd, and headed straight for the exit to get some air.
It felt like my whole body was burning from the inside out.
On my way to the garden doors, I pressed a hand against my chest.
What the hell was wrong with me tonight?
I wanted to slap myself a few times, just to snap out of it.
In a few hours, Ashur would have me tied up and delivered back to his organisation. And if I didn't keep my head straight, we'd lose the painting, and I'd lose my one and only chance at freedom forever.
Severin Hale was the only one who could help me get rid of the organisation and the Triangle Union, and to earn his help, I had to make sure his plan worked.
I hadn't even stepped into the garden yet when Severin's voice echoed in my ear.
"I took a few cute photos of your little dance. Show them to your grandkids someday. Now go to the second floor, second room on the right. Change into the clothes we left in the white wardrobe in the corner. After that, use the card you'll find in your pocket and go up to the third floor. Across from the statue of the woman holding the grapes, there's a golden door. You need to go inside that room."
I gave a small, bitter smirk and stood by the exit doors, staring up at the star-filled night sky. I drew in a deep breath and gave my lungs a bit of fresh air.
I let the cool night kiss my overheated skin and then, turning back towards the mansion, I said,
"Weren't we supposed to do all this only if the painting was involved? The painting isn't in that room. It's down here, in the middle of the hall, and they've already sold it to the Ru—"
"You talk so much."
His voice was bored, tired, and it forced me to shut up.
I screwed my eyes shut for a moment, annoyed, and when I opened them, I dragged my gaze away from the woman dancing with the flaming torch and looked towards the staircase at the back of the hall.
My eyes flicked back to the glass cube in the centre of the hall.
Gustav had said they'd already sold the painting earlier, which meant this auction was just for show.
If the auction was fake and they'd already sold the real painting to the Russians, then why bother throwing this whole party?
And if they'd already sold it, why put the painting right in the middle of the room like that?
Piano notes rang in my head, and the loud laughter and chatter behind me scraped at my nerves.
I frowned, trying to line up my thoughts and solve this equation that, annoyingly, wasn't even that complicated.
"They want to trap us."
Severin's calm, cool voice slid into my ear.
"What?"
I stared at the woman twirling with the torch as she moved beautifully through the guests. She had everyone around her fully distracted, fully entertained.
My eyes narrowed on the flames in her hand as I muttered,
"This whole party is a trap… to catch me and Ashur. They knew Rose's organisation would send us here. They probably just don't know I've left the organisation. In the end, this party is a win-win game the Union's set up: they sell the painting and they take us down."
My gaze shifted to the painting in the centre of the hall. I stared at the angel in the sky, smirked, and muttered through my teeth,
"Gustav said if you looked at the painting from the right side, the meaning flipped, but it didn't. Because the real painting isn't here. They're probably keeping the original on the third floor, in that special room."
I heard clapping in my ear, and then Severin's excited, mocking voice:
"Wow. Well done. I was starting to lose faith in you."
He paused briefly, then explained in a more serious tone,
"The one in the middle of the hall is just a decoy. The auction'll start soon. The Triangle Union's planning to trap you and Ashur. Looks like they're still holding a grudge over that little escape of yours."
He went on, dripping sarcasm,
"Go upstairs. Now. This auction is nothing but a stupid little show to distract everyone, including us. While that's happening, they'll move the real painting from the third floor, and then, most likely, they'll come for you two. That's why we have to be ready before they make their move. Get yourself to the third floor. Quickly."
On my way back into the hall, I headed straight for the staircase at the back.
I gathered the train of my dress in one hand and hurried up the marble steps.
"What about Ashur?" I murmured under my breath. "You think he knows about the Union's plan? He might—"
Severin cut me off immediately, his tone sharp and amused.
"Now this is getting interesting… Are you actually worried about Ashur?"
I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached and slammed my heels against the stone steps as I stormed upwards.
At the top, I turned towards the second room on the right and quickened my pace.