One night, he’d just handed off queen-watching to Cat and was helping himself to some potent blueblood punch when some equally potent blueblood fingers wrapped themselves around his arm.

He swung around, nearly flinging his punch into Fiona Bayar’s face. She wore her glitter-pale hair loose around her shoulders, and a black dress that was mostly bottom half. She’d filled in the plunging neckline with ropes of pricy baubles.

“Come dance with me, Alister,” she hissed. “I want to talk to you.”

It was the first she’d spoken to him since Oden’s Ford. The first he’d seen her since the old queen’s funeral. The first he’d seen her since Raisa had assigned him to the Wizard Council instead of her.

Han gulped down his punch and wiped his mouth on his sleeve on purpose. The punch glimmered his middle pleasantly. “You sure you want to be seen with me?” he said, making a show of looking around the room.

Lord and Lady Bayar shared a large table with other blueblood wizards, including the Gryphons. Han was surprised to see Adam Gryphon, his former teacher, sitting with the rest of them in his wheeled chair. Han hadn’t seen him at any of the other parties, and he didn’t look happy to be at this one. Gryphon was watching Han and Fiona, his brows drawn together in a puzzled frown.

Fiona tugged at Han’s arm, dragging his attention back to her. “Never mind them. I’m spying on you,” she said. “I’m supposed to be winning your trust.”

“Supposed to be?” He raised an eyebrow. As if that would ever happen.

“Are you coming?” Fiona jerked her head toward the dance floor.

She was ordering him around again. It was a habit with her.

Well, Han thought. I do want to know what she’s up to. He took her elbow and walked her into the midst of the dancers.

They circled the floor in silence for a few minutes.

“Well?” Han said.

“Where did you learn to dance?” Fiona asked. “You are better than I expected.”

“I’m always better than people expect,” Han said, still keeping that little bit of distance between them.

“I understand that now,” Fiona whispered. “I’m beginning to realize that you have…great potential.” She paused. “That was brilliant, getting yourself appointed to the council,” she went on. “Even though it was at my expense. However did you persuade the queen to do that?”

“I can be very persuasive,” Han said. “You’d be surprised.” On the sidelines, he saw Missy Hakkam chatting with a crew of bluebloods but keeping her eye on him. They swept past Raisa dancing with Nightwalker. He wasn’t keeping any distance between the two of them. Raisa’s eyes were closed, her head resting on Nightwalker’s shoulder.