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CHAPTER ONE

DAMON GALE STALKED the peri another cluster of s woer as they stared at him

He shouldn’t have discarded his mask so soon

Turning his back on another wordless invitation, he sipped his chaer liquor Women wanted more froreed to a fling—fully informed of his limits—when it ended, recriminations and resentment came

You’re heartless

He s in his head His last ex had thrown that old chestnut at hio And, yes, he was Heartless and happy with it

And what did it ht he was drawing a line beneath a decades-old disaster and toilded paradise without a backwards glance Just co back had made old wounds hurt like fresh hits

But for now he’d endured the outrageously opulent entrance, navigated his way up the h not one but five antechaer and leathe vast rooer to display themselves and spy on others

Palisades palace was designed to reflect the glory of the royal fae commoner feel as inconsequential as possible It was supposed to invoke awe and envy Frankly all the paintings, tapestries and gilded carvings exhausted Damon’s eyes He itched to ditch his dinner jacket and hit one of the trail runs along the pristine coastline that he far preferred to this sumptuous palace, but he needed to stay and play nice for just a little while longer

Gritting his teeth, he turned away frorapher He had no desire to feature in anyone’s socialHe’d been forced to attend too many of these sorts of occasions in years past, as the proof of the supposed strength of his parents’ union and thus to maximise any political inroads they could make from their connections

The bitterness of their falsity soured the chane

Fortunately his career wasn’t dependent upon the interest and approval of the wealthy and powerful Thanks to his augmented reality software company, he was as wealthy as any of the patrons in attendance at this palace tonight But even so, he was here to race and favour systelanced over to where he’d left his half-sister only ten o The investors he’d introduced her to were actively listening to her earnest, intelligent conversation, asking questions, clearly interested in what she was saying

That introduction was all she’d agreed to accept from him She’d refused his offer to fund her research himself and, while it irritated him, he didn’t blame her After all, they barely knew each other and neither of them wanted to dwell on the cancerous and numerous scars of their parents’ infidelities She had her pride and he respected her for it But he’d been determined to try to help heal two decades of hurt and heartache caused by lies and deception, even in soiven his father’s total lack of remorse From the intensity of that discussion, it seemed his job was done

Now Da solace in solitude for a moment before he could escape completely

Syth of the room On one side they bracketed doors to the internal courtyard currently lit by lights strung in the trees But on the other side the colu shadowy alcoves

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A wisp of blue caught his eye as he approached the nearest column and he veered nearer A wohtly focused on a group of revellers a few feet away Her hair was ten shades of blue, hung to her waist and wasA feathery mask covered half her face like an intimate web of black lace Her shoulders, cheekbones and lips sparkled in a swirling combination of blue and silver powder

Da dress e to her luscious curves and long legs Despite that sparkling powder, he could see the tan of her skin and it suggested she was more mermaid than waif She definitely spent ti on a spread towel doing nothing

She was fit—in all interpretations of the word—but it was her undeniable feh cheekbones and perfectly pouted lips were pure prettiness and delicacy, while her bountiful breasts were barely contained in the too-tight bodice of her ht-blue dress

She hadn’t noticed hi the crowd So he watched her Her mask didn’t hide her emotions—while her intentions were not obvious, her anxiety was So about her stark isolation softened that hard knot tied fast in his chest and set a challenge at the same time

He was seized by the desire to make her smile

He was also seized by the urge to span his hands around her narroaist and pull her close so he could feel the graceful coure promised

He sh his veins Its unexpected ferocity was vastly better than the cold ash clogging his lungs when he’d first arrived Perhaps there could be a moment of pleasure here after all, now his business was concluded and that personal debt paid

He quietly strolled nearer Her attention was still fixed on the people gathering in the glittering ballrooe of the room, still in the shadow Still almost invisible to everyone else

Her breasts swelled as she inhaled deeply He hesitated, waiting for her to move forward But contrary to his expectation, she suddenly stepped back, her expression falling as she turned away

Da occasions like this, but ould a beautiful young woman like her want to hide? She should have company

His company

He lifted a second glass fro waiter and stepped past the column into the alcove She’d paused in her retreat to look over that vast room of bejewelled, beautiful people The expression in her eyes was obvious, despite the , part loneliness, her isolation stirred hi better of it

‘Can’t quite do it?’

She whirled to face hi a moment to appreciate the layers of sequins and powder on her pretty features She was so very blue She registered the two glasses he was holding and darted a glance behind him As she realised he was alone, her eyes widened more He smiled at her obvious wariness

‘It’s your first time?’ he asked

Her asp

‘At the palace,’ he clarified, wryly alittered lips ‘It can be overwhel the first time’

Fascinatingly a telltale colour ran up her neck and face, visible despite the artful swirls of powder dusting al at the most innocuous of statements

Well, almost innocuous

His sined her response if he were to utter soreat deal more inappropriate Her body captured his attention, and he couldn’t resist stealing a glance lower

Heat speared again, tightening his ht his slip Unabashed he s her know in that tiaze, not stepping back But still she said nothing

Alone Definitely unattached And almost certainly on the inexperienced side

Da while Offers fro bedmates meant he was more hunted than hunter He avoided their atte his refusal to commit to a relationship He had too much of omen wanted—money and power And yes, physical stas too

But the possibilities here were tely with so little provocation? Those too-blue eyes and that too-so

He’d barely expected to stay ten minutes, let alone find soation to Kassie had been e to amuse himself

‘What’s your name?’ he asked

Her pupils dilated as if she was surprised but, again, she said nothing

‘I think I’ll call you “Blue”,’ he said leisurely

Her chin lifted fractionally ‘Because of my hair?’