He gripped the front of my white cashmere sweater and dragged me against his chest. Every muscle in my body tensed, bracing itself for pain. His long black hair swept across my shoulder and an involuntary shiver ripped through me. Those black eyes narrowed. He leaned in with bared teeth and inhaled, like he was smelling me. I froze.

He growled and threw me away from him like I’d attacked him. Without another word, he stormed away.

I stumbled back to brace myself on the wall as my pulse scrambled to catch up to itself. After a few moments, I smoothed a hand over my sweater, then pulled the door open. My feet stopped on the threshold. The sight before me was downright pornographic. Sweyn was naked and sprawled on her ice throne while four Unseelie knights ravished her body with their own. Wait, five. Five knights are servicing her right now. There was no jealousy, just overwhelming relief. I glanced around and almost rolled my eyes to see her entire court sitting around the show, just watching. I shut the door and scurried away before an orgy started and I was dragged in.

With Sweyn distracted, I raced for the front door. It was bold and stupid and yet I couldn’t help myself. But when I pushed the doors open, I found my way completely blocked. The snow wasn’t my biggest problem, either. A row of Sentinels formed a line between me and the archway, which meant the shutters had lifted and the vampires were coming out to play. With a defeated sigh, I went back inside. It was just as well. I needed a game plan. A strategy. I hurried down the hall to Lord Braison’s room. The door was open, so I walked in and then slid to a stop. Saber straddled his hips as she drank from the vein in his throat. My face heated. I ran out of there and went to Malik’s room, my next best guess for help. His door was also open, but this time I crept inside quietly.

“You have done my family a great honor, Malik,” Shi-Shi said with a thick voice. “I am indebted to you forever.”

“That’s not necessary. I’m just glad I was there that night.” Malik groaned. “And I am glad she wasn’t here when . . . when . . .”

“I know, me too. But she is safe and that is all that matters.”

I grimaced. Shi-Shi was that other girl’s aunt. I couldn’t remember her name, but she was the one Tegan had pretended to be. Their conversation was private, so I slipped back into the hallway—and choked on my own saliva. Libby stood just in front of me with her arms crossed over her chest and a fire blazing in her silver eyes.

“Excuse me?” I gestured for the space in front of me that she blocked.