“Hey, are you okay?” Vlad put his hand on my arm, but there was nothing that could ease the internal pain I was feeling. Without replying, I stalked across the room to Carlo. Adrian had been right: Kris did need protection . . . from this two-timing liar.

“Avery!” Kris beamed at me. Carlo put his hand out as if we were meeting for the first time. I didn’t know how to react—damn, was he good. For the last year he’d been texting me, telling me all sorts of bullshit, and then suddenly here he was, wrapped around Kris. What a player.

“Ave, this is Domenico.” Her green eyes sparkled.

Domenico? Did he think he could get away with not telling her his real name? Or maybe he had given me a fake name. Whichever it was, he had lied and that was far from okay.

Swallowing hard, I filled my lungs with a gulp of air, then exhaled as I plastered a sarcastically gracious smile on my face. “Hi, again,” I said as casually as I could. “Sorry I haven’t returned your calls. But I see you’ve found my best friend.”

“Pardon?”

“Oh come on.”

Carlo—or Domenico—looked at Kris, who shared the same look of confusion. My anger bubbled like hot lava as he continued his ruse. “You’re really going to pretend that you don’t remember me?”

“What’s there to remember?”

That was it. I couldn’t contain my fire any longer. I swung my arm back and hit him right across his stupid, pretty face. The sound cracked and he stumbled backward to land on his behind. The buzz of excitement around me died down—nothing but dead silence now. Kris looked at me then down at Carlo. Her expression morphed from confusion to shock. She apparently decided that Carlo needed more help, and crouched down on the floor next to him, staunching the blood pouring from his nose.

A hand came down on my shoulder and I turned, expecting it to be Vlad. Instead, I came face to face with a Court Guard.

“By order of the Court Guards, you are hereby in custody for an act of violence on Court Grounds.” His voice was deep, and he didn’t wait for me to respond before he pinned my arm behind my back.

I was about to yelp in protest when Vlad cut in. “Commander Hudson, I believe? I am Lord Ambrosia.”

The guard bowed and nodded. No introduction needed. Everyone knew who Vlad was.

“I am Ms. Montgomery’s legal representation. There’s no need for handcuffs. I will escort her with you to holding.”

Hudson gave him a nod and then let go of my arm.

“Are you okay, Avy?” Vlad whispered to me, putting one hand on my shoulder.

“Of course.” I unclenched my fist then curled my fingers again. It didn’t ache as much as I would’ve thought.