He smiled—and she sincerely hoped she’d never see him again. Of course, once she and Daemon were married, she’d never have to worry about men like him.

She watched him pull Surreal up off the floor. A moment later, he left the lounge, wrapped in a sight shield to avoid anyone inquiring about his presence at an aristo party—or about the woman slung over his shoulder.

“We’d better leave,” Lektra said. “Have you seen Tavey?”

“Not since earlier this evening, when he left the ballroom,” Roxie replied.

Tavey should have come back to report Daemon’s reaction to their conversation. She’d seen her beautiful love carry that pale bitch out of the party. She hadn’t liked that. He should have asked his brother to take her home. No matter. He wouldn’t have to cater to Jaenelle Angelline much longer.

“If we don’t meet up with him on our way out, Tavey will have to make his own way home,” Lektra said.

With Roxie discreetly staying in the background, Lektra made her way to the front door, slipping into the ballroom and making a point of being seen talking to Lady Zhara, who had arrived late—and also giving herself and Roxie a reason to avoid walking past Lucivar Yaslana on the chance that he might recognize Roxie by her psychic scent, despite the illusion spell.

As soon as he strode away from the front door, they hurried out and went home.

Swearing under his breath, Lucivar headed for the ladies’ lounge. Hell’s fire! How long did it take a woman to piss anyway?

He flung the door open and walked in, not caring if he walked in on a woman pulling down her pants or pulling them up. But the lounge area was empty, and the toilet wasn’t occupied.

Damn her. Where did she—

Turning to leave, he spotted the glass on the floor near a padded bench. Crouching, he studied it. Most of the liquid had seeped into the carpet, but the few drops left in the glass were enough.

*Surreal!* His temper flared. *Surreal!*

No answer. Not even an irritable flicker that would have helped him pinpoint a direction.

*Rainier.*

*Yaslana?*

*Have you seen Surreal?*

*Not since I danced with her earlier. Is there a problem?*

*I’m not sure yet. See if you can find her. I’m going out to widen the search.*

Rainier hesitated. *Are you going to contact Prince Sadi?*

Now Lucivar hesitated. *No. Not yet.*

He left the party and spent hours soaring over Amdarh, searching, hunting, calling.

No answer. No way to find her.

As night gave way to the first hint of dawn, he flew back to the family town house. Daemon knew Surreal better than the rest of them. It was time to call him into the hunt.

THIRTEEN

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