“Friends,” said Leander into the suddenly tense and alert space of the crowded ballroom, “it is a pleasure, as always, to be reunited with every single one of you. I do hope it can remain so for the rest of this evening.” Smiling, he turned to me and held out one elegant hand. “Shall we?”

Allies didn’t argue in public, either. But I leaned close to whisper, “Not in a million years, Fabian. I came here to battle, not to dance.”

He leaned even closer, until his lean cheek nearly touched my lips. Warm breath brushed against my skin as he breathed, “They can feel like the same thing, if that’s what you’d prefer—ah!” He startled back, straightening with a jerk, as a woman’s brisk voice spoke behind us.

“Finally! I’m glad to see you here doing your duty. I’d hardly dared even to hope anymore!” A tall, silver-and-black-haired woman in a sweeping crimson gown—with a truly astounding, plummeting neckline—shook her head at Leander as we both spun around.

I had one hand already raised to my closest hair-clip—but Leander leaned forward to kiss her outstretched light brown hand with what looked like real affection. “Countess. It has been far too long.”

“And whose fault is that?” She let out an exasperated huff of air, then turned to look me over critically, her brown eyes narrowing over her commanding hawk nose. “I do like your choice of bride, at least. She has real style—and she’s not likely to be lost in this crowd, is she? If—”

“Uhh!” The sound of protest that escaped my lips was thoroughly undignified. I cleared my throat, warmth washing through my skin, as they both raised their eyebrows at me in identically haughty looks. “I’m not—Leander—! We’re only allies,” I finished as the Countess’s eyebrows reached implausible heights of incredulity.

Leander, the wretch, was smirking by the end of it. Still, he took pity on me at last. “It is true,” he agreed. “May I present Mia Brandt, my new neighbor? Mia, the Countess Cardenza.”

I’d never made a proper curtsey in my life. But under the weight of the Countess’s gaze now, I was horrified to feel my knees actually begin to buckle.

I snapped myself upright, metal layers clattering around me, and met her gaze full-on. “A pleasure,” I said firmly.

“Ahh.” A small, dangerous smile tugged up the corners of her scarlet-painted lips. “I do like you after all. Leander, be off with you! Go find someone else to overawe for a bit. Take over their minions, if you like, or make your own form of entertainment.”

“Ma’am…” Leander winced, darting an uneasy glance at me.

“Shoo!” She flapped one slim, bejeweled hand impatiently at him. “We’ll see you soon enough, my boy. Your neighbor isn’t likely to be frightened off by a harmless old lady like me.”