“What in Poseidon’s name are you doing?” Wide eyed and full of anger, as well as confusion, I stared at him. My hand reached up to my lips.

“I was so worried about you. You’re okay. Oh hail Zeus, you’re okay!”

“Of course I am.”

Adrian looked at me with desperation in his eyes. I could sense how nervous he was. “Do you want to know something, Montgomery?”

“If you promise not to kiss me again, yes.”

“I’m afraid I might be falling in love with you.” His words came tumbling out, and for a split second, I didn’t register what he was saying until his words replayed in my mind in slow motion—one by one.

“What?”

Both of his hands, gentle and warm as ever, reached up. One brushed my hair back, then settled there while the other cupped my cheek. There was such an innate connection that even with a simple touch, he managed to pull all my thoughts to a stop. He held my gaze, stealing the passion from my eyes in a way that only magnified the spark. There was no smile on his lips, only the hot intensity of his gaze, and I somehow knew that this was a sign of an incoming storm. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Montgomery,” he repeated.

The acceleration of my heart rate indicated what my body really wanted. What it craved.

“Adrian, I—”

A sudden movement caught the corner of my eye. And that was when I saw him. Vladimir. His dark-green eyes stared coldly at me and his jaw was tense. Before I could react, he walked away.

“Adrian, listen. You’re drunk. Go home and drink lots of water, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned goofily.

Then I followed Vlad—or at least tried to. There were too many people, and just when I caught his silhouette walking out the door with the exit sign on top, I felt a pair of big hands on my waist. I turned expecting to see Adrian again, though the hands felt different, and sweaty—it was Damian Tavoularis and his haughty smile. A low voice rumbled next to my throat. “We have to stop running into each other like this.” His hands pulled me back against him and I elbowed backward at him.

“Eww, go away!” I rushed forward through the crowd and out the exit. Thankfully, I spotted Vlad walking back toward the Royal Quarters and I chased after him, my feet slipping on the sidewalk covered in fresh snow. I barreled into him and his arms caught me. We paused for a moment like that, feeling the warmth of each other, but then he let me go as I regained my footing.

“Look, please don’t be angry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like my body just yearns for Adrian’s.”

“Thanks for letting me know,” he said.